Darts results: Michael van Gerwen and Kim Huybrechts impress; Scott Waites wins thriller

• 2021 World Darts draw and schedule
• Follow @ChrisHammer180 on Twitter
• Scroll down for results and averages

Evening session

Michael van Gerwen opened his William Hill PDC World Championship campaign with a 3-1 win over Scotland’s Ryan Murray, but Deta Hedman saw her hopes ended with defeat in the first round at Alexandra Palace.

World number one Van Gerwen, runner-up to Peter Wright in last year’s event, was out to build momentum following a sixth Players Championship Finals title.

The Dutchman claimed the opening set with three 15-dart legs, but Murray, who beat Lourence Ilagan to reach the second round, responded in the second set with a brilliant 130 checkout on his way to levelling the match.

Van Gerwen stepped things up again in the third, which he took 3-1 with a 113.3 average.

Murray tried to stay with the world number one, clinching a superb 124 checkout with a bullseye and then hit double top to pull it back to 2-2 and had the throw for the set.

It was, though, only delaying the inevitable as after Murray missed a double 10 finish, Van Gerwen cleaned up 76 to secure his place in round three.

Hedman was earlier beaten 3-1 by Andy Boulton, who will go on to face Stephen Bunting for a place in the third round.

‘The Heart of Darts’ was looking to follow in the footsteps of Fallon Sherrock, who made history by beating two men in the 2019 World Championship.

The 61-year-old hit a maximum in the opening leg, but then failed to land a double as Boulton went on to comfortably take the first two sets.

Hedman fought back to take the third set, but Boulton again broke her throw in the fourth before sealing victory with an 11-dart finish.

Australia's Damon Heta wasted a rousing comeback in a 3-2 defeat to Daniel Baggish, while Nico Hurz won the crunch legs in a 3-1 defeat of Andy Hamilton.

Afternoon session

Kim Huybrechts produced what was the highest average of the tournament so far in a near-flawless victory in the PDC World Championship, before van Gerwen went higher still some hours later.

The Belgian ace won all nine legs in a 3-0 defeat of Di Zhuang, who had only four darts at double throughout the course of a one-sided match.

Huybrechts averaged 104.05 thanks to five maximums and a six-from-10 checkout ratio and put his display down to diligent preparation.

"I don't think I've ever worked so hard on darts than I have done over the last couple of months," said Huybrechts.

"I've worked six-to-eight hours a day, I've practiced really hard, I've practiced with different players.

"I don't think I've ever been more ready."

While Huybrechts produced the afternoon's dominant performance, Scott Waites provided much of the drama as he came from 2-0 down in the final set to beat Matt Campbell 3-2.

It was a classic first-round match, as good as you could expect to see, as these two traded blows in each and every set - all of them going to a final leg.

When Campbell took out 152 for a break of throw in the decider, the Canadian appeared on course to outlast his opponent, but Waites gathered himself for the sort of climax he's conjured many times over the years in the BDO World Championship.

Still up against it with Campbell throwing in the final leg, Waites threw 100, 180 and 140 to leave 81, which was taken care of in two darts with a shellshocked Campbell watching on.

"After playing 24 legs to get to that point I was determined not to lose," said two-time Lakeside champion Waites, who will meet Nathan Aspinall in round two.

"I've played one of the best games ever and only just managed to get over the line. I have to give credit to Matt for that. I feel sorry for him having to go back to Canada but what a player.

"On my day I can give anybody a game and I think I can take Nathan all the way.

"As a Yorkshireman I like to get my money's worth and I think everybody watching at home got their money's worth today."

There was little between Mervyn King and Max Hopp on the end numbers but King won their encounter 3-1, the German left to regret missing double 11 at the end of the second set.

From there he fought hard and matched King for the most part, but experience paid dividends as the older man progressed.

"I'm happy with how I played it felt good throughout," said King.

"I felt comfortable and probably could have won it a little more easily but I'm more than happy with that.

"I'm not far away from playing my best game and if I can do that then there is no reason why I can't have a good run in this tournament."

The session began with Steve Lennon beating Daniel Larsson 3-1 courtesy of a neat-and-tidy display, the highlight of which was a 130 finish in the opening set.

Saturday's World Darts Championship results

Saturday December 19
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Steve Lennon (96.95) 3-1 (83.22) Daniel Larsson (R1) (3-1, 3-1, 1-3, 3-0)
• Scott Waites (96.13) 3-2 (94.97) Matt Campbell (R1) (2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2)
• Kim Huybrechts (104.05) 3-0 (73.09) Di Zhuang (R1) (3-0, 3-0, 3-0)
• Mervyn King (99.64) 3-1 (94.19) Max Hopp (R2) (3-0, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1)

Evening Session (1800 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Andy Hamilton (82.15) 1-3 (87.91) Nico Kurz (R1) (2-3, 3-2, 1-3, 1-3)
• Andy Boulton (90.65) 3-1 (79.92) Deta Hedman (R1) (3-0, 3-0, 0-3, 3-0)
• Damon Heta (91.65) 2-3 (88.44) Danny Baggish (R1) (2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-0, 2-3)
• Michael van Gerwen (108.98) 3-1 (95.14) Ryan Murray (R2) (3-0, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2)