Day 1 Darts: World Championships - Highlights

Welcome to highlights from Day one of the 2014 BDO World Championship.

It is bigger than ever. We have 40 men and 16 women. We have qualifiers

from Australia, Canada, Latvia, Japan. A real global event. We

always start with the champion from last year, which was of course Scott

Waites. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the

2014 BDO World Championship. We welcome first of all, the former

singles champion, the reigning world champion, Scott Waites.

His opponent, a former French Open, Luxembourg open and Welsh Masters

champion, Alan Norris. We join as one nice and early. They

show the first of four legs, it is 2-2. Whoever takes this set takes

first blood. Two out of two. Is this the first maximum of Lakeside? It

went over top. That could have come out. It is hot up there. It is hot

in the audience. They look like halos, don't they? The angel of

darts. Switching to 18. Needed a third in the travel. Advantage

Norris. 257. He could not finish on that, but Norris can finish. He

could do nothing about that, doubles coming in. Under no pressure

whatsoever. Double temperatures that. He comes there, he could find

himself under pressure. Scott Waites, what have you got? He will

have a finish, the matter what. Single one, double two. Norris

getting the applause. He did well there. Shaky first champion. -- for

the champion. They are just having a quick change

of the board. The outside ring. The four came off. Second leg, game on.

He is doing a great job. Isn't he just? Is that the past decade in

this commentary box. There he is, he loves it. I have no team since it

was 16 years of age. He just wanted to be up on stage. He still looks

about 16, mind you. Two of them. Still that it though. -- ad vantage

though. A good recovery. Again, finds the trouble with the last art.

Scott is favourite to this one. 183, he could not finish. Very tidy. Very

tidy. All of a sudden, people feel he needs to hit 148, which he could

not do. At the chance for the first break of throw in the match. Double

top four Alan Norris. Two tens. The claim to the clincher that this will

tell you what it means. You have got to watch out for Norris in the early

rounds. He can storm away. He means business. The first break of the

match. Quite a quiet start for both

players. We had forecast this. Still a way to go. First to three sets. It

is not over yet. He is from Yorkshire. He is asking himself,

what is going on? Here we go. Barry says. -- and dad

almost two in a row. How about this? You require 97. More agony. Yes,

double ten. The market is there. Snatched at it. A chance for Waites

to save it. A double break. Double 16. Look at them, they are loving

it. The biggest smile I have seen there. Takes 137 to start the third

leg. Is that Lancelot? Chelate is arrows, did he? -- he liked here

is. I wonder if he was as accurate as

these two. 95. You require 133 will he get this

one? Scott, you require 167. Once again, Norris patrolling around.

Moving in four treble 20. Double top. It is there. No messing. Three

and 4% now. Drawing for a two set lead. The reigning champion may not

be so for much longer. A nice start from Waites. Look at

the room that. 100 The business end of this leg. Down

to the finish. Nothing Waites can do. He can only wait. 55. He had a

chance. A big finish. This will be like a dagger through the heart of

Norris. Two fives for a two set lead.

That is wild, that is better. Larry says.

He limps over the line. Norris leads by two sets. He is one set away from

knocking out the defending jab in. -- champion. In 2010, Norris hit

nine 180 's. The first round and he is doing the same here.

He always scores well. He just needs this set and that is the hardest one

to win. Jolly good. I wonder if they have a dartboard at Buckingham

Palace? Definitely. Smiles are there for Norris. That is

a good marker. Full house. A bit of a drop. He needed that last

trouble, he got it. Double 16 coming in. He is on the way back.

Let the fightback begin. Good cover shot. Very good.

