ALAN TABERN 3-1 CHRISTIAN PEREZ

ALAN TABERN survived a scare before defeating Philippines Christian Perez 3-1 in the first round of the 2012 Ladbrokes World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace.

Tabern took a two sets lead before Perez won the third and had chances to take the match the full distance, before Tabern came through to confirm a place in the last 32.

Tabern hit double eight to win the first leg after Perez was just off-target on double 10 for a 140 checkout.

The Philippine player produced an excellent 13-dart-finish to take the second leg before Tabern regained the lead by taking out 65, on double 16.

Tabern, who missed six darts at doubles to reach the third round in last year's event, hit double 10 in the fourth leg to establish an early lead.

Perez, who defeated Dietmar Burger in the Preliminary Round, hit a second maximum in the process of making a winning start to the second set.

Tabern won the second with a two-dart 68 finish before taking the third with an excellent 130 checkout.

The St.Helens player hit a maximum in the fourth leg and converted 121 finish to double his leave and leave Perez with a mountain to climb.

Tabern continued his superb finishing at the start of the fourth with a 149 checkout before Perez stopped his opponent run of winning legs by hitting double four with his third dart.

The third leg saw Tabern miss two darts at double 16 and Perez hit tops to break throw and the Philippine qualifier then hit double three in the next leg to claim the set.

Both players held throw in the opening two legs of the fourth set before Perez won the third on double four after Tabern missed three chances to break.

Tabern, a quarter-finalist in his first appearance at the World Championships in 2007, hit tops to win the fourth leg before Perez missed two darts at doubles to force a final set.

Those errors proved to be costly for Perez as the St.Helens man took out 122, on the bullseye, to close out the match in dramatic fashion.