ADRIAN LEWIS secured a 6-3 win over Ted Evetts at the Danish Darts Open, as the European Tour event began on Friday.
The two-time World Champion reached the final of the Gibraltar Darts Trophy two weeks previously, and kept up the winning habit in round one of this weekend’s £135,000 event.
Lewis didn’t take long to take full control of the tie as he opened up a commanding 4-1 lead over Evetts, who is the current leader on the PDC Unicorn Development Tour Order of Merit.
Evetts fought back to reduce the deficit to 5-3, but the four-time World Cup of Darts winner proved too strong, wrapping up the victory to set up a mouth-watering second round clash with Michael Smith.
“It was a tough game even though Ted never really got going,” said Lewis, who is aiming to work his way back into the world’s top 16.
“Hopefully I can carry on winning like I did in Gibraltar and this time go all the way and win it.
“I felt a bit under pressure to perform in front of such a great crowd, the Danish fans were fantastic tonight and I can’t wait to play in front of them again tomorrow.”
Madars Razma produced the performance of the day as he threw a magnificent 104.86 average to whitewash Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-0, and he will now take on Joe Cullen.
Reigning Junior Darts Corporation World Champion Rusty-Jake Rodriguez got the event off to a flying start in the first game of the day, edging out William O’Connor in a 6-5 thriller and he will face James Wade in tomorrow’s second round.
One of the form players in the sport, Jermaine Wattimena continued his progress with a 6-5 win over Wayne Jones, rattling off the final three legs to complete a magnificent turnaround and set up a tie with Simon Whitlock.
Barry Lynn, making his first European Tour appearance in over four years, picked up his first ever win on the continent with a surprise 6-5 defeat of Chris Dobey to set up a meeting with world number two Peter Wright.
Robert Thornton’s search for a first win on the European Tour in 2018 will go on after Scott Taylor scrapped his way to a 6-5 victory in another 11-leg contest in Copenhagen to set up a meeting with world number one Michael van Gerwen.
Gibraltar Darts Trophy quarter-finalist Paul Nicholson suffered a 6-4 defeat to Yorkshireman Peter Jacques who enjoyed a winning return to the European Tour in 2018 to set up a tie with Stephen Bunting.
Brendan Dolan avenged Northern Ireland's World Cup loss to Germany as he punished Martin Schindler's 15 missed darts at double to wrap up a 6-4 victory and he will now take on John Henderson.
Steve West proved too strong for Denmark's Per Laursen despite a big backing from the Copenhagen crowd, and West will now come up against Ian White.
Dutch ace Jelle Klaasen had to dig deep to end his four-game winless run on the European Tour in a thrilling opening game of the evening, and will now face Gerwyn Price.
Legend of the sport Steve Beaton fired in an impressive 100.98 average to see off Adam Huckvale 6-2 in the battle of experience against youth, and he will now face World Champion Rob Cross.
The final game of the day saw Max Hopp secure a 6-4 victory over fellow-German Dragutin Horvat, and he will now take on Mervyn King for a third time this year.
Rapid Ricky Evans produced a superb turnaround from 4-0 down to pick up his first win on the European Tour in 2018 against Dennis Nilsson, and he will now play Daryl Gurney.
Spain’s Cristo Reyes defeated Denmark’s Brian Lokken 6-2, rattling off the final four legs of the contest to silence the Copenhagen crowd to set up a meeting with Darren Webster.
Ryan Joyce produced a solid display, including an impressive 132 checkout, in his comfortable 6-2 triumph over Polish number one Krzysztof Ratajski to set up a clash with Mensur Suljovic.
Darius Labanauskas saw off 2018 European Darts Open semi-finalist Richard North 6-5 in a topsy-turvy affair, and he will now play Jonny Clayton.
Saturday's second round action sees the 16 seeded players enter the tournament, with coverage to be streamed from 1.15pm and 7.15pm local time.
The Danish Darts Open will be broadcast throughout the weekend for PDCTV-HD Subscribers, and through a series of bookmakers' websites worldwide.
Schedule of Play
Friday June 22
First Round
Afternoon Session
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 6-5 William O’Connor
Ryan Joyce 6-2 Krzysztof Ratajski
Brendan Dolan 6-4 Martin Schindler
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Wayne Jones
Darius Labanauskas 6-5 Richard North
Steve Beaton 6-2 Adam Huckvale
Barry Lynn 6-5 Chris Dobey
Madars Razma 6-0 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Evening Session
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Mickey Mansell
Scott Taylor 6-5 Robert Thornton
Steve West 6-4 Per Laursen
Peter Jacques 6-4 Paul Nicholson
Ricky Evans 6-4 Dennis Nilsson
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Ted Evetts
Cristo Reyes 6-2 Brian Lokken
Max Hopp 6-4 Dragutin Horvat
Saturday June 23
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1pm local time, 12pm BST)
John Henderson v Brendan Dolan
Joe Cullen v Madars Razma
Gerwyn Price v Jelle Klaasen
Jonny Clayton v Darius Labanauskas
James Wade v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Darren Webster v Cristo Reyes
Simon Whitlock v Jermaine Wattimena
Stephen Bunting v Peter Jacques
Evening Session (7.15pm local time, 6.15pm BST)
Mervyn King v Max Hopp
Mensur Suljovic v Ryan Joyce
Peter Wright v Barry Lynn
Michael Smith v Adrian Lewis
Rob Cross v Steve Beaton
Daryl Gurney v Ricky Evans
Michael van Gerwen v Scott Taylor
Ian White v Steve West
Sunday June 24
Afternoon Session (1pm local time, 12pm BST)
Third Round
Evening Session (7.15pm local time, 6.15pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Format
All games up to and including the quarter-finals are the best of 11 legs, with the semi-finals the best of 13 legs and the final the best of 15 legs.
Sunday's games played in Draw Bracket order.
Watch Online
PDC European Tour events can be watched online by all PDCTV-HD Subscribers worldwide - click here to visit PDCTV-HD.
Live coverage with faster streams may also be available at the following bookmakers' websites:
bet365 - www.bet365.com - Worldwide
Bet90 - www.bet90.com - Brazil, Germany
Betfair - www.betfair.com - Brazil, Denmark, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Wales
Betfred - www.betfred.com - England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
bwin - www.bwin.com - Worldwide
FDJ - www.fdj-gaming-solutions.com - France
Fonbet - www.fonbet.com - Armenia, Belarus, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, Russian federation, Ukraine
Legolasbet - www.legolas.bet - Sweden
Ligastavok - www.ligastavok.ru/ - Russia
Marathonbet - www.betmarathon.com - Belarus, Russian federation, Spain, Ukraine
Napoleonbet - www.en-gb.sports.napoleongames.be - Belgium
Nike - www.nike.sk - Slovakia
Olimp - www.betolimp.com - Kazakhstan, Russian federation
Paddy Power - www.paddypower.com/ - England, Ireland, Northern ireland, Scotland, Wales
Stoiximan - www.stoiximan.gr - Cyprus, Greece, Romania
Supabets - www.supabets.com.gh - Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa
Superbet - www.superbet.ro/ - Romania, Poland
Tempobet - www.tempobet.org - Europe
Totogaming - www.totogaming.am/en/ - Armenia
Tipsport - www.tipsport.cz - Czech Republic & Slovakia
Unibet - www.unibet.com - Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, United Kingdom
William Hill - www.williamhill.com - Great Britain, Ireland, Spain
Winlinebet - www.winlinebet.ru - Russia
World Sports Betting - www.worldsportsbetting.co.za - Namibia, South Africa