Mardle sees off challenge of maximum man carver in style

World No.9 Wayne Mardle fought back from a set down to see off America's Ray Carver in the first round of the Ladbrokes.com PDCWorld Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Carver threw seven maximums in the match, including one in thedeciding leg of the opening set, which he won 3-2.

Essex-based Mardle raced into the lead before Carver, the WorldNo51, levelled at 2-2.

But the Englishman, three times a semi-finalist in thetournament, sealed the final set with a double six to claim a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

Mardle said: "I've been playing great on the circuit this yearbut been atrocious in the TV events.

"I want to change that and believe I can win this."

Colin Lloyd lost an epic encounter 3-2 to Jan van der Rassel.

Lloyd, the World No12, battled into a 2-1 lead and his Dutchopponent, ranked 63, appeared in trouble when the Englishman threwto claim the match - but he missed what would have been a match-winning bullseye.

Van der Rassel took advantage of that let-off to force a decider and, after the first three legs went with the throw, he missed adouble eight that would have clinched victory.

Lloyd levelled at 2-2 in the fifth set before Van der Rassel, whohad won on his own throw to edge ahead, missed three doubles in arow to allow the favourite to get back on terms once more.

But it proved a temporary reprieve as the Dutchman vanquished hisout-of-sorts opponent, winning the deciding set 6-4.

World No.30 Mark Walsh won by the same margin against fellowEnglishman Adrian Gray.

Walsh raced into a 2-0 lead before Gray edged the third and foundtop form to level the match.

But Walsh completed checkouts of 97 and 110 in the final set ashe clinched a thrilling victory.

Tonight's matches:

First round: Phil Taylor (1) v Michael van Gerwen, R Scholten (8)v Matt Clark, Mervyn King (25) v Michael Rosenauer, Peter Manley (5)v Toon Greebe.