Runner-Up Squeezes Through

Colin Lloyd came from behind to overcome American Darin Young. Young took the first set via a deciding leg. But Lloyd came back to win the following three sets by 3-1 to ease into the second round.

The preliminary match of the night saw Joe Cullen take on Serbia's Oliver Ferenc. The two were locked together a 2-2 before Cullen hit double four to win the match 4-2 and book a first round match against Terry Jenkins.

The youth tour winner, Michael Van Gerwen of Holland, faced Colin Osborne in the third match of the night. The first two sets went to a deciding leg which the Dutchman won both to take a 2-0 lead. Osborne fought back with a 3-0 victory in the third set but Van Gerwen responded with a 3-0 of his own. He won the match 3-1 and will now face Mervyn King in the second round.

Last year's runner-up, Gary Anderson, started his campaign against German Jyhan Artut. There was another huge shock on the cards as Artut took the first two sets 3-1 to move to within one set of a place in the second round. Throughout the match Anderson struggled with his doubles, which allowed Artut to take the lead despite a much lower three dart average. The Scot kept himself in the contest by winning the third set 3-1, his outscoring continued to help him and Anderson levelled the match by winning the fourth set 3-1 as well. The double trouble came back to hurt Anderson as he had three darts to secure the final set 3-1, allowing Artut to level the set meaning the winner now had to win by two clear legs. Artut managed to check-out 102 to level the set at 3-3 after Anderson missed a dart at the bull to win the match. Anderson then managed to hit the bull to check-out 84 to make it 4-3 but Artut again replied to equalise. The German then secured a crucial break of throw but Artut failed to hold his nerve and the match went into closest to the bull, sudden death. Anderson won the bull to get the throw in the final leg and managed to hold on to crawl into the second round after missing a total of 34 doubles.

The final match of the night saw last year's first round opponents Terry Jenkins and Joe Cullen do battle again, Jenkins won 3-2 twelve months ago. The first set went to a decider which Jenkins won with the throw. Jenkins didn't waste too much time in the second set, winning it 3-0 and then took the third set 3-1 to ease into the second round.