MARK WALSH 3-1 CONNIE FINNAN

MARK WALSH came from a set down to defeat Warren French 3-1 in the opening round of the 2012 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

The Grand Slam of Darts semi-finalist looked set to become a fourth seed of Sunday evening's play to be knocked out when he lost the first set to the New Zealand national champion.

However he battled back well to win nine of the next 11 legs for victory, and will now play either Kevin Painter or Arron Monk in round two.

French, who defeated Connie Finnan in a deciding leg earlier in the evening in their preliminary round match, held throw with a 60 finish at the start of the match and then took the second by landing double top.

Walsh hit a 180 in the process of taking the third leg against the darts and then hit double top to win the fourth.

The New Zealander produced some excellent scoring in the decider as a 177 left him 24 after 12 darts, and hit double 12 at the first time of asking to claim the first set.

Walsh defied a 180 from French to take the first leg of the second set and then won the second by landing double seven with his third dart.

The world number 11 missed four darts to win the set in the third leg and French made his opponent pay by taking out 70 to stay alive.

The fourth saw Walsh hit back-to-back maximums and he went on to win the leg in 14 darts to level the match.

Walsh secured a break of throw at the start of set four by landing double top, and the second soon followed, with the aid of his fourth 180 of the game.

The Hertfordshire player, who enjoyed an excellent run to the semi-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts last month, won his fourth leg in a row to win the set and lead 2-1 in the game.

Both players held throw in the opening two legs of the fourth set before Walsh hit an 11-darter to move one leg away from victory.

Walsh then duly sealed the win in the fourth leg by hitting double top to end the New Zealander's hopes and progress to the last 32.

"When I lost the first set I did start to worry a little bit, but I buckled down and got the win because it's the result that counts," said Walsh.

"There was something missing in my game tonight, the darts weren't consistent and they didn't feel right in my hand."