TON-PLUS finishes helped Denbigh darts ace Mark Webster to a notable success.
Sunday afternoon saw Webster make his debut in the PDC Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace and it proved to be a winning debut as he saw off 13th seed Mark Walsh 3-2 in sets.
The 2008 Lakeside World Professional Darts champion moved onto the PDC circuit in February and battled to qualify for a first PDC World Championship, where he took on the world number 13 Walsh, who beat top dog Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor earlier this year.
Webster hit three fantastic ton-plus finishes in coming from a set down to lead 2-1, only for Walsh to take the fourth set against the darts and stay in the game.
However, the left-hander kicked off the deciding set with a 124 finish, and took two of the next three legs to book his second-round spot and a date with Peter Manley after Christmas.
“There was a lot of pressure on me when I joined the PDC but hopefully this is the start of good things for me and I can kick on from here,” said Webster afterwards.
“I enjoyed it and can have a nice Christmas now.
“I know I can play good darts and that was a gritty performance which hopefully will hold me in good stead.”
Walsh started the match confidently with a 14-dart finish which included the first maximum of the game.
Webster won the second leg, but Walsh regained the lead with an 83 finish on the bullseye and secured the opening set with 13-dart finish.
In the second set, Webster converted a 101 checkout and then broke throw by hitting double ten for a 2-0 lead.
The Denbigh ace won the set in the third leg to level the match, before kicking off the third set with a fantastic 130 checkout.
Webster won his fifth leg in a row with a two-dart 100 finish before Walsh managed to stop the rot to win the third leg of the set.
Webster missed numerous chances to win the set in the fourth leg allowing Walsh to keep the set alive.
The deciding leg saw doubles missed by both players, but it was Webster who landed a pressure double one with his last dart to take a 2-1 advantage.
At the start of the fourth set Walsh managed to break throw after his opponent missed two darts at double ten.
Walsh doubled his advantage by winning the second leg despite Webster registering a maximum.
Webster won the third after Walsh missed a dart for a 160 checkout to take the set, but the Watford man landed double top in the fourth to send the match the full distance.
Many punters thought the tie was too close to call and predicted it would go to a deciding set.
The final set began in superb fashion, as Walsh hit back-to-back maximums only to see Webster hit a 180 of his own and follow that with a 124 checkout to take the opening leg.
Walsh won the second, but missed two clear chances at double top to take the third leg and Webster stepped in to hit the same double.
That put Webster one leg away from the match and he hit double top once again to seal a great win.
“I’ve been poor by my own standards this year and some people have criticised me,” added Webster.
“But I’ve found some form in recent weeks and felt confident coming out on stage today.
“Hopefully I can kick on now after this win.”