PDC World Championship - Match Report 1st Day
ANDERSON MAKES FLYING START IN BID FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP HAT-TRICK
REIGNING champion Gary Anderson began his attempt to win a third consecutive William Hill World Darts Championship title with a comfortable opening night victory over Mark Frost at Alexandra Palace in London.
Number two seed Anderson claimed a straight sets triumph over debutant Frost to join Kevin Painter, Michael Smith and Jamie Lewis in the second round after the 72-player tournament got underway on Thursday evening.
Anderson dropped just two legs in a dominant display against PDPA Qualifier Frost as he won his 13th successive match on the Alexandra Palace stage.
"It was nerve-wracking up there, the first round always is, " said Anderson, who is aiming to become only the third player in history to win three World Championship titles in succession. "Mark's a cracking player and he never showed how he can play tonight but I scraped through and did the job I came to do. I've not been thinking about anything further than the first round. I can only try my best and if that's good enough then maybe I'll be joining that exclusive club in January."
2004 finalist Painter won the last six legs of his clash against Jamie Caven to complete a 3-1 success. The former Premier League player and 2011 Players Champion found himself two legs down in the third set with Caven threatening to take a 2-1 lead but rallied back to move into the last 32.
"It wasn't a brilliant performance but it is a big step for me," said Painter, who claimed an automatic qualification through the ProTour Order of Merit following the withdrawal of Australia's Kyle Anderson, who was unable to secure a UK Visa. "It was just about getting the win. I wasn't overly happy with the way I played but under the circumstances, being two-nil down at one set all, I've got to be happy with the win. I've been struggling a bit so to get into this tournament and get a win is great. I can build on that now."
Former PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion Smith won a five-set thriller against Ricky Evans. The world number 11 came back from 1-0 and 2-1 behind to book his place in the second round, hitting seven 180s and a 143 checkout in the process.
"That was massive," admitted Smith, who has struggled for form since his elimination from the Premier League in his debut season and had failed to win a competitive match since September 30. "I've been fighting the demons and this is exactly what I needed for my confidence. Ricky pushed me all the way and I've finally got the win, got my confidence back and I believe that I can go all the way."
Welsh starlet Lewis won at the World Championship for the first time in another match that went to a fifth set as the 25-year-old held off Ireland's Mick McGowan to progress with the aid of five 180s.
"I feel good," said Lewis, who is playing at Ally Pally for the fifth consecutive year. "I started off really well but Mick started coming back. If I play as good as I know I can then I know and I can beat anybody but you never really know how you're going to play. I've never won a game here so I was really pleased to get through it. I did start panicking a bit but I got the job done in the end."