ANDY HAMILTON 3-2 ANTONIO ALCINAS

ANDY HAMILTON came from behind on two occasions to end the hopes of Spain's Antonio Alcinas in a first round thriller at the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

Hamilton, who missed a dart at double 18 for a nine-dart finish in the third set, will now face Vincent van der Voort for a place in the last 16 on December 27.

Alcinas made a blistering start to win the first set and also edged the third to lead 2-1, but Hamilton took six of the game's final seven legs in securing progression.

"I was disappointed to miss a dart at double 18 for the nine-darter, but the most important thing was to win the game, as there is so much pressure in these first round matches," said Hamilton.

"Antonio kept hitting the big scores throughout the game and I'm just happy to have made it through."

After his brave performance Alcinas said: "I'm delighted with my performance but the missed doubles in the final set really killed me."

Both players hit maximums in the opening leg before Hamilton took it with a 14-darter, finishing on double ten.

The Spanish ace, who lost to James Wade in last year's competition, hit a 15-darter to win the second leg and bettered that in the third with a superb 12-dart finish.

The next saw Alcinas miss a dart at bullseye to take the set, and Hamilton landed a 125 checkout to break back.

The deciding leg proved to be a dramatic affair as Hamilton missed a dart at double ten for the set and Alcinas hit double 16 at the first time of asking to establish an early lead.

Alcinas hit back-to-back maximums in the first leg of set two and went on to win it in 11 darts before both player missed two chances to take the second.

Hamilton eventually took it by hitting double 16 and then secured a break of throw with an excellent 110 finish.

The Stoke player then hit double 18 in the fourth leg to level the match and then hit a two-dart 86 finish to make a positive start to the third set.

Hamilton hit consecutive 180s in the second leg to leave the chance of a nine-darter.

The Stoke star hit a seventh treble 20, followed by treble 15 in his bid to finish 141, but his attempt at double 18 to achieve the magical feat was just below the bed.

Hamilton hit double four to take the leg in 12 darts, but missed three chances to win the set in the next and Alcinas hit double ten to keep the set alive.

Alcinas hit the same bed to win the fourth leg and then claimed the set in the deciding leg with a superb 123 checkout, completed on the bullseye.

Hamilton won the first leg of the fourth set by hitting double top at the first attempt and then took the second on double ten after Alcinas missed a dart at double 19 for a 158 checkout.

The 32-year-old from Majorca hit an excellent 11-darter to win the third leg, but Hamilton landed double eight in the next to send the match into a final set.

The fifth set began with Hamilton taking the first leg on double ten after Alcinas had missed two chances at the same double.

Hamilton then secured a break of throw in next by landing double eight with his last dart to move closer to victory, and when the Spaniard missed five darts at a double in the next his opponent made him pay by stepping up to hit double 16 for the triumph.