Defending champion Gary Anderson flies through and Kevin Painter shows why he’s The Artist
Day One of the PDC World Championship kicked off at Ally Pally last night
GARY ANDERSON kicked off the defence on his World Championship crown with a routine 3-0 victory over Mark Frost.
'The Flying Scotsman' is attempting to join Eric Bristow and Phil Taylor in a select group of players to have won three world titles in a row after successes against Taylor and Adrian Lewis in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
The 45-year-old started the match at a rapid pace, winning the first six legs, before 'Frosty the Throwman', who was making his World Championship debut, got his first leg with a 70 finish on the bullseye.
Anderson, who will play either John Henderson or Andrew Gilding in the next round, said: "I know Mark is a cracking player, but he didn't even turn up tonight so it was very hard.
"It's very nerve-wrecking going up there for the first game. Any player that says they aren't nervous about the first round is telling fibs."
When asked about the prospect of joining Bristow and Taylor, Anderson added: ";It might be the same club in a couple of weeks time!
"We can only try. The talent of the dart players coming through, the way Michael van Gerwen is playing, you've got James Wade, Adrian Lewis, Dave Chisnall. I think anyone can lift it this year."
Elsewhere, Anderson's protégé Michael Smith progressed in five tough sets against Ricky Evans.
Smith, who has endured a challenging 2016 campaign, winning only one game in the 2016 Premier League, will hope this tournament marks a change in fortunes.
Highlights of the match included a 143 checkout from Smith, and Evans scoring a 180 in only 2.16 seconds.
'Bully Boy' will now play either Steve West or Mervyn King in the second round, who take to the oche on Monday evening.
Opening the 2017 campaign, Kevin Painter got the best of Jamie Caven, running out a 3-1 winner, with 'The Artist' securing his second round berth with a superb 124 checkout.
"It's a game to forget as far as the standard goes, but it's a game to remember for me because it's been a long road back," said Painter who has endured a torrid time of it in 2016.
The Englishman added: "I've had a rough time over the last 18 months.
"The standard is so high. When you get problems away from the oche and personal stuff, you sort of lose your focus and concentration, and that's what I done.
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"I was losing ridiculous games. I've surrounded myself over the last few months with some decent people, got a lot of good support, practising with the guys back home and they've stuck with me. I just need a few wins."
The 49-year-old will likely face 16 time champion Taylor in the next round, who faces a qualifier in the first round.
The other match of the evening seen Jamie Lewis defeat Ireland's Mick McGowan 3-2.
It marks the first win at the World Championship's for 'Rasta' who hit five 180's and had a 50% checkout percentage on doubles.
The 25-year-old said: "It's my fifth time here, so to actually win a game feels amazing. I've lost the last four so it's good to be in the second round
"It wasn't the best of games, we both didn't play as well as we could, but I'm chuffed just to be in that second round."
The Welshman will face either third seed Peter Wright, or the winner of the preliminary round match between Warren Parry and Jerry Hendricks.
That match will be decided on Friday evening, as will fixtures between Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, and Steve Beaton vs Devon Petersen.