Kiwi ace takes on world

Southland’s Warren Parry will take on Dutch player Jerry Hendriks in the qualifying round at the World Darts Championship in London.

The two will go head-to-head in a best-of-five set contest winner will book spot in the first round against No 3 seed Peter Wright, of Scotland, later in the session.

Parry locked in a spot in the qualifying round of the when he won a New Zealand qualifier in his home city Invercargill in July.

The Invercargill meat worker was one of 12 New Zealand players who squared off for the spot and it was the home town hero who progressed with a stunning win in the final against Wellington’s Rob Szabo.

Parry beat Szabo seven legs to three in the best of 13 legs.

The 52-year-old is not new to winning a ticket to the World Championships with this the fourth time he has qualified.

World champion Gary Anderson opened his title defence in style yesterday, dealing to Mark Frost. Winner of the Auckland Darts Masters in June, Anderson was untroubled until Frost slotted a dramatic a bullseye check-out, then darted off to celebrate with a rowdy fan club.

Untroubled by that set back, Anderson easily took out the second set, then a tighter third stanza.

Jamie Lewis beat Mick Mcgowan 3-2, and looks set to play Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright in the next round, while 11th seed Michael Smith overcame Ricky Evans 3-2.