Caven downs Newton

Jamie Caven enjoyed his World Darts Championship debut as he sprung a surprise 3-0 defeat on Wes Newton at Alexandra Palace.

Caven, a former world junior champion, made his first World Championship appearance after battling through the qualifiers, and he ensured his adventure would continue with an eye-catching success over the world number 25.

Leicester thrower Caven took the opening set with a 15-dart leg, and that gave him the impetus to then take the second 3-0, finishing with a 12-darter and a splendid 121 checkout on the bull.

Newton tried to hang on in there in the third set, but missed the bull that would have saved the match, and Caven stepped in to book a place in the second round against crowd favourite Wayne Mardle.

"I'm thrilled to bits," Caven said after the match. "I came here to enjoy myself but I think I justified being up there.

"I tried to shut out the fact I was on TV, but you are aware of the TV cameras and you have to stay focused.

"I know how good I can be and hopefully that will start to show now."

Whitewash

Denis 'The Heat' Ovens was simply too hot for the experienced Colin Monk as he handed out a 3-0 thrashing without dropping a leg.

Monk missed five shots at double in the second set but did not have a sniff elsewhere as Ovens and a set of new darts handed out a clinical whitewash.

An average of just under 70 for Monk told it's own story as he slipped to a third successive first round defeat in the World Championship.

Welshman Barrie Bates is still struggling to get over his foot problem, but despite hobbling around the oche he still had enough to send Canadian Gerry Convery packing with a 3-0 success.

Bates never had to move out of second gear as Convery failed to test out his resolve with the foot problem - with the Canadian struggling to even get a shot at the double.

Convery took just a single leg in the match and Bates was able to play nothing more than decent darts to cruise into the second round.

In an all-Irish first round encounter, Mick McGowan was too good for his compatriot and friend Jason Barry as he ran out a 3-0 winner.

Barry was always in contention and enjoyed a slightly better three-dart average during the match, but some top-notch finishing from McGowan proved crucial.

Highlighted by a Shanghai checkout of 120 and a fine 103, McGowan's finishing saw him take the place in round two, to play either Terry Jenkins of Kirk Shepherd.