By Alex Moss
16 DECEMBER 2016 • 11:39PM
Peter Wright cruised into the second round of the William Hill World Darts Championship after beating Jerry Hendriks 3-0 tonight.
The third seed posted the highest average of the tournament so far, 101.06, as he lost just two legs on his way to a straight sets win over the Dutch qualifier.
Having earlier edged past New Zealand’s Warren Parry 2-0 in the preliminary round, Hendriks dropped the first set 3-0 against the Scot but got a leg on the board with a 156 checkout after the break.
Wright responded by taking out 131 in the next leg, and after the third and fourth legs both went with throw, Snakebite checked out 141 to break the Hendriks throw and go 2-0 up in sets.
Leading 2-1 in the second set, Hendriks squandered four darts at doubles to win the set 3-1 and level the match, with Wright going on to win the third set in consecutive legs to complete a whitewash win.
Earlier in the night, Jonny Clayton enjoyed a memorable World Championship debut after coming from a set behind to beat 19th seed Gerwyn Price 3-1.
It was a nervy start to the all-Welsh first round tie, with Clayton missing four darts at doubles to win the first set, which allowed Price to snatch it on double five.
Back came Clayton in the second set, though, as he took a 2-0 lead, before Price punished more missed doubles from the world number 60 to tie the set up at two legs each.
Clayton put his mistakes behind him in the deciding leg as he took out 116 to level the match up at 1-1.
And the World Championship debutant never looked back, finishing checkouts of 120 and 108 on his way to winning the next two sets, both 3-1, to knock out his higher ranked opponent.
Steve Beaton booked his place in the second round with a hard fought 3-1 win over South Africa’s Devon Petersen.
Making his 26th consecutive appearance in a World Championship, the 1996 Lakeside champion made the most of a slow start from his opponent to take the first set 3-0.
Petersen improved after the first break and returned the favour, winning the second set in straight legs to tie the match up at one set all.
Checkouts of 124 and 73 saw Beaton edge the third set 3-2, and then the Bronzed Adonis recorded another whitewash set win in the fourth set to book his place in the last 32.
2017 William Hill World Darts Championship
Schedule of Play
Preliminary Round and First Round
Friday December 16 (7pm)
Jerry Hendriks 2-0 Warren Parry (P)
Gerwyn Price (19) 1-3 Jonny Clayton
Steve Beaton (27) 3-1 Devon Petersen
Peter Wright (3) 3-0 Jerry Hendriks
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