World Darts Championship: James Wade and Michael Smith win first-round matches
Tuesday 22 December 2015 10:19, UK
James Wade eased through to the second round of the World Darts Championship with a 3-0 win against John Michael on Monday night.
Fellow top 10 seeds Michael Smith and Robert Thornton endured differing fortunes - Smith was forced to survive a major scare and Thornton became the highest seed to be eliminated so far this year.
But Wade, among the best players to have never lifted the Sid Waddell trophy, marched on effortlessly at Ally Pally against his Greek opponent Michael, who beat Warrick Scheffer 2-0 in a preliminary tie.
Wade sneaked through the opening set after a succession of crucial misses in the closing stages. At 2-1 up he missed three darts at a double to finish the set, but Michael missed a hat-trick of his own efforts to take the leg. Wade, needing two more darts to finish the set, shook his head in disbelief that he was ahead and trudged apologetically off stage - quite a contrast to the traditional Greek music and dancing that Michael brought to the oche.
He lived up to his moniker of 'The Machine' by easing through the second, always just a step ahead of Michael who put up a scrap but never looked like getting close to the world No 7.
A pair of straightforward checkouts put the result beyond doubt, but there was still time for Michael to notch a consolation and react with more surprise than many of the fans who will have appreciated his efforts. Wade wrapped up the match soon after with a 95 average and will play either Wes Newton or Cristo Reyes next.
Michael Smith was forced to battle past world No 62 Jeffrey De Zwaan in a thrilling final leg shoot-out.
Locked at 2-2 and sharing the first 10 legs of the decisive set, Smith finally persevered at the very final hurdle as they contested a tie-break.
The No 8 ranked player must have realised he was in for a tough night when the 19-year-old De Zwaan took out bullseye to win the first leg. Smith eventually took the opening set through a sensational leg where both men valiantly tried for nine-darters and pushed each other to breaking point.
But the young Dutchman responded with maturity and took the second set at a canter before hitting another bull checkout to go 2-1 up, playing with a swagger that seemed destined to dump out another top seed.
Smith roared back with 134 and 105 finishes to steamroll his novice opponent in the fourth set and set up a fifth. Both throwers superbly held their nerve through trying circumstances, holding five throws each, until a tie-break was required to separate them. They threw for bull to decide who would begin, Smith won and never looked back.
Robert Thornton became the highest seed to crash out of the tournament so far after being dominated by Alan 'Chuck' Norris.
The No 6 seed from Scotland never got into his groove as debutant Norris recorded a brilliant 3-0 result to send him packing with a 96.88 average.
Thornton took far too long to settle by which time Norris had already stolen the first set. He won back-to-back legs in the second set, but Norris forced a decider then won it with an 11-darter.
A 121 finish proved Thornton was still game but there was no stopping Norris and he powered into the second round.
You can watch the PDC World Darts Championship live on the Sky Sports Darts Channel, with Monday's action also televised on Sky Sports 2 HD.
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