"The level this year is higher than last year" - Pre-tournament favourite Andy Baetens realises Lakeside win won't be easy

Andy Baetens impressed in his opening match at the WDF World Championship. The 34-year-old Belgian defeated Sebastian Bialecki 3-0.

Baetens achieved an average of 94.82, no one so for has done better at Lakeside this year. "I'm really happy," Baetens told Tungsten Tales post-match. "Tough draw. Sebastian is also a very good player but I performed good today, so I'm happy."

'The Beast' is the number one seed in the Men's draw and a favourite for overall victory. "Yeah I'm a favourite. I played very good the whole year so now I average 94 I think so I'm happy with my performance so we will see."

Still, Baetens realizes that becoming world champion will be no easy feat. "The level this year is higher than last year," he says. "I feel there is more quality in the field of participants, especially a lot of good Dutch players like Wesley Plaisier and Jelle Klaasen." Baetens now gets a day's rest. Wednesday night he will take on 16th-seeded Scot Gary Stone, who was too strong in the second round 3-1 to Swede Ricky Nauman.