STEVE BEATON 3-2 MAGNUS CARIS

STEVE BEATON came back from 2-0 down to claim a remarkable first round victory against Magnus Caris at the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

Beaton produced an under-par display in the first two sets and looked set for a first round exit at Alexandra Palace for a second consecutive year.

But Caris missed three darts to seal a straight sets victory and Beaton, with enthusiastic support from the Alexandra Palace crowd, won the next two with the aid of eight straight legs to force deciding set, which he won in a tie-breaker.

Caris made a good start to the match by holding throw on double 12 to win the first leg and hit double top after Beaton missed two darts at doubles.

The Swede, making his third successove appearance at Alexandra Palace, then won the set in the third leg with an excellent 107 checkout.

Caris also made a positive start to the second set by breaking throw to win the first leg before hitting double top for the second consecutive leg to put Beaton under immense pressure.

Caris was off-target with five attempts at doubles to win the set in the third leg and Beaton managed to hit double ten to take his first leg of the match.

Caris had the advantage of throw in the fourth leg and he hit double top for the third time in the set to double his lead.

The Swede began the third set with an accomplished 13-dart finish before Beaton landed double nine to win just his second leg of the match.

Both players held throw in the next two legs before a dramatic decider saw Caris miss three darts to win the match and Beaton held his nerve to land double four to keep the match alive.

The start of the fourth set saw opportunities missed by both men to claim the leg before Beaton won it on double four.

The 1996 Lakeside Champion then won his fifth leg in a row by taking out 65 in two darts before hitting double 16 to set up a final-set decider.

Caris won his first leg in nine at the start of the set, with a two-dart 83 finish, before Beaton won the second by taking out 62.

Caris won the third leg to move one away from the match for a second time, after his opponent missed two chances at double 16.

Beaton hit double 16 to level at 2-2 and then took the fifth leg with an excellent 100 finish to break throw.

That proved to be vital as the former World Champion took out 61 to win the sixth leg and end an incredible match.