Gary Anderson (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

PDC World Darts Championship results: Gary Anderson beats Kevin Burness to reach round three

By Sporting Life

15:02 · SAT December 15, 2018

Three of the four matches on Friday afternoon went the distance as Michael Barnard, Jamie Lewis and Alan Tabern all progressed.

The evening session was of stark difference to the marathon afternoon session, with the losing players only winning one set between them.

Here we have a round-up of both sessions, video highlights and the updated schedule for the weekend.

Flying Scotsman overcomes the Ironman

Gary Anderson began his quest for a third world title with a battling 3-1 victory over Kevin Burness.

The Flying Scotsman only averaged 92.56 - which is some way below his high standards - and even found himself level at one set each against the underdog, who qualified by virtue of winning the Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay.

Burness had thrashed Paul Nicholson 3-0 in his first-round match earlier in the day and this helped him produce a relaxed display which saw him hit six 180s and average 92.

Anderson, who also had to overcome another battle with a wasp, moved through the gears at 1-1 to win the next two sets without dropping a leg and he'll next meet Jermaine Wattimena or Michael Barnard.

"It wasn't my best performance but it was enough to get through," said Anderson, who has won the UK Open, World Matchplay (where he also hit a nine-darter along the way) and Champions League of Darts this season.

"I knew he could be a tough opponent and he proved that from the start but luckily the 180s started going in and I got over the line without any dramas."

Dobey delights his fans

Chris Dobey dropped just two legs as he stormed past Boris Koltsov 3-0 in his first-round match.

The 28-year-old from Bedlington averaged 92 and hit almost 50% of his doubles but in truth his cause was helped by his opponent not being at the races.

The Big Russian averaged 79 and missed five of his double attempts, with his only two successful efforts coming in the third set.

Dobey will play Steve Beaton in the second round.

Noppert on top

Danny Noppert set up a second-round clash with Max Hopp on Saturday afternoon after an impressive whitewash win over Royden Lam.

The Dutchman, who recently won a Players Championship title in his maiden PDC season, averaged 96 and took firm control against the soft-tip specialist from Hong Kong.

Lam averaged 85 and only had four darts at a double, of which he hit just one, although the 180s count was level at two apiece.

Noppert wrapped up victory in style with a 112 checkout.

Super Ted

Rising star Ted Evetts claimed his first victory on the PDC World Darts Championship stage at the second attempt as he overcame Simon Stevenson 3-0.

The 21-year-old, who was beaten 3-0 by Gerwyn Price 12 months ago, looked nervous early on but settled as soon as he held his nerve to take the opening set after Stevenson missed double four to win it.

Stevenson, 46, agonisingly missed his shot at the bullseye to restore parity as Evetts moved 2-0 up while he missed another six darts at doubles in the fourth leg of the third set before defeat was sealed.

Evetts moves on to face Adrian Lewis in round two.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Double trouble for de Sousa

Michael Barnard made Jose Oliveira de Sousa pay the ultimate price for a string of missed doubles as he edged an epic first-round clash 3-2.

De Sousa missed four darts for the first set and another two for the second, Barnard making him pay on both occasions, and looked to be heading out when his throw was broken in the third.

At last, though, De Sousa conjured a break of throw of his own and after holding to win the set and keep the match alive, he was able to take it the distance with the advantage of the darts in set five.

Barnard took out 116 in the final set to draw level at 1-1 and again showed his tenacity by hitting tops to force a decider, but the final leg was all about de Sousa as he raced to a finish.

Not for the first time, though, his failure to close the door proved costly as six darts for the match went begging, allowing Barnard to step in and hit double 16 to scrape through.

The story of the match is revealed by the checkout percentages, de Sousa operating at little over 26 per cent having missed a whopping 34 darts at double, whereas Barnard was 11 from 20.

Anyone who backed the loser to hit more 180s will be happy though as he 'won' that contest 5-1.

Tabern defies Smith fightback

Alan Tabern fended off a fightback by Australia's Raymond Smith to set-up second round clash with Michael Van Gerwen.

Tabern, who has never lost in the first round of the World Championship, raced into a two set lead with the aid of 101, 86 and 71 checkouts.

Smith took out 104 in the first leg of set three before capitalising on five missed match darts from Tabern.

The Australian added a second finish of 104 to win the fourth set 3-1, levelling up the match at two sets apiece.

Tabern won three quickfire legs to take the deciding set to book a second round meeting against world number one Van Gerwen on Saturday evening.

The St Helens man averaged 91 compared to his opponent's 86 although he was outscored 5-3 on the 180s count.

Burness breezes through

Kevin Burness sealed a straight sets victory against Paul Nicholson on his World Championship debut.

The Northern Irishman, who qualified by winning the Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay, punished Nicholson for three missed set darts to take the first set in a deciding leg.

Burness then took out 104 on the way to winning the second set 3-1, before finishes of 88 and 106 helped him take the third set by the same margin to complete an impressive success.

Burness, who averaged 88 and hit five 180s compared to Nicholson's four, returns on Friday evening to face two-time World Champion Gary Anderson in the second round.

Nicholson, playing on this stage for the first time since the 2015 edition, just didn't get going, averaging 85 and missing 10 darts at doubles.

Lewis overcomes Harris scare

Jamie Lewis progressed to the third round but only after he overcome a spirited display from Cody Harris.

Lewis, a semi-finalist here last year, looked to have matters firmly in control when winning the first two sets in good style.

However, Harris held his nerve to take the third set before forcing a decider when taking out double 20 at 2-2 in the fourth.

It was Lewis who would prevail, though, dominating the fifth and final set before wrapping up the match with double 20.

The exciting Welshman fired in nine maximums compared with Harris' two and also hit nearly 55% of his doubles - he'll be one to watch again on this evidence.

Friday's results & Saturday schedule

Friday December 14
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Michael Barnard 3-2 Jose De Sousa (R1)
Alan Tabern 3-2 Raymond Smith (R1)
Paul Nicholson 0-3 Kevin Burness (R1)
Jamie Lewis 3-2 Cody Harris (R2)

Evening Session (1900)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Danny Noppert 3-0 Royden Lam (R1)
Simon Stevenson 0-3 Ted Evetts (R1)
Chris Dobey 3-0 Boris Koltsov (R1)
Gary Anderson 3-1 Kevin Burness (R2)

Saturday December 15
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Richard North v Robert Marijanovic (R1)
Mickey Mansell v Jim Long (R1)
Josh Payne v Jeff Smith (R1)
Max Hopp v Noppert/Lam (R2)