Stevenson Rockets Through First Stage

Simon Stevenson (28.36) blasted through the first test of his quest to become the first three-peat Champion of Champions with a 3-0 win at The Fawn that contained legs in 18, 17, and 18 darts.

A 114 checkout lit up Luke Johnson's 3-1 success over Lee Rodmell, who himself nailed one of the three maximums added in the venue.

Danny Bull fired the other two and put away two legs in 18 darts during a 3-1 win that sees the former semi-finalist into the hat for the next round.

Sean Taylor, Alec Turner, and Scott Lawrey were the other winners, whilst it was mixed fortunes for the other two former winners playing in the Preliminary stage at the Indian Inn.

2013 champion Dan Johnson navigated the first stage with a 3-1 success, but 1996 champion Ralph Lancaster couldn't survive a last-leg deciding 3-2 loss against Rob May.

Former finalist Mark Shears was a 3-0 winner and was joined by Frankie Stout, Andrew Cook, Marc Webber, Simon Wilbraham, and Mark Hatherley in advancing to the Last 64 stage.

The next round will be played on Sunday, 23rd November, and the victors from this round of fixtures will be joined by the forty-nine recipients of a bye.