By Alex Moss
8 JANUARY 2017 • 5:21PM
Three-time world champion Martin Adams booked his place in the last 16 at the BDO World Championship with a sudden-death leg victory against Ryan Joyce.
Lakeside debutant Joyce twice took a one set lead against Adams, leading 1-0 and 2-1, but was twice pegged back by the former England captain.
Joyce, who had beaten Sweden’s Dennis Nilsson in straight sets in the preliminary round yesterday, then looked to be closing in on a memorable victory when he won the first two legs of the deciding set.
But Adams fought back once again, with checkouts of 129 and 86 in the next two legs to force a tie-break.
Both players were clinical on the doubles in the final set, with Joyce landing double 18 to move to within a leg of victory again at 3-2.
But after missing one dart at the same target in the next leg, Joyce was punished as Adams produced a brilliant 115 checkout on tops to keep the match alive.
Joyce edged in front again at 4-3, before Adams took the next two legs to move 5-4 in front and moments away from victory when he left 46 in the next leg.
But Joyce refused to give in and fired in a sensational 164 finish to force a sudden-death leg, which Adams won on double nine to squeeze through to the second round.
Second seed Scott Mitchell powered through to the second round with a comfortable 3-0 win over New Zealand qualifier Mark McGrath this afternoon.
The 2015 world champion dropped just two legs as he made it through to the last 16 at Lakeside for the fifth consecutive year.
McGrath had come back from 2-0 down to beat Roger Janssen 3-2 in the preliminary round last night, but was never able to recover from another slow start against Mitchell.
After winning the first five legs to go 1-0 up in sets and 2-0 up in legs, Mitchell clinched the second and third sets 3-1 to win in straight sets.
Lisa Ashton began her bid to win a third ladies world title with a 2-0 win over Sharon Prins in the first round this afternoon.
A back and forth first set went the way of the two-time champion, with all five legs going with throw, yet Prins had a dart to pinch the set, missing the bullseye for an 86 checkout in the deciding leg.
In the second set Ashton brushed aside her Dutch opponent, averaging 107.37 and finishing legs in 14, 12 (140 checkout) and 16 darts to complete a 2-0 victory.
Paul Hogan made a winning return to the Lakeside stage, beating America’s Tom Sawyer 3-0 to set up a first round meeting with Martin Phillips tomorrow night.
The two-time World Championship quarter-finalist dropped just three legs as he knocked out the American debutant in straight sets in the preliminary round this afternoon.
Hogan, who was making his first appearance in the tournament since 2014, took out checkouts of 150 and 118 on his way to victory and won four of his nine legs in 15 darts.
Sunday January 8
Afternoon Session (1pm)
Martin Adams (5) 3-2 Ryan Joyce
Tom Sawyer 0-3 Paul Hogan (P)
Lisa Ashton (2) 2-0 Sharon Prins
Scott Mitchell (2) 3-0 Mark McGrath
Click here for the latest results, updated draw and order of play
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