DENIS OVENS 3-0 STEVE SMITH
(3-1, 3-1, 3-0)

DENIS OVENS produced an impressive display to romp into round two of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a straight sets win over Steve Smith.

Ovens had lost in the first round of his last three televised tournaments, but bounced back in style against the qualifier from Dagenham.

Smith had won the pair's contest in the Las Vegas Desert Classic in June, and entered the tournament on a high following some impressive recent form.

However, he failed to rise to the challenge as Ovens powered into the last 32.

The world number nine won a scrappy opening leg before finding his rhythm with two 14-darters in taking the first set 3-1, including finishes of 93 and 100.

Ovens also opened the second set with a 118 checkout to break Smith's throw and then moved 2-0 up before the Dagenham qualifier hit back.

But Smith was unable to apply the pressure in leg four as Ovens took out 69 in two darts to move two sets up.

Further quality finishes of 83 and 86 moved Ovens to within one leg of the match, and he wasted no time in wrapping up the win by landing double 18.

Click here to listen to an interview with Denis Ovens in DartsTV

"The win is most important, how you play is irrelevant," said Ovens. "I won, and won 3-0.

"Steve didn't play very well, he admitted that afterwards, but he did me in Las Vegas so that's a little bit back for that.

"I had a couple of 14-darters and am pleased with my display - and happy to be through that first round!

"I've been practising with Kevin Painter and we've had some good games. We've played three times, home and away, and I'm feeling good."

Match Stats

Denis Ovens	3-0 (3-1, 3-1, 3-0)	Steve Smith
16	100+	14
6	140+	2
1	180	-
28.18	Ave1	24.56
84.55	Average 3	73.67
118,100	High Finish	42

ALAN TABERN 3-0 ALAN WARRINER-LITTLE
(3-0. 3-0, 3-1)

ALAN TABERN swept past Alan Warriner-Little and into the second round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with an impressive first round victory.

The St Helens star has made massive strides in the past 18 months, and produced his most assured display yet.

Tabern dropped just one leg in seeing off Warriner-Little in double-quick time to set up a tasty second round meeting with Denis Ovens.

He landed two maximums in the opening set at a canter, and Warriner-Little only had one dart at a double in the second as Tabern moved 2-0 up.

Two 140 scores gave the Cumbrian the cushion to open his account in the first leg of the third set.

Tabern held his throw to level matters before breaking his opponent in the third leg in 15 darts to move 2-1 up.

He then wrapped up the win with a fine 13-darter.

Click here to listen to an interview with Alan Tabern in DartsTV

"I'm very happy with that," said Tabern. "I was waiting for Alan to kick in with a big finish and just doing enough to keep in front of him for a while.

"I feel for him because there's nowhere to hide on that stage when you're having a bad day, and he kept battling.

"But I had to concentrate and my only aim coming here was to get through that first round.

"I can enjoy Christmas now and come back to play Denis on Boxing Day. It will be a good game because we always seem to play well against each other."

Match Stats

Alan Warriner-Little	0-3 (0-3, 0-3, 1-3)	Alan Tabern
7	100+	13
8	140+	5
1	180	3
25.71	Ave1	29.69
77.14	Average 3	89.06
40	High Finish	40 x2

COLIN LLOYD 3-0 TOMAS SEYLER
(3-2, 3-0, 3-0)

COLIN LLOYD banished his first round demons to power past Tomas Seyler in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

Lloyd has lost four times in his opening game in the past five televised PDC tournaments, including a defeat to Gary Welding at the Circus Tavern 12 months ago.

German number one Seyler looks on course to cause another upset when he twice led Lloyd in the opening set of their contest.

He starter the brighter, opening with a 180 and taking the first leg after Lloyd missed his doubles.

The number one seed responded to take the second, but Seyler held his throw to take the third and apply the pressure to his opponent.

The German actually missed a total of ten darts in the next two legs in his bid to take the first set as Lloyd recovered to move 1-0 up.

That appeared to settle Lloyd's nerves, with the Essex favourite landing a maximum in the second set's opener and taking the three legs without reply to double his advantage.

Seyler missed double 12 for a 101 finish in the opening leg of the third set, and Lloyd taking out double 13 to push clear.

He finally added double ten to move to within a leg of victory, and booked his place in round two with a neat 86 finish.

Click here to listen to an interview with Colin Lloyd in DartsTV

"I'm very relieved," admitted Lloyd. "It was a tough first set and it was in the back of my mind that I'd had the other first round losses.

