DENBIGH destroyer Mark Webster has been tipped to go a long way in his latest tilt at a global title.
Webster produced a sensational display as he swept aside the challenge of Mr Magic Steve Maish in the first round of the 2011 Ladborkes.com World Professional Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace.
The 2008 Lakeside world champion averaged a more than healthy 99 and dropped only two legs in his comfortable 3-0 Thursday night win.
Maish admitted afterwards: “Mark played absolutely superbly and I don’t think I did much wrong. If I had won the third set it could have been different because I’d have had the throw in the fourth, but Mark was brilliant and deserved to win.
“He’s playing superb and he’s going to go a long way in this tournament.”
Webster started the match with a maximum while winning the opening leg, and he doubled his lead by taking the next with a 13-dart finish.
Maish missed two chances at double 16 to win the third leg and Webster hit double eight to seal the set with some ease.
The second set saw Webster continue his winning run as he broke throw in the opening leg by landing double five.
Webster hit tops to win his fifth consecutive leg and defied a 180 from Maish in the third leg to secure the set by taking out 120.
The former Lakeside champion won the opening two legs of the third set, which included a 12-dart-finish in the first before Maish averted the dreaded whitewash by winning the third leg on double eight, and then took the next by hitting double one.
Any thoughts of a Maish comeback were ended after the Wigan-based thrower missed a dart at double top and Webster took out 78 to move into the second round.
“Things were pretty comfortable for me tonight and I carried on the form that I showed in the World Cup of Darts,” said Webster after his first round win.
“Steve did give me a fright but I managed to come through that and I’m pleased with the performance. The aim was to go up there, win 3-0 and go home for Christmas and I came through it well.”
Next up for Webster is a tasty second round meeting with Rocket Ronnie Baxter.
Webster and Baxter are first up on stage next Monday, with the match starting at 1.10pm.
Should Webster make it through, he will face former World Matchplay and World Grand Prix champion Colin ‘Jaws’ Lloyd or Mark Hylton in the third round on Wednesday, December 29 (8.25pm).
First round matches finish today (Thursday), while second round games are played from December 27-29.
The third round begins on December 29 and the final will be on Monday, January 3.