He has been a bit wayward, Alan Norris. A few throws. He is not

pushing them through the air like he has been doing. He may be struggling

with the heat on the stage. Unusually hottest year. It is always

hot. With all those lights and cameras pointed at you, you really

do feel it. Good cover. That will do. That is a maximum. The Norris

gang keep rolling. Very good. Hollywood darts. Slipping

away. From Hollywood to Hollyoaks. Their riches, B-double top bad. It

is all he needed. Two legs away. He has to hold his throw twice. Can he

do it? He is in trouble. We talk about Alan Norris and his

check out problems, the way he scores, he will always get more

chances. Waites with a maximum. His first of the match. They do not know

who to cheer. Good finishing. It is the champion that is in trouble. You

require 121. Under pressure. He could not finish now. 80 14 Alan

Norris. He will move a leg away. Here we go. He wants the bull. He

has got the bull. Norris, one leg away. Incredible. He has got

everything to do now. Norris cannot chuck this away. Are we on the verge

of a famous upset? All eyes on Norris. This leg will

do. And with that, just like that, yes... Yes! Look at this. He is

fighting back, he is the champion. You require 127. Treble 20, treble

19, he wants a shot. Here we go. This has got to go in. Double 17. He

has got 88. A fraction away. 84 needed. Treble 20, double 12 will

do. He has a shot at finish. Matchpoint, Alan Norris, he can do

this in two darts. That was nerves. What a waste. He says the match.

Norris had a chance. Now he is good at all to do. A great start. There

is the finish. He still got a mountain to climb. If he can win

this leg, then we are back with the darts. If. What a save, but one. He

just keeps an hour. Norris is still favourite at this stage. A big

finish. 170. What a shot would be to take the champion out. It is as big

as they come. Two treble 20s and a bull's-eye. That is what is needed.

He did not have to go for it, we will see if he does. It is still in

the balance. Still in the balance. He missed 84 for the match in the

previous leg. 85 between Alan Norris and around two. Fifteens and 20s. He

has done it. How many times has it happened in the past? The world

Champion falls at the first hurdle of his defence. The man to do it,

Norris, he is the body, he is the star of the day. We had a couple of

wins each, it was always going to be one of those matches. I think, Scott

as defending champion, he is conscious of that. He has done

everything. He probably would have preferred somebody else. I have been

here six times, I am not worried about playing darts on the stage.

Everytime I seem to break him and put myself in a situation, I

slightly fall. I really fancied the 170. A look at my darts, I thought

that they were spread out. I changed it and head a big five. That is the

way goes. A big upset as other day. It was not the only one of the

afternoon session. The nine times champion lost to a debutante in

straight sets. A real shocker. Another multiple champion, Martin

Adams, had no real problems in his game. He stormed out in front early,

when the first seven legs. -- winning the first seven legs. Wesley

Harms, serious as always as he won, 3-0. He has straight into the second

round. Next up, Jeffrey de Graaf, who has quite a few stamps to his

name. He is taking on Martin Atkins, who first played here into dozens

five. It is 1-1 in the third. He is a long way back here. He has

got to get them thinking. Nice and relaxed. A smooth rhythm.

60 is at the start and would have hoped for to try to build on that 14

dart leg. No harm done on that occasion.

Martin, he is slipping behind the scoring. Yes, they both are. Another

one. That could be the one that could win the match. Just remember

that 180. That is his fall. You require 170. A big finish. You

require 80. Treble 20. Double ten. He went for the 18. He would've let

himself double 16 it had the single for instead. Double temper Martin to

move within one leg. -- double ten for Martin. Will he go for the

single? He has got two darts. Could the tide change?

To stay in a match he had to win a leg. He managed it. He only has

himself to blame. He was picking off a couple of trebles. Martin back in

rhythm. When his brain is working, he has to concentrate on the game.

An excellent start to the leg. What a good start. 100 followed by his

fifth maximum. The chandelier shimmer.

This is a great leg. A great leg. 100, 180, 140. 81 left.

56. Martin, you require 81. E needed it treble... A 12 darts!

This is a tough order for Jeffrey de Graaf. One he couldn't take. E Rush

that. He really did. The best on the board. Double 16. Martin needs it

and he has it. Martin Atkins. Had the break and lost it

straightaway and Mark and he just has to make that six out of eight.

And he is through to the second round. It has been a long time

coming. Yes. That could start helps. -- that

good start helps. Looking all over at this stage. From three of those

wins, they came against Dutchman. Jeffrey de Graaf hoped to throw

himself a highflier. Don't open the door yet.

Go for the bullseye. Treble 20. That leaves the bullseye. For the match.

Yes! What a way to take the match. Brilliant. Take that. Brilliant. The

number eight CDs out. Martin Atkins sees him off in straight sets. --

the number eight seed is out. The assassins were in. Another slice

of action, a preliminary involving two new bees. Madars Razma against

John Michael from Greece. We joined this one at 2-1 to Madars Razma.

This is good. Very enjoyable. Though Mackie has a chance here. Madars

Razma scored 40. Two wayward darts and John Michael doesn't take

advantage. Madars Razma strutting again. A good last dart. Might

Mackie needs it. He has come back to life now. -- he needs it.

