Paul Nicholson exits PDC World Championship in round one

Paul Nicholson has crashed out of the PDC World Championship following a 3-2 defeat against Benito van de Pas in the first round at Alexandra Palace.

The 25th seed, who reached the quarter-finals of the showpiece event in 2009, managed to level the game up at 1-1 having initially fallen a set behind, although youngster Van de Pas took two of the next three sets to progress through.

Mark Webster overcame another Dutch debutant in Ron Meulenkamp with a 3-1 win, although he had to limp over the line somewhat following a profligate final set.

Both players threw an incredible 58 darts between them in the fourth leg, before the Welshman finally hit double one to set up a meeting with 16-time world champ Phil Taylor in round two.

Elsewhere, Dean Winstanley overcame countryman Wayne Jones 3-2, while preliminary qualifier Boris Koltsov - who had edged past Haruki Muramatsu 4-2 earlier in the afternoon - failed to truly trouble Kevin Painter with the experienced thrower coming out on top 3-1.