Darren Penhall's finishing prowess powers him to victory over Jules Van Dongen at the World Darts Championships

In a battle of the dual nationalities, it was the English-Australian Darren Penhall who prevailed 3-1 over the Dutch-American, Jules van Dongen, to reach the second round of the World Darts Championship.

With every leg in the opening set going with the throw, Penhall was the man to take the 1-0 lead. His success on the outer ring proving the key difference in the opening set 3/4 (75%) compared to Van Dongen's more wasteful, 2/6 (33%).

Bouncing back well in the opening let of set 2, Van Dongen fired in his first maximum and sealed a twelve-darter with a brilliant 123 checkout. Firing back with a 180 of his own in leg 2, Penhall levelled the set. Van Dongen had kicked into life though and as he pushed his average up over 97, the Dutch-American moved 2-1 up in the set. With Penhall missing a handful of darts to keep the set alive in the following leg, Van Dongen punished to get back on level terms via double 5.

Penhall seemed to have rectified his doubling woes from the end of set 2 after the break. With back-to-back ton-plus finishes of 108 and 120, the English-Australian moved two legs clear. After Van Dongen missed three clear darts at double 8 in leg 3, Penhall was on hand to restore his set advantage, leading 2-1.

In the opening leg of set 4, Van Dongen wired the bullseye and disappointingly for him, Penhall was unforgiving, taking out a ruthless 93 to break the throw. Penhall doubled his advantage in the following leg, leaving Van Dongen on the brink of an exit. Although he pulled one leg back, back-to-back 180s when throwing for the match, Penhall secured the win on double 6 in twelve darts.