PDC World Championship - Match Report, Statistics 2st Day, Evening

VAN GERWEN AVOIDS SHOCK EXIT AS SEEDS TUMBLE
WORLD number one Michael van Gerwen survived a scare in the first round of the William Hill World Championship as German prospect Rene Eidams took him to a tie-break on Friday evening, while Kim Huybrechts and Brendan Dolan suffered first round exits at Alexandra Palace.

Tournament favourite van Gerwen had looked to be cruising into round two when he reeled off six straight legs to take a two-set lead but Eidams, who had defeated Gaweenuntawong Thanawat in the preliminary round, had other ideas.
The 26-year-old, making his TV debut, produced a brilliant 122 finish on the bull to start an incredible spell which saw him win six out seven legs to take the match into a fifth set. He then took the 2014 World Champion to a tie-break with the deciding set tied after four legs but the Dutch ace produced two solid legs to avoid the prospect of an early exit.

"He played well but I should never have put myself in that position," said van Gerwen, who was a pre-match 1/500 odds-on favourite with William Hill to win the tie. "It seemed like after his first game the nerves were gone, but after the first two sets I shouldn't have let him come back I was always confident that I would win that match and I put in two good legs in the tie-break. It was a good lesson for me and I think it will do me good for the rest of the tournament to have been put under pressure. I'll be ready after Christmas. Don't worry about that."

Number 12 seed Huybrechts became the highest-profile casualty in the first round so far when he suffered a shock defeat at the hands of David Pallett, as the 25-year-old overturned a 2-1 deficit to win in five sets and reach the last 32 for the first time.

"I honestly didn't believe I could it," admitted an emotional Pallett, who will face Mensur Suljovic or Jermaine Wattimena in round two after finishing 132 and 122 in the final two legs to claim victory. "Kim's a great player. I knew it was going to be a tough match and I'm absolutely over the moon. I managed to hang on in there and take my chances when I got them. I'm really happy and now I've got nothing to lose."

Kyle Anderson, meanwhile, claimed a straight sets victory against number 18 seed Brendan Dolan, hitting five 180s in the process.
The Australian, who hit a nine-darter at Alexandra Palace two years ago, signalled his intentions straight away when he left a double after nine darts in the opening leg, which he went on to win in 12. Further finishes of 103 and 60 saw him take the first set 3-2 before he took the second by coming from a leg down, and though Northern Ireland's Dolan finished 126 on the bull to keep his hopes alive, Anderson finished 121 to seal his second round spot with a fanfare.

"I'm playing well and that was big for me," said Anderson, who will meet Vincent van der Voort or Laurence Ryder in the second round. "I'm over here on my own doing this for my family so it means even more. I'm in the second round now and I believe that I'll get better from here."


Statistics - Preliminary Round
Ave180sDoublesPlayervPlayer Ave180sDoubles
63.6413/25Gaweenuntawong 0:2Eidams69.2516/29



Statistics - First Round
Ave180sDoublesPlayervPlayer Ave180sDoubles
87.1915/22Dolan 0:3K.Anderson90.6459/28
92.6648/25Huybrechts 2:3Pallett 91.43512/32
99.03711/20v.Gerwen 3:2Eidams90.4828/15








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