Adrian Lewis makes impressive start to third title bid at World Darts Championship

Adrian Lewis brushed aside Jan Dekker in straight sets on Wednesday
The 2011 and 2012 winner now faces Andrew Gilding in second round
Benito van de Pas beat Max Hopp in a meeting of two stars of the future

Published:
23:18 GMT, 23 December 2015

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Updated:
00:53 GMT, 24 December 2015

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Adrian Lewis was pleased to finally get on stage at Alexandra Palace as he made a winning start in his quest for a third World Darts Championship title.

The 2011 and 2012 winner had to wait until the final night of action before the Christmas break, but had little trouble in brushing aside Jan Dekker 3-0.

Lewis, who averaged 99.53, said: ‘It feels like it’s next year’s World Championship when you’re the last day on but I’ve really enjoyed watching it.

Adrian Lewis cruised into the second round by brushing aside Jan Dekker in straight sets

‘Ian White went out and Kim Huybrechts went out so it just shows the quality of the field.

‘He put me under pressure,’ Lewis added. ‘It’s always hard in the first round but my confidence now is as high as it’s ever been.’

Dekker was far from intimidated by the big stage and he gave Lewis something to think about with back-to-back ton-plus finishes of 108 and 107 to move ahead in the first set.

Lewis, though, hit an 11-dart leg to break back on his way to taking the opening set.

The 2011 and 2012 winner had to wait until the final night of action before the Christmas break

WEDNESDAY RESULTS

Andrew Gilding 3-0 Gerwyn Price

Benito van de Pas 3-1 Max Hopp

Adrian Lewis 3-0 Jan Dekker

Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Joe Cullen

Jackpot finished in style with a 164 checkout to set up a second-round match against Andrew Gilding, who earlier made light work of Gerwyn Price.

Gilding averaged 90.67 and hit three 180s on his way to a 3-0 victory to move into the second round of the World Championship for the first time in his career.

‘I have had a wonderful couple of years and a win at the World Championship is another feather in the cap,’ Gilding said.

‘I couldn’t have got a much worse draw in the first round as a seed. Gerwyn is a hot player at the moment and didn’t produce his best and I’m thankful for that.’

Five-time world snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan was in the crowd on Wednesday night

Elsewhere, Benito van de Pas beat Max Hopp in a meeting of two stars of the future.

The 22-year-old Van de Pas, who reached the last 16 at Alexandra Palace last year, raced into a 2-0 lead before the 19-year-old Hopp fought back to take the third set.

Van de Pas held his nerve, though, to win the fourth set and advance to a second-round match against Dimitri van den Bergh.

Jelle Klaasen, meanwhile, saved the best for last as he became the first man with a ton-plus average in the tournament.

Jelle Klaasen became the first man with a ton-plus average in his first round victory over Joe Cullen

The 31-year-old lost only one leg and averaged 103.92 as he swept Joe Cullen aside in the final match of the first round.

Klaasen said: ‘I missed a few doubles but I was happy, I felt confident and hit the big scores. I had a couple of 12 and 11-dart legs to break and was just happy with the game.

‘Every time I was practicing it felt so easy and even when I was 2-0 up I didn’t want to lose focus and let Joe back in the game. You have to keep pressure on him.

‘I feel good, I feel confident and hope I can go far in this tournament.’