Reigning champion Luke Humphries got his World Darts Championship defence off to a flying start with a 3-0 win over Thibault Tricole at Alexandra Palace, clinching all nine legs in a row.
Humphries wrapped up the whitewash in double quick time and celebrated with the crowd as he did exactly what was required of him as the defending holder on opening night.
The world No 1 took the first set 3-0 without getting out of first gear but then came to life in the second with a sensational 160 checkout on tops in the second leg.
Tricole was gifted moments by ‘Cool Hand’ but couldn’t clinch the opportunities and as Humphries was 2-0 up after winning six legs in a row, the victory felt imminent.
With Tricole’s finishing continuing to fail him, hitting 0 per cent on the doubles after eight legs, Humphries wrapped up a comprehensive win on D10.
Tricole set up the clash with the world No 1 by beating debutant Joe Comito 3-1 in the opening match of the tournament.
The Frenchman took the first set of the tournament 3-1 after a break of throw put him in control and then he raced to three legs in a row for the second set.
However, Comito fought back to bring the game to 2-1 and made Tricole battle hard, the ‘French Touch’ finally taking the leg on D16 for the match.
Keane Barry pulled off a sensational 3-1 victory over former quarter-finalist Kim Huybrechts in what was an enthralling encounter.
After Huybrechts took the first set and let out a roar, Barry stayed calm and composed, firing in a brilliant 108 finish to take the second set in the deciding leg to level the match at 1-1.
From there, Barry found a new level and was hitting 180s for fun, taking the third set in fast fashion and with it the control of the match.
Huybrechts continued to hit back but Barry’s scoring was too much to handle and with a crucial break of throw, he wrapped up a big win on the biggest stage of them all and will now face 2021 champion Gerywn Price in the second round.
Jermaine Wattimena set up a second-round clash with James Wade after dismantling Stefan Bellmont in a 3-0 whitewash.
Wattimena finished clinically with a 98.54 average, a tops-tops finish the highlight as he showed once again why he could cause some upsets in this tournament.
“I am really happy. The first set I was so nervous and I am just happy that the doubles went in,” Wattimena told Sky Sports.
“I am really confident and I want to go through and I want to have a gfood run at the Worlds.
“I play James Wade tomorrow and I am ready for it.”
What’s next?
We have a bumper day of action coming your way on Monday December 16 with the afternoon session from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Darts and Main Event with Wesley Plaisier up against Ryusei Azemoto, Luke Woodhouse facing Lourence Ilagan, Alan Soutar vs Kai Gotthardt, and James Wade playing the winner of Wattimena and Bellmont.
We are then back from 7pm for a huge evening session with Niels Zonneveld vs Robert Owen, Connor Scutt vs Ben Robb, Cameron Menzies vs Leonard Gates, and Gerwyn Price vs the winner of Huybrechts and Barry.
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live from December 15-January 3 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
