KEVIN PAINTER 3-1 ARRON MONK

KEVIN PAINTER began his bid for a second successive major title with a 3-1 defeat of promising youngster Arron Monk in the first round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Painter, who claimed his maiden major at the Cash Converters Players Championship in Doncaster a week ago, will now face Mark Walsh on Friday evening for a place in the last 16.

The 2004 finalist took a two-set lead before Monk won the third, but hit a sixth 180 of the game in edging a fourth-set decider to close out victory.

"My finishing was good again tonight and that was a major reason why I won in Doncaster last week," said Painter.

"Arron was really starting to find his range towards the end and I'm thankful that hit that double 16 to end the match because I was sweating there and didn't fancy a fifth set."

Both players struggled to find the winning double in the opening leg of the match before Painter landed double eight to make Monk pay for five missed attempts, and he then took the second with a confident 13-darter.

Monk won the third leg by hitting double top at the first attempt, but the Basingstoke youngster missed a dart at the same bed in the next and Painter took the leg to claim an early advantage.

Under-21 World Champion Monk, who won the PDPA Qualifier to play in this year's tournament, took the first leg of set two in impressive fashion by landing the bullseye for an 86 finish.

Painter won the second on double two after Monk was just off-target with another dart at the bull, and then won the next with a clinical 11-dart finish.

Monk hit double five to win the fourth leg, but Painter held throw in 14 darts to win the set and leave Monk a mountain to climb.

Monk won the first leg of the third set with a 70 finish before Painter held throw in the second with a 14-dart leg.

Monk took out an excellent 82 finish with his opponent waiting on a double to break throw in the third, but Painter won the fourth with a two-dart 64 to move one leg away from the match.

Monk held advantage of throw in the deciding leg, and the 21-year-old hit a 14-darter to reduce the deficit.

Painter opened an early advantage at the start of the fourth set by landing double top before Monk levelled by hitting double five with his third dart before Painter hit a 70 finish to move a leg away from the win for a second time.

Monk fought back superbly with a 12-dart leg to level the set, but his scoring deserted him at the start of the deciding leg, which saw Painter hit a timely maximum before finishing double 16 to progress