Defending champion Gary Anderson safely though first round at Alexandra Palace

Toby Graves

December 16, 2016

Southland darts player Warren Parry will compete at the World Darts Championship at London's Alexandra Palace.

Anderson, the No #2 Seed claimed a straight sets triumph over debutant Frost to join Kevin Painter, Michael Smith and Jamie Lewis in the second round after the 72-player tournament got underway last Thursday evening.

The Invercargill meat worker was one of 12 New Zealand players who squared off for the spot and it was the home town hero who progressed with a stunning win in the final against Wellington's Rob Szabo.

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It follows a similar event this year, when Taylor - regarded as the greatest darts player of all time - took part in a re-run of the 2015 PDC World Darts Championship final with rival Gary Anderson.

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Resolute Anderson won 3-0 ensuring "Frosty The Throwman" would not survive into the wintry conditions of the post-Christmas stages at Ally Pally. Reigning champion Gary Anderson began his attempt to win a third consecutive William Hill World Darts Championship trophy with an opening night victory over Mark Frost. "The standard is so high, when you have problems away from the oche, you lose focus".

The world's most successful darts player will be stepping up to the oche in Sunderland next Spring (21 March) when he returns to the Stadium of Light. "I've had to dig in and, hopefully, this is the start of something brighter".

Elsewhere, 30th seed Jamie Lewis persevered in a back-and-forth battle to defeat Mick McGowan 3-2.

Smith, the 11th seed, trailed 1-0 and 2-1 against his unseeded opponent but prevailed through some quality finishing as he checked out from 143 during the fourth set and 94 at the beginning of the fifth.