Hitman Guns Down World Number One!

GARY WELDING 3-2 COLIN LLOYD
(3-0, 3-1, 0-3, 1-3, 0-3)

Click here for an Audio Interview with Gary Welding in DartsTV

Qualifier Gary Welding produced the biggest shock of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 3-2 win over number one seed Colin Lloyd.

The St Helens-based builder built up a reputation as a giant-killer by reaching the quarter-finals of last year's World Grand Prix.

He defeated Wayne Mardle in that event before losing 4-0 to Lloyd - but avenged that with an incredible comeback on his Circus Tavern debut.

Such an outcome looked unlikely going into the game, with Welding priced at 7/1 going into the contest.

And it looked even less possible when Lloyd stormed into a 2-0 lead, winning six of the first seven legs and hitting three maximum 180's along with a 121 finish.

But Welding incredibly turned around his game, averaging 110 to take the third set 3-0, responding with two maximums and a 100 checkout.

He won the next two legs and, though Lloyd was able to stem the tide by landing double eight, Welding levelled the tie at 2-2.

The 42-year-old then reeled off three more legs to win the decider without reply and complete a remarkable upset.

"I was confident of beating him but at 2-0 I thought I'd be embarrassed again," said Welding, still smarting from his loss in Ireland.

"But I said to myself that would never happen again. The crowd were chanting 'easy, easy' and I was a bit insulted about being 7/1 in a two-horse race so I just stuck in there.

"When I won a set Colin went a little bit and I knew I had to nick a leg against the darts. He didn't recover from that and at 2-2 I thought I was the better player.

"Colin had three bounce-outs at the wrong time, but he has been playing so well and ruling things on the circuit.

"I like the glory and and I knew if I beat the world number one, in his home county of Essex, I would get some glory!"

Match Stats