Reigning world champion Luke Humphries was in action during the curtain raiser of the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace in London on Sunday night, winning over Frenchman Thibault Tricole and advancing to the third round.
Also on the night, Jermaine Wattimena qualified for the second round after the Dutchman hammered Stefan Bellmont 3-0.
A fancied Kim Huybrechts also came unstuck against 22-year-old Irishman Keane Barry.
Catch up on all the action from day one of the PDC World Championship:
Humphries 3-0 Tricole
Humphries had a chance for the break from 83 in the first leg, but missed double 16. Tricole missed a lot of doubles and was eventually broken via double 8.
Humphries also had some slips at the start, but Tricole was sloppy and did not throw out 76. Humphries cashed in on the break and threw out double 10. Tricole also missed another chance on 86 and saw Humphries throw out double 10 for a 3-0 first set win.
The Englishman threw out the first leg of the second set for the first time in 15 arrows. He did the same in the second leg by cleverly throwing out 160 to post a break.
Tricole had two chances to post the rebreak, but failed to do so. Humphries threw out double 5 and also won the second set 3-0.
https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/1868426347506246028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1868426347506246028%7Ctwgr%5E134eb83013d783065f815cc5f5cfea9d7fb7b5b2%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flashscore.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fdarts-pdc-world-championship-humphries-cruises-through-as-barry-downs-huybrechts-at-world-championship%2FMeO5YAKr%2F%3Futm_source%3Dandroidutm_medium%3Dshare_news
In the third set, Humphries threw out 81 via the bullseye and was out in 12 darts for an instant break. Tricole left another dart on the double in the second leg and so it was 2-0. Humphries threw out double 5 to make it 2-0.
In the third leg, Humphries threw his second 180 and also won that leg by throwing out double 10. Humphries did not lose a single leg and comfortably moved to the third round.
Wattimena 3-0 Bellmont
Wattimena played in the first round against Bellmont, who was the first Swiss ever to appear at the World Championship.
Wattimena held his own two first legs by throwing out tops and 52. Bellmont threw out 82, but was broken in the fourth leg. That meant Wattimena took the first set 3-1.
In the second set, Wattimena immediately grabbed the break and did so handsomely: 95 went out by throwing double 20 twice.
Bellmont failed to break next, missing a dart on double 16. Wattimena took advantage and made it 2-0 by hitting double 10. Bellmont hit 76, but Wattimena won the set by finishing the fourth leg with a double 16: 3-1.
https://twitter.com/explore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1868397940357615701%7Ctwgr%5E134eb83013d783065f815cc5f5cfea9d7fb7b5b2%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flashscore.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fdarts-pdc-world-championship-humphries-cruises-through-as-barry-downs-huybrechts-at-world-championship%2FMeO5YAKr%2F%3Futm_source%3Dandroidutm_medium%3Dshare_news
Bellmont immediately grabbed the break in the set to give Wattimena the win. Via double 8, it became 1-0. Wattimena took the rebreak via double 5 after Bellmont missed double 16 for a 108 finish. Wattimena threw out a double 8 in the third leg and came within one leg of victory.
Bellmont threw out 83 in the fourth leg but missed a set arrow on 129. Wattimena threw out 57 to win the set 3-2 and the match 3-0.
Huybrechts 1-3 Barry
Huybrechts started the match against Barry and made it 1-0 via double 8. Barry threw out 103 in the second leg straight away to record the first ton-plus finish.
Huybrechts missed six darts on double 8 in the third leg, and Barry took advantage by throwing his second ton-plus finish, this time 112. Huybrechts took the rebreak immediately, this time hitting double 8. Huybrechts also took the first set by hitting double 12: 3-2.
Barry led in the second set by hitting double 4. The second set saw three 180s in a row. Huybrechts threw two and made it 1-1 via tops.
Barry regained the lead by hitting a double 16, while Huybrechts also hit a double 16. In the fifth and deciding leg, Huybrechts threw 180, but Barry won the set. He threw out 108 and won the second set 3-2.
https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/1868411474990796907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1868411474990796907%7Ctwgr%5E134eb83013d783065f815cc5f5cfea9d7fb7b5b2%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flashscore.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fdarts-pdc-world-championship-humphries-cruises-through-as-barry-downs-huybrechts-at-world-championship%2FMeO5YAKr%2F%3Futm_source%3Dandroidutm_medium%3Dshare
Related
