World number three Peter Wright was dumped out of the PDC World Darts Championship on Sunday night as Toni Alcinas pulled off a surprise 3-1 triumph.
The Spaniard took the first two sets against Scotland’s Wright, who was dressed in a Santa Claus themed outfit, and the 2014 finalist promptly pulled a set back.
But Wright found himself throwing to survive in the fourth set, which Alcinas won 3-2 before celebrating enthusiastically at Alexandra Palace.
PETER WRIGHT IS OUT OF THIS YEARS WORLD CHAMPS AT THE FIRST HURDLE | Alcinas dumps out the World number three, 3-1. What a win for the Spaniard#WHDarts pic.twitter.com/AiCtMXk6vr — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 16, 2018
Luke Humphries set up a second-round clash with Stephen Bunting by reeling off nine consecutive legs – including five 180s – to triumph 3-0 over Adam Hunt inside 20 minutes.
Newbury-born Humphries, 23, said afterwards: “If it weren’t for the development tour I wouldn’t be doing this.”
Darius Labanauskas became the first ever Lithuanian to reach the second round after completing a 3-1 victory against Matthew Edgar.
LABANAUSKAS THROUGH | The first ever Lithuanian is into round two#WHDarts pic.twitter.com/TE330lcPnV — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 16, 2018
Singapore’s Paul Lim, making his 23rd appearance in the competition, could not cope with Ross Smith as the Kent hopeful turned on the style with a 138 checkout during his dominant 3-1 victory.
Earlier, Dave Chisnall fought back from two sets down to beat Josh Payne and reach the third round.
Payne took the first two sets without dropping a leg but Chisnall broke him and then forced a decider.
“I thought I was going to lose 9-0! But I never give up and that’s what got me through today.” Dave Chisnall reflects on his incredible comeback win over Josh Payne… pic.twitter.com/lfWYx0Xvn2 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 16, 2018
Chisnall told pdc.tv: “I just had to believe that he wouldn’t be able to keep playing as well as he was and I know that I get better the longer games go on.”
Elsewhere in the morning session, Brendan Nolan defeated Yuanjun Liu of China 3-0, Germany’s Gabriel Clemens beat Aden Kirk in straight sets and William O’Connor dispatched Yordi Meeuwisse, also to nil.
Monday will see Labanauskas face four-time world champion Raymond Van Barneveld while Anastasia Dobromyslova is in action against Ryan Joyce in another eye-catching tie.
