A review of Thursday's action at the PDC's William Hill World Darts Championship, including victories for Jose De Sousa and Daryl Gurney.
EVENING SESSION
Jose De Sousa finally won a first match on the Alexandra Palace stage at the fourth attempt as he came from one set down to defeat Ross Smith 3-1 on Thursday night.
The Grand Slam of Darts champion, who lost his opening games in the 2012, 2019 and 2020 editions, has taken the PDC by storm this year and laid down an early marker about his world title rivals despite a slow start.
: "I think there is more pressure on me now, but I don't think about that. I just play my game. Ross is a great player. I'm really happy to get my first win here, it's really amazing for me.
"I don't think I'm the best player but I'm one of the best players in the world in this moment. This is my fourth time here, I lost always in the first round but now it's different because my game is more consistent. I will keep trying my best and hopefully I can show a bit more in my next game."
At the start of the night Jamie Lewis produced a stunning display of darts from 2-0 down to beat Luke Woodhouse and set up a second-round tie with Gerwyn Price.
The Welshman has tumbled down the rankings to 63rd since reaching the 2018 semi-finals, when he lost to Phil Taylor, and only sneaked into the Ally Pally field courtesy of the last-gasp qualifying event last month.
There was little he could do as Woodhouse took the opening set 3-0 with the help of a 145 checkout while his opponent also fired in two finishes from 102 and 101 to take the second 3-2.
Lewis suddenly burst into life by taking six of the next eight legs to force a deciding set before checkouts of 85, 61 and 100 sealed a fine comeback victory, in which he averaged 90.67 and landed eight 180s.
: "I've been working so hard at home to prepare for this World Championship. I needed to put the work in to get myself up to speed because I feel like the standard in the PDC is moving on and I don't want to get left behind.
"I feel so much more confident and my scoring has come back. I've always been a big scorer and I need to be hitting trebles to feel comfortable up there. I have been awful recently by my own standards. I knew it would be a tough game today so I'm pleased to get through it."
Japan's Edward Foulkes became the first surprise package after he claimed a highly unexpected 3-0 victory over fellow debutant Mike De Decker.
Not much was known about Foulkes, who qualified for the Ally Pally by virtue of winning his national championship, but he made everyone sit up and notice when he averaged over 108 in the first set, in which he hit a 140 checkout en route to taking it 3-0.
Foulkes breezed through the next two sets 3-1 and ended up with a highly creditable average of 91 - which was 10 points higher than what he achieved when winning the Japan National Championship - and will next meet Brendan Dolan.
He said: "I was very nervous, but I am happy with how I played. I have been playing soft-tip darts in Japan for quite a long time, but I am fairly new to steel-tip darts.
"I'm looking forward to my next game. If I play my best, maybe I can win."
Madars Razma claimed his first ever win on the Ally Pally stage at the second attempt with a 3-0 triumph over Japan's Toru Suzuki in a match that was a lot closer than the final scoreline suggests.
The Latvian, who lost to Harry Ward on debut last year, won all three sets in deciding legs and will next face Gary Anderson.
Ryan Murray enjoyed a winning debut as he beat the fiery Filipino talent Lourence Ilagan 3-1 to set up a clash with Michael van Gerwen.
Murray, who won his first Tour Card at the start of the year, landed a 116 checkout in the opening leg and although Ilagan hit back with a 100 checkout at the start of the second set, which he won without loss of a leg to level, he cruised through the next two.
World Darts Championship: Thursday's results & Friday schedule
Thursday December 17
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Madars Razma (89.21) 3-0 (81.36) Toru Suzuki (R1) (3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
- Mike De Decker (86.74) 0-3 (90.97) Edward Foulkes (R1) (0-3, 1-3, 2-3)
- Ryan Murray (87.11) 3-1 (88.28) Lourence Ilagan (R1) (3-2, 0-3, 3-2, 3-1)
- Daryl Gurney (99.19) 3-0 (92.4) William O’Connor (R2) (3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 1-3, 3-0)
Evening Session (1800 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Luke Woodhouse (92.23) 2-3 (90.67) Jamie Lewis (R1) (3-0, 3-2, 1-3, 1-3, 1-3)
- Ron Meulenkamp (87.71) 3-1 (89.82) Boris Krcmar (R1) (0-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
- Ryan Searle (98.31) 3-2 (88.98) Danny Lauby (R1) (3-0, 2-3, 3-0, 2-3, 3-1)
- Jose de Sousa (93.93) 3-1 (93.73) Ross Smith (R2) (0-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-1)
Friday December 18
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Mickey Mansell v Haupai Puha (R1)
- Darius Labanauskas v Chengan Liu (R1)
- Wayne Jones v Ciaran Teehan (R1)
- Jamie Hughes v Adam Hunt (R2)
Evening Session (1800 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Dirk van Duijvenbode v Bradley Brooks (R1)
- John Henderson v Marko Kantele (R1)
- Luke Humphries v Paul Lim (R1)
- James Wade v Callan Rydz (R2)
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