DENNIS SMITH 3-2 MARK SALMON
(2-3, 0-3, 3-1, 3-2, 6-4)

DENNIS SMITH came back from two sets down to defeat qualifier Mark Salmon 3-2 in the first round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

The former Purfleet semi-finalist looked set for a shock early exit after losing the opening two sets to the Welshman.

But he showed great battling qualities to fight back and level the match before edging out the PDPA qualifier in a deciding set tie break.

Salmon found himself 2-1 down in the first set before winning five successive legs to move 2-0 ahead in the match.

Smith then went on his own run, taking the third set without reply and hitting a 13 dart leg on the way to levelling matters in the fourth.

The final set saw the players trade legs like boxers searching for the knockout punch as the game moved into sudden death after the pair were locked at 2-2.

Smith took the fifth leg before Salmon won the next two to move 4-3 up, but the former semi-finalist saw his experience on the big stage shine through with three successive legs to win the game.

"I'm absolutely over the moon," he said. "Mark played brilliantly and it was a fantastic match.

"When I brought it back to 2-2 I thought I had done enough to bury him as it was my darts in the final set. But fair play to Mark, he carried on digging in and I take my hat off to him.

"I thought I should have won the first set but was confident I could break his throw in the second, but he went 2-0 up and I was a worried man!

"It's very hard because it's earlier than normal for all the players and all you want to do is win the first game.

"But I can go home and enjoy Christmas now, and come back for the second round ready to go."

Smith reached the semi-finals of the Sky Bet World Grand Prix in October, and he admitted his form since July has been a confidence boost.

"The first part of the year was rubbish and I couldn't win an argument to be honest," he added. "Blackpool came along and I was considering whether to give up, but I got to the quarters.

"After that I started to play really well and got to the semis in Ireland. They say to me that it comes in threes, I've made the quarters and semis, so hopefully it might be the final here!"

Match Stats