Painter polishes off Jenkins

Painter cruises to victory in double-quick time

Kevin Painter made short work of Andy Jenkins with a quickfire 3-0 sets win to reach the second round of darts' Embassy World Championship at Frimley Green.

Sixth seed Painter, fancied for the big time by many pundits, needed just 18 minutes to beat his friend Jenkins

Painter, a quarter-finalist last year, was just a brushstroke away from inflicting a whitewash on Jenkins as he allowed his rival just one leg througout the match.

He closed out with a 161 for the first set and hit three 180s in the second to display championship-winning form.

Hint of regret

Despite his impressive display, Painter was full of sympathy for the defeated Jenkins.

"I feel sorry for Andy because he's one of my best mates and a great darts player - but he just didn't perform well," Painter said.

"I just hit him early on with some big scores and I expected him to come back at me - but he just didn't do it.

"It's got to be one of the quickest matches ever here, but I expect Matt Clark will give me a much harder time in round two."

Matched scores

Third seed Andy "The Viking" Fordham moved into the second round despite a spirited challenge from Tony David.

The little-known Australian, who suffers from from haemophilia, walks with a limp and has a crooked throwing arm, was expected to offer little resistance.

But he showed no fear as he won two legs in the first set and never allowed Fordham any real breathing spce.

He matched the London publican score for score but Fordham's finishing earned him a 3-2, 3-1, 3-2 win.

Doubles

Painter's next opponent in Matt Clark breezed through his round with a comfortable 3-0 win against Welshman Steve Alker.

He allowed his opponent just two legs in the match as he emerged a 3-1, 3-0, 3-1 victor.

Qualifier Alker, from Mold, was regualarly behind in the scoring, leaving the 1996 quarter-finalist plenty of time to nail his doubles.

First time

Wayne Jones made light work of Bob Taylor with another 3-0 set victory.

Jones, from Wolverhampton, had little trouble in despatching Aberdonian Taylor 3-0, 3-1, 3-0.

It was an impressive start for Jones, who was playing at the Lakeside for the first time.

But Taylor will not be happy with his own performance. The 30-year-old had a good season in 2000 and was hoping to better his 1994 second round appearance.