Only 32 behind. He can't find the trouble. It seems that when he goes

below, he can't get up enough to get into the treble. He has that edge.

It is strange but I just noticed it. Madars Razma has the opposite

problem on that visit. Here we go. He'll reach that again, you see.

He can't finish now, what every does. On his next visit so six from

194 to take that into a deciding set. A good start. A steady time.

Still six darts. Eight treble 19. Leaves him with a double 18 for the

set. Disappointment. It could be thrown

away if this man gets 87. He never even has a shot at the bullseye.

Should have gone for the big 24 the treble. Double two to take us into

the final set. It has been a thrilling stuff. Greece against

Latvia. A chance for Greece to equalise. One more. Greece slip up.

Surely this is it. 14. Here we go. Two down. Double top needed. He

back! Look at the sweat coming down his brow. Just in case you were

wondering how much pressure these guys feel. You can see it in their

eyes. There goes the dart. A double one. That takes us into a decider!

to see either of them go out. I want this to be a credit to this year 's

championship. No real advantage to throwing first

in this deciding set. It is two legs all. You have to win by two clear

legs. He is right in the middle as you can

see. There we are. Looking very despondent with himself. Don't do

that. Just get on with it. 85. Still only 85 from Michael. A lull at the

start of the set. That is understandable. He knew he had a

chance of taking it in the last leg. That might be why he is dejected.

Two darts at double top for the match. Mixed by Madars Razma.

Madars Razma is back. Not much to choose between these two. The first

finish will be to Michael because 200, you need a lot... John, you

require 94. OK, he could go to the bullseye or treble 18. He is going

for the bullseye. 19. He wants it now. 126, gives him options on the

19. A nice finish this. Eight treble 19 will leave him the bullseye. He

has done it! He has the throw. He never looked like winning, that led

it. Time 40 and then a one, two, six.

He's just stopping it to go a little bit further. He has a spring in his

step again. That's a finish. A treble 20. 66.

Would have been a first start. Leaves at 104 if he gets it. Back on

the 20. No doubt shot And so say all of us.

Who doesn't love the full Richard? -- little Richard. John Michael

doesn't love Little Richard. Well done. Little Richard, if you are

just joining us, doesn't refer to that Little Richard. It is Richard

Ashdown. He has just taken over this year as MC at Lakeside. For years,

he was with us in the commentary box.

He is looking dejected, Madars Razma.

A good recovery needed, that one. If he can hold here, he will move one

leg away. Will John Michael. He has that habit of coming up short. He

then fails to recover. Still, 1464 finish and two for one is not. This

is the opportunity for him. -- 146 is a finish and 241 isn't. Only

trebles. Treble 2486. He won't finish.

He has done a 126. How about a wonderful one with a treble 19 and a

double 12. Pressure on the 88 and how. Treble 20 four double 18. This

leaves the bullseye. Lucky. So lucky! So far. Can Madars Razma do

it? At double 12. The market is that they are.

-- mark is there. One away and he has the dart. That will be a

champion's dart. In fact it is only really finding the doubles that sets

him apart from John Michael. 53% is his check-out percentage which is

excellent. Michael's is 35% which is average.

Michael has won more legs, as you can see.

Here we go, he we go, here we... Almost go. He is a battler.

Very tense on the stage. 16. Michael with the league now. 82 left. Went

for the bull with that dart but it is OK. Madars Razma still on two to

two. He won't be after this. -- 222. Down to the finish. He will have to

go further 17. -- for the 17. This is matchpoint

right here. That is and the 50. He has to darts. He wants to double 16

for the match. He's done it! He's done it. Applause

to these two men on this stage. Latvia versus Greece. What an

exhibition. Bring them back. Bring them all over here and now.

Madars Razma wins. Other results from today involving four players

making their Lakeside buyers. The Republic of Ireland's Michael Meaney

beat the astounding qualifier Harley Kemp in straight sets and in the

lady last 16, Denmark beat England 2- zero to progress to the

quarterfinals. If you want more darts, stay tuned.

More highlights are coming. Back with live action tomorrow at 1:00pm.

Robbie Green and Richard George got all the way to the finals. And proof

that you can come from nowhere, a qualifier last year went on to win

the title. Big names tomorrow. Today belongs to Alan Norris.