A DEFEAT for Phil Taylor was the main story on the opening day of the 2007 Topic International Darts League held in the Dutch town of Nijmegen.
The 13-times World Champion went in to the tournament on the back of a victory over main rival Raymond van Barneveld just 48 hours earlier in the Holsten Premier League Darts, but Welsh youngster Mark Webster held his nerve at 4-4 against the PDC world number one to take the next two legs for victory after Taylor had pulled back level with a 170 outshot.
Elsewhere, rising star James Wade recorded the second highest average of the day, 102.5, in defeating Darryl Fitton in an eleventh leg decider.
Adrian Lewis edged out Webster's compatriot Barrie Bates by the same scoreline, despite 2006 UK Open finalist Bates hauling back a 5-2 deficit to 5-5.
Three-time and defending champion Van Barneveld averaged over 103 as he disposed of Scott Waites 6-2, hitting seven perfect darts in one leg as well as a 156 check-out, whilst Jelle Klaasen defeated Dennis Priestley 6-4 after being 4-1 up only to find himself pegged back by the Yorkshireman.
2005 champion Mervyn King was eliminated after two final-leg defeats: first to Roland Scholten and then to Wayne Mardle, but Gary Anderson heads Group A after two wins on the tournament's first day.
Group B is wide open with all four players - John Part, Peter Manley, Simon Whitlock and Gary Robson - all winning and losing one match each, so the winners of the final two games will progress to the second group stage, which starts on Tuesday.
PDC stars Colin Lloyd, Mark Dudbridge and Ronnie Baxter also recorded wins and are well placed to progress when the group stages recommence on Sunday.
Click here for full collated results & schedule of play
Group A:
Gary Anderson 6 - 3 Wayne Mardle
Roland Scholten 6 - 5 Mervyn King
Gary Anderson 6 - 2 Roland Scholten
Wayne Mardle 6 - 5 Mervyn King
Group B:
Gary Robson 6 - 3 Simon Whitlock
Peter Manley 6 - 4 John Part
Simon Whitlock 6 - 3 Peter Manley
John Part 6 - 4 Gary Robson
Group C:
Tony Eccles 6 - 3 Andy Hamilton
Michael van Gerwen 6 - 4 Terry Jenkins
Group D:
Martin Atkins 6 - 3 Ross Montgomery
Raymond van Barneveld 6 - 2 Scott Waites
Group E:
Adrian Lewis 6 - 5 Barrie Bates
Martin Adams 6 - 5 Mario Robbe
Group F:
Colin Lloyd 6 - 4 Tony O'Shea
Mark Dudbridge 6 - 2 Co Stompe
Group G:
James Wade 6 - 5 Darryl Fitton
Jelle Klaasen 6 - 4 Dennis Priestley
Group H:
Mark Webster 6 - 4 Phil Taylor
Ronnie Baxter 6 - 1 Niels de Ruiter