Mikuru Suzuki overcame the challenge of Laura Turner to begin her title defence as the second round line-ups were confirmed at the WDF World Championships.
Although she wasn’t at her best at the start of the game, Suzuki won the first set 3-0 and started the second with a 14-darter.
Turner stopped the rot with a break of a throw before moving 2-1 up with a 20-dart hold of throw. She couldn’t close out the set though, Suzuki winning the next last two legs in 39 darts to seal a 2-0 victory.
Suzuki will be looking to extend her unbeaten record at Lakeside against the former World Master Aileen de Graaf on Thursday evening.
Shawn Burt delivered the shock of the tournament so far earlier in the evening, defeating current PDC Tour Card holder and one of the pre-tournament favourites, Connor Scutt, 2-0.
Big finishes of 93 and 102 kept Burt in the running during the first set and when Scutt’s scoring power went away in the deciding leg, the Canadian was able to capitalise with a 20-darter.
Scutt showed flashes of his ability in the second set, a 114 checkout to break the Burt throw the highlight, but was unable to string a consistent run together. Burt broke back immediately though before recording a first 180 of the match as he wrapped things up with a 20-darter.
Burt, nicknamed Mr Intensity, joins fellow Canadian Rory Hansen in the last 32, where he’ll face another tough test in the shape of second seed Thibault Tricole.
Local lad Dave Parletti produced one of the best performances of his career to defeat Scotland’s Shaun McDonald and win his first game at a World Championships at the third attempt.
McDonald, the reigning Irish Classic champion, looked in firm control after winning the first set 3-0. He won just one more leg after the break, though, as Parletti won six of the next seven to seal a 2-1 victory.
A winner of five ranking events, Parletti finished with an 88.59 average and moves on to meet Andy Baetens on Wednesday afternoon.
James Richardson and Steve Hine had a total of eight PDC World Championship appearances to their credit coming into this weekend and both now have victories on the Lakeside stage under their belt.
Richardson came out like a train, winning the first five legs on the spin and looking like he was going to seal his last 32 spot in double-quick time. Sebastian Steyer roared back, however, winning the next three to keep the game alive and force a deciding set.
A pair of 17-darters were the difference maker in the third set for 'Ruthless', who moves on to face 10th seed Scott Marsh.
Steve Hine was pushed hard throughout by American debutant Kevin Luke but won both sets 3-2 to claim an impressive victory. Next up for the ‘The Muffin Man’ is the highly-fancied Leonard Gates.
Veronika Ihasz looked assured and confident as she whitewashed America’s Paula Murphy 2-0 in the first women’s game of the evening.
Ihasz, who made history by becoming the first Hungarian to play in the World Championships, found her form immediately by recording finishes of 92 and 69 in the opening set before wrapping up victory with a 16-darter.
Dave Parletti 2-1 Shaun McDonald
Veronika Ihasz 2-0 Paula Murphy
Shawn Burt 2-0 Connor Scutt
Steve Hine 2-0 Kevin Luke
Mikuru Suzuki 2-0 Laura Turner
James Richardson 2-1 Sebastian Steyer
All photo credit to Chris Sargeant / Tip Top Pics
