William Hill World Championship Day Seven

LEWIS AND KLAASEN CLAIM BRILLIANT WINS AS FIRST ROUND CONCLUDES

ADRIAN LEWIS kicked off his bid to win a third William Hill World Darts Championship title with a straight sets win as Dutch duo Jelle Klaasen and Benito van de Pas and England's Andrew Gilding also enjoyed wins on the final night of first round action.

Two-time World Champion Lewis completed his victory over Jan Dekker with a brilliant 164 checkout, hitting six 180s and averaging just under 100 as he moved into the last 32.

"I was brilliant in patches and mediocre at times," said Lewis, who had landed a nine-darter at Alexandra Palace last year and had six perfect darts in one leg against Dekker.

"It's always hard in the first round but I've been putting the work in and I think it showed. I'll work even harder over the Christmas period. I'm getting there and I'll be ready for the next round."

Lewis will take on Gilding in the second round after the 2015 UK Open semi-finalist defeated Wales' Gerwyn Price in three sets in their opener.

Gilding opened the tie with a sensational 132 finish before going on to win each set in four legs.

"It was good start and I'm very happy with the win in the end," said Gilding, who enjoyed his first victory on the Alexandra Palace stage.

"I think I got a pretty bad draw in Gerwyn. I thought I'd have to average nearer to 100 to beat him but I'll take that. I'm through to the first round and that's what is important."

Klaasen became the only player to record a three-figure average in the pre-Christmas preliminary and first rounds as he dismantled Joe Cullen in three sets.

The former Lakeside Champion averaged 102.54 in a brilliant triumph, hitting five 180s in the process of setting up a tie with Mervyn King in round two.

"I'm happy with my performance," said Klaasen, who has won two Players Championship events during 2015.

"You have to play like that against players like Joe. You can't afford to give them chances. He played well but fortunately I put in a good performance and that's a great start for me."

Van de Pas tasted victory in the first round for the second year running as he defeated new World Youth Champion Max Hopp in four sets to move through and face Belgium's Dimitri Van den Bergh.

"I'm really happy with my performance," said the Dutch youngster, whose win included a 108 checkout.

"I felt good but I need to keep my form and hit my doubles better. I'll be staying here over Christmas and practising ready for the next game."

The action resumes with three second round matches on Boxing Day, including defending champion Gary Anderson's clash with Daryl Gurney.

Dave Chisnall takes on Christian Kist and Ricky Evans meets Jamie Caven, with play kicking off at 6pm following the Christmas break.

William Hill World Darts Championship

Wednesday December 23
Andrew Gilding 3-0 Gerwyn Price
Benito van de Pas 3-1 Max Hopp
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Jan Dekker
Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Joe Cullen

First Round - best of five sets

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MATCH INFORMATION
Andrew Gilding 3-0 Gerwyn Price
SET ONE: 3-1
Gilding produced a incredible checkout immediately, landing bull, bull, double 16 to complete a 132 combination. He then pegged double 19 before Price pinned tops but Gilding fired in his first 180 and took out 96 to win the set.

SET TWO: 3-1
Gilding took out 118 but Price levelled with a 54 finish. The 2015 UK Open semi-finalist edged back ahead by bedding double five and his third 180 help to take him within a set of victory.

SET THREE: 3-1
The pair exchanged 180s in the first leg, which Gilding won on tops. He then finished 36 before Price pulled a leg back but Gilding completed the victory with a 70 checkout.

Match Stats

Andrew Gilding	3-0	Gerwyn Price
17	100+	14
5	140+	9
0	170+	0
3	180	1
90.91	Average	83.86
132	High Finish	54
3	Breaks of Throw	0
9/19 47.37%	Checkout %	3/13 23.08%

Benito van de Pas 3-1 Max Hopp
SET ONE: 3-1
Van de Pas hit a 180 in the opening leg, which he won before taking out 54 to double his advantage. Hopp cleaned up 64 but it was the Dutchman who took the set, landing double 16.

SET TWO: 3-2
Van de Pas took out 82 but Hopp replied with an 81 finish. The next two legs were also shared before van de Pas took out 48 to edge the second set.

SET THREE: 2-3
Hopp fell two legs behind but landed double ten, took out 61 and pinned double eight to pull a set back.

SET FOUR: 3-1
Van de Pas took out 108 on the bull before Hopp levelled on double six but the Dutch ace's second 180 helped him move ahead before he completed the win on tops.

Match Stats

Benito van de Pas	3-1	Max Hopp
25	100+	17
10	140+	19
0	170+	0
2	180	4
87.98	Average	89.49
108	High Finish	81
3	Breaks of Throw	1
11/31 35.48%	Checkout %	7/28 25%

Adrian Lewis 3-0 Jan Dekker
SET ONE: 3-2
Lewis kicked off with a 68 finish before Dekker produced back-to-back checkouts of 108 and 107. Lewis then threatened a nine-darter by starting the fourth leg with two 180s before taking out 93 to complete the leg in 11 darts. The two-time World Champion then hit a 174 and landed double five to take the first set.

SET TWO: 3-1
Lewis took the first two legs, hitting another maximum in the process, before Dekker pulled one back on double six. The world number five then hit his fourth 180 and finished 63 to double his lead.

SET THREE: 3-2
Dekker went two legs ahead thanks to finishes of 32 and 114 but Lewis hit back, scoring 180s in each of the next two legs before sealing victory with a sensational 164 checkout.

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	3-0	Jan Dekker
13	100+	14
9	140+	4
1	170+	2
6	180	0
99.53	Average	89.68
164	High Finish	114
3	Breaks of Throw	2
9/18 50%	Checkout %	5/6 83.33%

Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Joe Cullen
SET ONE: 3-0
Klaasen took out back-to-back finishes of 97 and 78 before landing double 18 to take the first set rapidly.

SET TWO: 3-2
The first two legs went with the throw before Klaasen broke in a leg that saw both players hit 180s. Cullen broke back to level the set but the Dutchman produced a brilliant 12-darter, including two more maximums, to double his lead.

SET THREE: 3-0
Klaasen continued his dominance, taking three further legs to seal an impressive victory.

Match Stats