ADRIAN LEWIS was despatched screaming from Ally Pally after dropping to an ex-German panorama gardener in one of many largest upsets in darts historical past.
Jackpot was taken aside three-1 by 2,000-1 event outsider Kevin Munch, dropping for the primary time in the primary spherical of the World Darts Championship.
The No 7 seed turns into the very best casualty of this event and the fifth participant in the highest sixteen to exit at the primary hurdle.
Qualifier Munch hit eight 180s and took out finishes of 158, 124 and 118 – just a few months after giving up gardening to pay attention absolutely on darts.
The 29-yr-previous from Bochum, previously referred to as the Loopy Banana however now nicknamed the Dragon, stated: “I can’t consider what occurred up there.
“My boss advised me to not flip skilled and keep on working. However I’ll go to Q Faculty subsequent month and attempt to win my Tour card.”
“That is my largest win. There have been so many English and German followers calling my identify. That wasn’t regular. That is unbelievable.”
Lewis, the 2-time world champion, had a profession-threatening again damage in the summer time, which required painful exploratory surgical procedure.
And he was unable to duplicate the shape that took him to the top of the world, permitting Munich to dictate play and safe the well-known win in entrance of a passionate north London crowd.
Raymond van Barneveld had double 20 imaginative and prescient after he despatched Richard North packing three-zero earlier in the night.
The favored Dutchman, 50, typically wears glasses on the oche, particularly when his diabetes makes his eyes sore and blurry.
Within the opening spherical, the 5-time world champion was with out spectacles however he might see the second spherical clearly sufficient – securing the win with double prime.
Barney stated: “I’ve been sporting for contact lenses for the final six weeks. They’ve higher focus.
“At occasions, I struggled to learn my telephone. However this optician has helped my eyesight.
“Presently of the yr, you eat extra sweets in Holland and the sugar ranges go up. The final 2-three days I had blurred imaginative and prescient and dangerous eyes. However these lenses make me really feel higher.”
John Henderson referred to as out Michael van Gerwen after battering Finnish flop Mario Kantele three-zero.
The No.29 seed is the final man to beat the world No.1 on TV following his first-spherical triumph at the World Grand Prix in Dublin in October.
The Highlander sealed the primary and second units with checkouts of one hundred sixty and 121 respectively after which roared: “It might give me no higher pleasure to get to the semis after which get Michael once more!
“In case you can’t take inspiration from beating Van Gerwen in a televised match, then you’ll by no means get any inspiration in life. It was an ideal weekend and gave my profession an almighty raise.”
