2012 World Matchplay Darts: Day 1

The first four opening round games of the 2012 World Matchplay took place in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. The opening match of the night saw a shock as Paul Nicholson lost to the 'Pie-man', Andy Smith. Smith finally put his Blackpool hoodoo behind him, winning his first ever match in the Winter Gardens. It would be Nicholson who took an early 2-1 then 3-2 lead before an 86-checkout from Smith levelled the match.

Smith then made it 4-3 before Nicholson secured a ton checkout to level. The ninth and tenth legs went to Smith to finally secure a two leg advantage. Nicholson would keep up with Smith up to 7-6. Three consecutive legs meant that Smith would be the first man into the second round with a 10-6 victory over the Asset.

Kim Huybrechts' Blackpool debut ended in misery after missing six darts to beat Terry Jenkins. The Bull continues his winning streak over the Belgian who has yet to overcome the veteran Bull. The match began in fine fashion with Huybrechts securing a 167-checkout before Jenkins responded with a 140 finish. Jenkins then took the lead before Huybrechts took four legs on the bounce, securing a 152-checkout in the fifth leg, to make it 5-2. 

Huybrechts' lead was then stretched to 9-5 before a Shanghai, 120, finish started a Jenkins comeback. A further three legs on the spin, Jenkins had managed to level the match at 9-9 to force extra time since the winner had to be by two legs. The Bull would finally take the lead for the first time since the third leg before taking the 20th leg to dump Huybrechts out.

The penultimate match of the night saw the World Champion, Adrian Lewis, take the UK Champion, Robert Thornton. The Scot has had rough fortune in Blackpool, losing to Phil Taylor in the first round two years ago before exiting last year courtesy of a 10-0 whitewash by Gary Anderson. Unfortunately for Thornton, history would repeat itself again as Lewis decimated The Thorn by the same scoreline. The highlight came in leg nine with a 126 finish, on his way to continuing his 100% TV record over Thornton.

The final match of the night saw one of the pre-tournament favourites, Raymond Van Barneveld, begin his campaign against Michael Smith. The Dutchman looked in fine form, storming into 5-1 lead. Smith gave us a glimpse of what's in store in the future with a 126-checkout. Smith would then win a further two legs before a double eight gave Barneveld a 10-4 victory and a safe passage into the second round.