Keegan Brown produced his best darts in a long while to cause a big upset on day four at the World Championship.
He beat James Wade 3-2 in a thrilling all Unicorn clash on Sunday night at the Alexandra Palace.
For Wade more huge disappointment, but for Brown a real chance to shine and he will now play Zoran Lerchbacher for a place in the last 16.
"It has been a big struggle for me all year, so this is extra special for me." Brown said. "I have so much respect for James but I had to focus. I always felt I had a performance like that in me. Now I've got to keep it going."
After starting the match with a 124 finish on the bull, Brown won the opening set without reply. That set the pattern for a dramatic match.
Wade levelled with a cool 72 finish in a second set deciding leg, only for Brown to reply in kind in set three! 'The Machine' dominated the 4th set and we were into a final set.
But Brown wasn't to be denied. Wade couldn't find that little bit extra and Brown picked out D16 to record a superb victory with a 97 average.
Unicorn star Ian White is also through to round two where he will face Welshman Gerwyn Price. But he was made to work for it before beating New Zealand No.1 Cody Harris 3-1.
He was a set and a leg to the good, having hit six perfect darts on one occasion, but back came the Kiwi to take the second set with a 118 finish.
White was in a spot of bother as Harris went ahead for the first time with a break of throw at the start of the third set. But a brilliant 95 finish from the Unicorn man turned the match on its head and he ended up winning six legs on the spin to take his place in the last 32.
Meanwhile Sunday afternoon saw a below-par Kyle Anderson book his spot in round two. The Team Unicorn Aussie wasn't at his best but was still too good for Yorkshireman Peter Jacques, winning by three sets to one.
"It wasn't pretty but it was all about winning," he admitted. "After missing the tournament last year because of the visa problems there was a bit of pressure on me and I was expected to win. I will have to improve ten-fold that's for sure!"
Kyle will take on either Raymond van Barneveld or Richard North in the next round as he aims to reach the last 16 at the World Championship for the first time.
A crucial 109 finish and an 11 darter helped him to the opening set and he came from two legs down to take set two! Jacques got on the board and hit 180s in the first two legs of the fourth set, but Kyle held firm.
He won three straight legs but his finishing was vital. A 55% check-out success rate saw him over the line.
Story from STUART PYKE at the William Hill World Championship
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC
