Jamie Lewis and Dave Chisnall produced stunning displays on the opening night of the World Series of Darts Finals in Vienna.
The young Welshman, who has largely struggled this season to recapture the form that saw him blaze his way into the World Championship semi-finals last December, looks back to his best after averaging 109.82 in a 6-1 triumph over fellow darting starlet Dimitri van den Bergh.
Lewis hit four 180s and nailed six of his seven attempts at doubles, including one at 16s which saw him complete a 107 checkout in the seventh leg.
🎯🏴 Jamie Lewis' grandfather passed away recently and wanted to make him proud tonight...
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) November 2, 2018
💪 Ave: 109.82 (His best ever on TV)
👌 Doubles: 6/7
🙌 180s: 4
👊 He won 6-2 against Dimitri Van Den Bergh, who averaged 105! pic.twitter.com/IfBSkVDYCO
The 26-year-old's grandfather passed away recently and was eager to do him proud at this ITV4-televised tournament, and there's no doubt he did that tonight.
He will next meet world champion Rob Cross in the second round on Saturday evening.
Van den Bergh, who did average over 105 despite the heavy scoreline, did reach a final on the World Series of Darts tour in Germany earlier this year but apart from that he too has failed to produce the kind of form that saw him come of age at Alexandra Palace last year.
“That was for my Grandad... I wanted to make him proud”
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 2, 2018
A tough week off the Oche for Jamie Lewis, but he posts his highest ever TV average to reach the Second Round in Vienna. pic.twitter.com/lzfJtvTIUl
Meanwhile, Dave Chisnall crushed Max Hopp to set up a second-round meeting with Gary Anderson.
Chizzy blew his young German opponent away with a 6-1 scoreline in which he averaged 103, hit three 180s and managed two 100+ checkouts, including a match high 126.
Hopp was a late replacement for Canada's Dawson Murschell, who pulled out on the eve of the tournament through illness, but his late dash to Vienna was ultimately in vain as he averaged just 84 and missed eight darts at doubles.
💛👏 Dave Chisnall
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) November 2, 2018
💪 Average: 103
🙌 180s: 3
👌 100+ checkouts: 2
🏆📺 Could this be the weekend Chizzy wins his first TV major?pic.twitter.com/JFkItoK41n
It was a stark contrast to his historic run to the European Championship semi-finals last weekend, where he just missed out to James Wade.
Chisnall, who is still searching for his first TV title, was tipped up by our in-form expert Chris Hammer to win his quarter, but to stand a chance of doing that he'll need to beat Gary Anderson for the first time since 2016 on Saturday.
The Flying Scotsman has won five of the last six, with the other being a draw, although he could be rusty having played just one event since 'that' defeat to Daryl Gurney at the World Grand Prix.
European champion James Wade hardly broke sweat in a 6-3 triumph over Ross Smith although he'll probably need to improve on his average of 91 if he's to test Mensur Suljovic on home soil in round two.
Daryl Gurney made light work of Steve Beaton as he recorded an average of 102.48 in a whitewash victory and will face Simon Whitlock in the second round.
The Northern Irishman hit six of his 10 attempts at doubles and took out a high finish of 119 while Beaton, who managed to average 98, missed all four of his.
Elsewhere, Kyle Anderson also averaged over 100 in an impressive 6-4 victory over Ian White - but only after Diamond had fought back to level at 4-4 from 3-0 down.
The Aussie nailed three 100+ checkouts including a best of 156 and he'll now face Michael Smith.
INCREDIBLE!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 2, 2018
Kyle Anderson with a stunning 156 checkout, his third ton-plus of the game, to lead 5-4.
High class this affair!#bwinDarts pic.twitter.com/XonW2QO7tK
Gerwyn Price brushed aside Royden Lam 6-1 to set up a second-round meeting with Peter Wright while Damon Heta will face Michael van Gerwen after winning a last-leg decider against Maik Langendorf.
Raymond Smith joined fellow Aussies Anderson and Heta in the next round by beating Keegan Brown 6-3 and he'll next face Raymond van Barneveld.
Friday November 2
First Round (Best of 11 legs)
Saturday November 4 (1900 GMT)
Second Round (Best of 11 legs)
TV Channel: ITV4
Sunday November 5
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 19 legs) TV Channel: ITV4
Evening session (1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals (Best of 21 legs)
TV Channel: ITV4
Final (Best of 21 legs)
TV Channel: ITV4