The opening day of the PDC World Darts Championship at London's iconic Alexandra Palace delivered high drama, as seeds were tested and nerves were shredded in a series of gripping first-round encounters.
Dobey's Double Trouble Almost Proves Costly
World number eight Chris Dobey eventually secured his passage to the second round, but not before surviving a significant scare against China's Zong Xiaochen. The match finished 3-1 in favour of the Englishman, a scoreline that belied the tension on the Ally Pally stage.
Dobey, a semi-finalist in the 2023 tournament, was expected to progress comfortably. However, a persistent failure to hit the crucial finishing doubles in the early stages threatened to derail his campaign. After taking the first set, Dobey's inability to find double top allowed his opponent to seize the second set and level the match.
The favourite continued to be dogged by missed opportunities in the fourth set, but Zong could not capitalise on the reprieves offered. Dobey finally found his composure to wrap up the victory, avoiding what would have been a major upset on the opening day.
Soutar's Agonising Path to Victory
In one of the most dramatic matches of the championship so far, Scotland's Alan Soutar endured a nerve-shredding ordeal before finally defeating Finland's Teemu Harju. The Dundee firefighter missed an astonishing 15 match darts before clinching victory in a sudden-death leg.
Soutar had raced into a two-set lead and had multiple chances to seal a 3-0 win in the fourth set. He squandered 10 match darts in that set alone, allowing Harju to claw his way back into contention and force a deciding fifth set.
The pendulum swung again in the final set, with Harju himself missing four match darts when leading 3-2. Ultimately, it was Soutar who held his nerve at the 16th attempt to win the match, taking out double 16 to secure a truly epic 3-2 triumph.
Williams and Hood Ease Through
Elsewhere on the opening day, there were more straightforward passages for other competitors. Scott Williams, another former semi-finalist, enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Paolo Nebrida of the Philippines.
Justin Hood also progressed with ease, delivering a whitewash 3-0 win against Welshman Nick Kenny to book his place in the next round.
The evening session was set to feature 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price, who was scheduled to face Czech outsider Adam Gawlas. The Iceman's performance was keenly anticipated by the packed crowd at Ally Pally.
The dramatic events underline the unique pressure and unpredictability of the World Championship stage, where even the most experienced players can be gripped by tension, creating unforgettable moments for the fans at Alexandra Palace.
