STEVE BROWN 6-5 PAUL NICHOLSON

STEVE BROWN edged out 2010 winner Paul Nicholson 6-5 in a first round thriller at the Cash Converters Players Championship as the pair battled out a dramatic contest.

Emerging Bristol ace Brown took an early 3-1 lead before Nicholson hit back to move 4-3 and 5-4 up.

Brown forced a deciding leg and held the edge after hitting two tons but could only watch as Nicholson missed the bull for a 170 checkout to take victory, before he returned to hit double top and snatch the win.

Although Nicholson hit a 180 in the game's opening leg, two missed doubles allowed Brown in on double top to lead before he took out 92 for a 14-darter in moving 2-0 up.

He also opened the third with a 180, but Nicholson finished 101 to get off the mark - only to pay for two further missed doubles as Brown took out double 12 for a 3-1 advantage.

Brown hit a 180 to lead 69 in the fifth, but Nicholson finished 79 for a 14-dart finish before levelling in 13 darts on double 14, punishing his opponent for misses at double 19 and double eight.

Nicholson then hit his second 180 of the game and a two-dart 65 finish to lead for the first time at 4-3, although Brown swiftly levelled with double ten for a 14-darter.

Nicholson landed another maximum on his way to a fifth leg, which he secured on double 16, although Brown denied him a chance to take victory by hitting tops to send the tie into a deciding leg.

Nicholson struggled to find the treble as the tension mounted, while Brown hit scores of 100 and 121 in being first to a finish, initially leaving 115 and setting up 60.

Nicholson had a chance to take victory with a maximum 170 checkout, but wired the bullseye to allow Brown back, and he made no mistake to hit his first dart at double top for the win.

"I'm relieved to have come through that," admitted Brown. "Paul's a fantastic player and he knows how to win, so to come through that shows my fighting spirit.

"My last leg was strong and I knew after he missed the bullseye that I couldn't give him a second chance."

He added: "I've worked so hard this year but had some hard draws with playing Raymond van Barneveld twice and also Phil Taylor and James Wade in the first round of TV events.

"It's been a long time coming for me to get the win but I've been very focused for the last five weeks and although it wasn't an amazing performance, I thought I was gritty."