European champion Gian van Veen has booked his place within the second spherical of the PDC World Championship however twelfth seed Ross Smith suffered a shock first-round exit.

Expectations are excessive for Van Veen after a profitable 2025 and, after falling on the first hurdle in his two earlier visits to Alexandra Palace, there could have been a component of aid following his 3-1 win over Spain’s Cristo Reyes.

The Dutch tenth seed, a two-time world youth champion, battled to victory within the first set regardless of being in need of his finest earlier than stepping it up within the second, averaging 107, to go 2-0 up.

Reyes hit again within the third after taking out 167 to win the primary leg and earned a break within the fourth, just for Van Veen to indicate his grit and are available again to safe his first win on the match.

“Lastly throughout that line,” the 23-year-old, who averaged 98.91, instructed Sky Sports activities.

“In the present day, strolling on this stage, you are feeling like a 16-year-old once more – I used to be so nervous! However as quickly as the primary darts went in, I used to be like ‘OK, you belong right here’.”

However whereas Van Veen can put together for spherical two, Smith is heading dwelling after a 3-2 loss to 50-year-old debutant Andreas Harrysson of Sweden.

Smith missed six match darts within the fourth set and was made to pay as Harryson pressed on to win the deciding set by three legs to 1.

Additionally within the night session, England’s Ricky Evans beat Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung 3-0 and Australian sixteenth seed Damon Heta earned a 3-1 win over Eire’s Steve Lennon.