KEVIN PAINTER powered through to the last 16 of the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Championship in London with a 4-0 win over Chris Mason.
On the first day of action after a two-day Christmas break, the 2004 runner-up was soon back into his stride at Alexandra Palace. Mason led in each of the first three sets but Painter hit back each time to move within sight of victory. Finishes of 11
2 and 125 then put him on the brink and, after a brief rally by Mason, Painter soon closed out the contest, finishing with a three-dart average of 92.04.
Welshman Barrie Bates edged out Holland's Erwin Extercatte 4-3 to reach the third round for the first time in his career. Both players had their chances in a tight contest but it was Bates who won after Extercatte took the match to a deciding set.
Kirk Shepherd is also through after a thriller against Irishman Mick McGowan which went to a tie-break. McGowan missed four darts to win the match and eventually it was Shepherd who prevailed 4-3 after taking the final set 5-3. Adrian Lewis, tipped by many as a future world champion, booked his place in the last 16 by seeing off Dutchman Vincent van der Voort 4-2 in a high-quality encounter.
Lewis threw a 10-darter to come from behind to take the first set and Van der Voort also led in the second before falling 2-0 behind.
Van der Voort took the third and the pair then again traded sets for Lewis to lead 3-2.
The scores were locked at 2-2 in the sixth set but Lewis fired a 180 to claim a decisive advantage.
Former world champion John Part eased through with a 4-1 win over German number one Mensur Suljovic. James Wade held off a spirited comeback from Steve Beaton to win 4-3.
The full article contains 337 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
