Crowd favourite Martin 'Wolfie' Adams is out of the BDO World Darts Championship after losing a sudden-death leg to Mark McGeeney.
The three-time champion was appearing in his 25th consecutive year at the Lakeside Country Club and gave the second seed an almighty scare despite being the underdog.
Adams, who last lifted the trophy here during the height of his powers in 2011, couldn't buy a double in an opening set that he lost 3-0 but he came storming back with two 15-darters in the second set to restore parity.
BDO number one McGeeney produced a classy 103 checkout as he romped through the third set 3-0 only to be immediately pegged back as Wolfie enjoyed a whitewash set of his own.
A titanic deciding set, in which either player had to win by two clear legs, ensued, with McGeeney missing the first match dart on double 13 in the sixth leg.
Neither player was able to create another winning chance before Adams checked out from 76 to force a sudden death leg at 5-5.
Wolfie earned the right to throw first by nailing the bull but successive visits of 41, 45 and 28 effectively gave the advantage to McGeeney, who landed two ton+ scores on his way to pinning double tops for a place in the second round.
'The Gladiator', who hit two 180s and averaged 86.19, has never gone beyond the second-round having lost to Scott Waites and Scott Mitchell in the previous two years but is 14/1 for the title with Sky Bet after this brave victory.
🎯"If you're hoping this is going to be a place where the standard of the @BDOdarts is mocked, then think again and head elsewhere."
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) January 6, 2018
💷👍Fresh from backing Rob Cross at 16/1, darts expert Chris Hammer has 8/1, 25/1 & 50/1 tips for #Lakeside2018 👇https://t.co/YSlTnkdFSZ
Willem Mandigers of Holland looked impressive as he averaged just under 90 in a 3-0 victory over Wales' Nick Kenny.
The 10th seed will next meet either Wesley Harms or Wayne Warren.
Also on the opening afternoon, veteran Gary Robson set up a first-round meeting with reigning champion Glen Durrant thanks to a 3-0 win over Pengiran Mohamed.
The women's championship got under way with defending champion Lisa Ashton defeating Rhian Griffiths of Wales 2-0.
In the evening, former champion Scott Mitchell survived a real scare as he came through an epic clash of the highest quality against the dangerous Darius Labanauskas to triumph 3-2.
The Lithuanian will feel very unfortunate to be heading home so soon despite averaging 99 - which was a shade more than the victor who was pushed to the limit.
Both players threw five 180s apiece while Mitchell managed two 100+ checkouts as he came from 1-0 down to go 2-1 ahead in sets.
Labanauskas dug deep to force a deciding set but Scotty Dog won all three legs, including back-to-back 81 checkouts to seal the deal.
Danny Noppert underlined why he's considered perhaps the biggest threat to a Durrant defence with a convincing 3-0 victory over Joe Chaney in their preliminary clash.
The young Dutchman hit three maximums and averaged 94.76 as he cruised past the American, who fought to the end and did throw for the third set after Noppert had spurned several chances to wrap things up.
However, Noppert would break one last time to progress to the first round, checkouts of 121 and 126, along with a near miss at 170 and a leg he started with five treble 20s, justifying Sky Bet's decision to cut him to 6/1.
👏Danny Noppert
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) January 6, 2018
👌Last year's beaten finalist has returned for a second crack at the top of his game
Average: 94.76
140s: 12
180s: 3
Outshots: 121, 126
Title prospects: Strong 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Lm46JFkNKw
Earlier on Saturday night, Justin Thompson saw off Chris Gilliland 3-2 in an arduous affair to join Noppert in the first round proper.
The popular women's top seed Deta Hedman is into round two after a 2-0 victory over Rachna David.
Saturday results & Sunday schedule
Click here for the full tournament draw & schedule
Click here for our outright betting tips & predictions
Saturday January 6
Afternoon Session (1pm)
First/Preliminary Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Channel 4
- (2) Mark McGeeney 3-2 Martin Adams
- (10) Willem Mandigers 3-0 Nick Kenny
- (4) Lisa Ashton 2-0 Rhian Griffiths (Best of 3 sets)
- Pengiran Mohamed 0-3 Gary Robson (P)
Evening Session (7pm)
First/Preliminary Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: BT Sport
- Justin Thompson 3-2 Chris Gilliland (P)
- (1) Deta Hedman 2-0 Rachna David (Best of 3 sets)
- Joe Chaney 0-3 Danny Noppert (P)
- (4) Scott Mitchell 3-2 Darius Labanauskas
Sunday January 7
Afternoon Session (1pm)
First/Preliminary Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Channel 4
- (1) Glen Durrant v Gary Robson
- Umit Uygunsolzlu v Chris Harris (P)
- (5) Corrine Hammond v Fallon Sherrock (Best of 3 sets)
- (5) Ross Montgomery v Scott Waites
Evening Session (7pm)
First/Preliminary Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: BT Sport
- Dennis Nilsson v Jeffrey Sparidaans (P)
- (8) Sharon Prins v Maria O'Brien (Best of 3 sets)
- Chris Landman v Derk Teinekes (P)
- (7) Wesley Harms v Wayne Warren
