Lewis roars to super win

JAMIE Lewis has reached the last 16 of the Professional Darts Corporation William Hill World Championship at Alexandra Palace in London.

Lewis, the world number 29, rose magnificently to the occasion to knock out 32-year-old fifth seed Daryl Gurney of Londonderry 4-3 after a tie-beak.

The 27-year-old, who was raised in Cardigan but now lives in Carmarthen, reached the semi-final last year. And he got off to a flyer against Gurney, dropping just two legs in taking a 2-0 sets lead and missing three darts at a double to win the third before Gurney fought back.

The Ulsterman won eight of the next nine legs to put himself within sight of the winning line in the deciding seventh set.

Just when it appeared the PDC Players Championship Finals winner would clinch his place in the fourth round, Lewis bounced back to take four consecutive legs, three of which were won in 14 darts, for a memorable victory.

He said: “When Daryl went 2-0 up in the seventh set I gave up, which is not like me.

“Fortunately I hit a 180 in frustration and everything clicked from there.

“I would like to say a big thank you for the support I have received from countless people in Wales, especially in Cardigan and Carmarthen.”

Lewis meets 38-year-old world number 12 Dave Chisnall of St Helens in the fourth round after the Christmas break.

But Pontyberem’s Jonny Clayton bowed out in the second round as he was beaten 3-1 by Dimitri van den Bergh.

The 24-year-old Belgian won the opening set thanks to three consecutive 13-darters, although the 15th seed came back in the second to level by winning legs in 11, 12 and 18 darts.

After taking the third set, van den Bergh, who hit eight maximums, roared back from 2-0 down in the fourth to clinch victory with a clinical 72 finish.