"I knew I had to step in when he gave me chances, and after the first set I started playing my own game.

"I just wanted to get it finished to be honest because I've been turned over a few times this year - but I always knew it would end some time and that happened to be tonight.

"I've done what I had to do to get through and it's out of the way now. I'm upbeat, confident and know I'm playing well, but there's more to come."

Match Stats

Colin Lloyd	3-0 (3-2, 3-0, 3-0)	Tomas Seyler
18	100+	15
8	140+	10
1	180	2
30.20	Ave1	28.78
90.59	Average 3	86.33
86	High Finish	40

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 3-0 MITCHELL CLEGG
(3-1, 3-1, 3-0)

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD made a winning Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship debut, ending the hopes of Australian teenager Mitchell Clegg with a 3-0 triumph.

The Dutchman was making his first Purfleet appearance since joining the PDC in February, bidding to win a fifth World Championship title.

He overcame a good start from Clegg to progress into round two, where he will meet world number one Colin Lloyd in a crunch clash on Friday.

The 16-year-old Aussie schoolboy opened up well, leaving himself on 36 after four ton-plus scores in the opening leg only to see van Barneveld land double eight for a 13-darter.

Clegg took the second with double top at the fourth time of asking, and missed his chances to go ahead in the third before van Barneveld finally held his throw.

A two-dart 60 finish against the throw gave the Dutchman the first set and a crucial advantage, although Clegg immediately hit back by winning the second set's opener.

Van Barneveld levelled the set with a 14-darter, and landed his first maximum at the Circus Tavern in the next to break Clegg's throw again.

He then held his own throw to take a 2-0 lead, and a 12-darter put him ahead in the next set, despite the youngster posting his first 180.

Barneveld landed another maximum on his way to the second leg and wrapped up the win in 14 darts to set up a mouth-watering clash with Lloyd.

Click here to listen to an interview with Mitchell Clegg in DartsTV

"Mitchell played really well," praised van Barneveld. "He started well and could have been 2-1 up.

"I was very happy that he missed some doubles in that first set and I played a lot better by the third set.

"He deserves respect for what he's done to get here and the hardest part for me was that I don't know him or how he plays the game.

"He had some chances and it may have been different if he had taken them, but I have been training hard and playing well."

On Friday's meeting with Lloyd, he added: "It should be great.

"Colin has never beaten me yet but that means nothing. This is 0-0 and we'll start again from here."

Clegg won the Oceanic Masters as a 15-year-old to qualify for the World Championship

"The noise out there was absolutely amazing," he said. "I want to return here next year and have another go.

"I never had any nerves and enjoyed it, it was a great experience."

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	3-0 (3-1, 3-1, 3-0)	Mitchell Clegg
8	100+	12
12	140+	6
2	180	1
29.66	Ave1	25.75
88.99	Average 3	77.26
96	High Finish	40

ADRIAN LEWIS 3-0 ANTHONY FLEET
(3-0, 3-0, 3-0)

ADRIAN LEWIS whitewashed Australian Anthony Fleet 3-0 in the first round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship - and then told mentor Phil Taylor he is ready to take the title from him.

Lewis reached the quarter-finals on his Circus Tavern debut last year, and was in impressive form to begin his campaign to claim the £100,000 first prize on New Year's Day.

He failed to drop a leg against the Australian qualifier, averaging 92.65 in the match to move into the last 32.

He will take on either Wayne Jones - a semi-finalist 12 months ago - or Ian Branks in round two, and stated: "It's my dream to win this and I'm ready.

Click here to listen to an interview with Adrian Lewis in DartsTV

"I've put the work in and think I can do it. I've practised hard for the last couple of months and I know I have to put another ten points on my average if I am to win it.

"I can play better than I did in this game and have been confident for the last couple of months."

His confidence certainly flowed through the opening set, winning with legs of 16, 17 and 15 darts without Fleet reaching the double.

Fleet responded with a maximum in the second set, but could not prevent Lewis taking another three legs to move 2-0 up.

Lewis opened the third set with a 13-darter, and added a second 180 of the match in leg two before sealing the win on double top.

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	3-0 (3-0, 3-0, 3-0)	Anthony Fleet
10	100+	14
7	140+	1
3	180	1
30.88	Ave1	25.50
92.65	Average 3	76.50
54	High Finish	-