What a match!
And it was Terry Jenkins who came out on top in a terrific all Unicorn clash against Joe Cullen.
But the 21-year-old gave it a great go on his World Championship debut and was left cursing a slow start, although Cullen showed everyone what he is capable of and we can expect to be hearing a lot more of the young Yorkshireman over the next decade!
Cullen stormed back from two sets down but in the end, experience won the day for Jenkins.
“Joe played really well considering it was his first World Championship,” Jenkins said. “I expected him to come out firing but he was probably a bit nervous.”
Cullen still enjoyed every minute of his World Championship experience. “Obviously I am disappointed, especially at the way I started the match. I gave myself a lot to do, but it was great to be up there on that stage and I will be back for more – and that’s a promise!”
Cullen couldn’t buy a double at the start of the match, missing every chance he had, as Jenkins won six consecutive legs to take a two set lead.
But Joe showed some true Yorkshire grit to come back into the match and give Jenkins a mighty scare at the Ally Pally.
Jenkins actually won a seventh straight leg before Cullen started off on the comeback trail…..he hit D6 to win his first leg…..finally a double at the 12th attempt! He then won the set in style, putting Jenkins under real pressure, hitting D16 at the first attempt.
The fourth set was another thriller and it was being enjoyed by cricketing superstar Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, who went into the Sky Sports commentary box to describe the action!
And he wasn’t let down by the standard of the darts!
Cullen broke to move 2-1 in front in that 4th set, only for ‘The Bull’ to hit back with a 14 darter….but what a response from Cullen – a fourth 180 and a 14 darter of his won to take us to a deciding set!
Jenkins though called on all his experience to clinch the win.
He won the deciding set without reply, including a fifth 180 and a 14 darter and ‘The Bull’ won it on ‘tops’ after Cullen had missed the same target.
Jenkins average was a modest 88 to Cullen’s 82, but 6 doubles from 23 attempts was where the youngster struggled.
“It’s about time that I had a great run at the World Championship,” Jenkins said. “Maybe this is the year for me. I am back in good form, so there’s no reason why I can’t do well.”
Jenkins will now take on Steve Brown in the 2nd Round, after the Bristol man beat Jelle Klaasen by three sets to one…..Michal van Gerwen was another Dutch loser. He missed 25 darts at doubles and lost to Austrian Mensur Suljovic. But Vincent van der Voort did reach the 2nd Round. He lost only one leg in a comfortable win over New Zealand qualifier Preston Ridd.
Tuesday results from Alexandra Palace:
Preliminary Round (best of 7 legs):
Michael Mansell 0-4 Preston Ridd
1st Round:
Michael van Gerwen 1-3 Mensur Suljovic
Terry Jenkins 3-2 Joe Cullen
Jelle Klaasen 1-3 Steve Brown
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Preston Ridd
The final four Team Unicorn stars make their bow at the World Championship on Wednesday night.
Raymond van Barneveld faces ‘The Muffin Man’ Steve Hine, Colin Osborne plays Chris Thompson, Barrie Bates takes on Kevin McDine, while Jamie Caven will meet the winner of the preliminary round match between South Africa’s Devon Petersen and Norman Madhoo of Guyana.
The ‘Barney Army’ will be out in force at the Ally Pally, as the Dutch maestro starts his bid for a 6th World Championship title.
By STUART PYKE in London (Twitter @stuartpykesport)
Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC