STEVE FARMER 4-2 KEVIN MUNCH

STEVE FARMER ended the spirited challenge of Germany's Kevin Munch with a 4-2 victory in the last 32 of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

Munch led the match 2-1 and had chances to lead 3-1, but Farmer edged the fourth set before taking six of the next eight legs to win the match.

The former landscape gardener from Shropshire will now return to Alexandra Palace after Christmas to compete in the third round for the first time, when he takes on number three seed James Wade.

Munch had defeated Malaysia's Lee Choon Peng in the preliminary round and received a walkover in the first round when Denis Ovens withdrew from their game with a back injury, but showed his quality by winning the game's first three legs to take the opening set without reply.

Farmer hit a 79 finish to make a positive start to set two, before the German replied by landing double 18 to take the second.

Farmer hit a 177 in the process of taking the third leg, but missed a dart at the bullseye to win the set in the next, and Munch hit double two to level.

The Shropshire thrower held advantage of throw in the deciding leg, and he hit double eight to level the match.

Munch held throw at the start of the third set, but missed three darts at double 16 to claim the second, which Farmer won with a 68 finish.

Farmer, who defeated Ronnie Baxter in the first round, won the third leg against the darts, but missed two darts to win the set in the next, and Munch hit double ten with a pressure third dart to level.

The deciding leg saw Farmer miss three darts to win the set - adding two the two of the previous leg - and Munch hit double 16 to lead the match for the second time.

Both players held throw in the first two legs of set four, before Farmer continued that trend by taking the third and Munch finished 85 for the fourth.

However, the German could not capitalise on seven missed darts for set from his opponent in the decider, allowing Farmer to return and hit double one to square the game.

Farmer then broke throw at the start of the fifth set, before hitting double top with his first darts to take the second.

He then broke the 23-year-old German's throw for the second time in the set to move 3-2 up, before taking the first leg of the sixth set with a clinical two-dart 97 finish.

Munch hit an excellent 121 checkout to win the second but Farmer moved a leg away from the match by winning the third with an 80 finish.

The fourth leg saw Farmer leave 84 after 12 darts, but Munch took out a fabulous 143 checkout to keep the game alive.

Farmer was first to a finish in the fifth, and he landed double 16 to win the match and set up a third round clash against James Wade.

"It's the best feeling in the world to be in the last 16, but it was a struggle," said Munch. "I'd never heard of Kevin before the tournament and thought I'd win it 4-0, but the flow wasn't there for me.

"Kevin played quite well and put me under pressure, but I think my experience told in the end.

"I'm going to try to take each game as it comes and I'll definitely play better than that in the last 16 against James, and it will be a great game. I'll have a nice Christmas now, relax and put plenty of practice in."