PDC World Darts Championship Round-up | Peter Wright begins campaign with unconvincing victory as Charlie Manby pips hot-headed Cameron Menzies in Ally Pally thriller

Two-time world champion Peter Wright marked his return to the PDC World Darts Championship with a 3-0 victory over Noa-Lynn van Leuven while tempers flared in a highly contested match between Charlie Manby and Cameron Menzies.

Wright, dressed as The Grinch, started on the front foot, breaking the throw before taking out an exceptional 152 to streak further ahead. He sealed the first set without missing a double, looking commanding on the outer ring even if his scoring was slightly patchy.

The pressure came in the second set from van Leuven who upped her game slightly. A 108 checkout before a 13-darter levelled the set once more. Nevertheless, Wright was able to fend off the charging van Leuven after a poor set saw Wright pin two double 19’s. He took it out on his next visit to the board, boasting a 75% checkout rate but more importantly a 2-0 lead.

Van Leuven missed a dart for another 108 checkout before sloppy arrows left Snakebite with an opportunity to punish her, and he did. The Scot would see out the rest of the match with ease, taking out 62 in three for a comfortable but unconvincing return to Ally Palace.

20-year-old Manby and Menzies played out one of the best matches at Ally Pally this year, with Manby showcasing his potential and talent by pipping the Scot 3-2 in an absolute classic. Menzies scoring from the off was at the highest order. It would be very-much needed with his doubles providing trouble. It took six darts to get over the line in leg one before an 11-darter after going seven into the nine put him in pole position. However, Manby managed to force himself back into the match. A last-leg decider was played where once more the Scot’s scoring power got him over the line. He had found five 180’s but only 3/15 on doubles.

‘Cammy’ started the second set with a 115 checkout on tops, ruthlessly punishing Manby for missed doubles at double 16. However, he was instantly broken back by Manby after more carelessness on the outer ring. It would go to all the way, with Manby going all guns blazing as he gets down to a double in 11. He finished with a 15-darter and drew level.

After Manby took the lead for the first time in the match, he was met by a barrage from his opponent. He pinned the double first time of asking three legs on the spin to clinch the leg in rampant fashion. It looked like he may have finally broken the young talent, but Manby stayed with Menzies. After going a break down he put it back on throw with an 11-darter before pinning double 16 to level the match, showing his huge courage and mentality in only his second match on stage.

It would prove to be a fifth and dramatic final set. Menzies took the lead before almost doubling it with a 156 checkout. Manby kept his composure before taking out his first ton+ in the match. 120 went on tops, earning him the chance to throw out the match. It was a truly spectacular ending. Menzies squandered his chance to level, all the while Manby was trying to seal the match. He missed six match darts before eventually getting over the line in the madhouse. While he was off celebrating the biggest moment in his life, Menzies was swallowing slowly digesting the painful loss. He exerted his anger on the table, bashing it before apologising to a chorus of boos from the crowd.

Brendan Dolan was pushed by World Championship debutant Tavis Dudeney but managed to come out on top 3-1 in a close match. It was a sluggish start from both players with struggles on the outer ring. Dudeney managed to get over the line with a 27-darter. However, Dolan soon got into his rhythm, coming close to taking out 138 on double 12 before settling for a 14-darter after the Englishman missed the bull for a 124 break. He then took out 106 before wrapping up the first set.

Dolan’s incredible array of finishing continued as he took out 101 utilising tops-tops for a fantastic finish. Dudeney answered with a 13-darter and forced a deciding leg for the set. With both players sitting on 170, the History Maker was the first to have the chance to reel it in. He did this to send the Ally Pally crowd berserk while moving Dolan further ahead.

The third set went primarily on hold, with each player finding joy when throwing first. This trend was almost broken when Dudeney spurned a set dart on tops as the Northern Irishman got himself out of jail on double one. However, he could do nothing about the 21-year-old pinning tops in the next leg to take the set. The holds continued through the fourth set with Dudeney increasingly looking more threatening. He had hit an incredible nine 180’s but his finishing consistently let him down, with four darts missed to stay in the match. After missing three match darts, Doland managed to get over the line on double four and secure a matchup against Ryan Searle in the next round.

Mensur Suljovic secured a commandable 3-1 win over David Cameron. The Gentle Giant was making a 17th appearance at Ally Pally and used his experience to good use in the opening set, overcoming double struggles to win three legs on the bounce to take the lead. This included a clinical 79 outshot on double 11, averaging 96.

Cameron was failing to find his range on the outer ring. When at 1-1 in the second set, he missed a brace of darts at tops to break. Suljovic made him pay but could not clinch the set after squandering six set darts over two legs. Out of nothing, Cameron had a set on the board.

A 12-darter kept Cameron going on his merry way, but it would soon come crashing down after a dominant spell from Suljovic spelt doom for his World Championship chances. His favourite double 14 was on hand at the start of a five-leg spell where he could of and probably should have closed out the match. However, two missed match darts allowed Cameron to break back and keep his faint hopes alive. The Cameron remontada would be short-lived as Suljovic sealed the deal on double 16. He will face Joe Cullen in round two, with a clash against Luke Littler in round three on the cards.