STEVE ALKER 3-1 ALAN CAVES
(3-0, 3-2, 0-3, 3-0)
STEVE ALKER upset number 24 seed Alan Caves 3-1 to reach the second round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Welshman Alker showed few nerves on his Circus Tavern debut by racing into one-set lead, winning the first four legs without reply before Caves finally landed a double.
Alker managed to win the second set 3-2, but his opponent found his range in the third.
He included a 14-dart leg in taking the set 3-0 to pull back to 2-1 in the match.
However, Alker regained his composure and punished a nervy Caves in the next set to wrap up victory.
"I'm over the moon," said Alker, who reached the last 32 at the Budweiser UK Open in his only previous appearance in a major PDC event.
"It was hard work. Alan's a cracking player and he's worked his way up to 24th in the world but he didn't play as well as he can.
"I took my chances when he let me in and though he came back in the third set, he let me in one too many times.
"I'm over the moon. I can go home and enjoy Christmas now before coming back for my next game."
Match Stats
|
Alan Caves |
1-3 |
Steve Alker |
|
13 |
100+ |
21 |
|
10 |
140+ |
8 |
|
1 |
180 |
4 |
|
27.86 |
Ave1 |
28.91 |
|
83.58 |
Ave3 |
86.73 |