First-round thrills at Frimley

Darts legend and BBC pundit Bobby George gives Sport Online his views on the latest action at the Lakeside Country Club.

Third seed Andy Fordham played very steadily in his first round match against the Australian lad Tony David and came away with a 3-0 win.

The result did not really reflect how tight the game was for Andy at times, and when you see 3-0 in the papers, it looks like it was easy.

The leg scores went 3-2, 3-1, 3-2 and Tony was a bit unlucky with a few wandering darts on his doubles, otherwise he could have reversed it.

It was a good, entertaining game, though, and I enjoyed it.

Kevin Painter was a different story altogether and only took 22 minutes to beat Andy Jenkins.

The Viking: Fordham is safely through

There was no time to go and have a nice cup of tea in that match - you would have missed it all.

Andy has been at the Embassy seven times and I think he has only got through the first round once and he struggled again. He did not play how he can play.

It was one-way traffic really. Kevin was able to perform as well as he did because he didn't have any pressure on him.

He was banging in the tons and finishing perfectly. It looked easy, but that's because the other guy didn't make him work hard.

Kevin did do well - don't get me wrong - but it was more like a practice session for him in the end.

Practice

Kevin was throwing an average of 31 every dart, which is good, but it is not as high as his score in the first round last year.

We've had a lot of good matches in the first round, but I'd have to say John Walton has looked the best of the bunch so far.

As for me, I'm loving the TV work I'm doing with the BBC, but I haven't had five minutes' rest since I got here.

They work you hard at the BBC and it's not easy to do. I have to watch every dart of every game.

Bobby has to be ready for Stubbsy's questions

If I end up missing anything, chances are Ray Stubbs will be asking me: "What do you think of that?"... and I won't have a clue what he's talking about.

I'd have to bang on for 20 minutes about something I haven't even seen.

A person who doesn't really follow the darts might think that it's boring watching as much of the action as I do, but I don't.

All the games are different in some way and that's what makes darts unique to watch. One dart can turn the whole game right on its head.

As well as the matches, I have them firing all your e-mails at me. You get some silly ones, but most of them have been good.

I have to be a bit knowledgeable, but I don't pretend to know everything. If I get caught out, I'll have to phone a friend!

Keep them coming in though and I'll try to do my best.

May the darts be with you.