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Lewis was forced to produce his very best, as he watched Tony Eccles win the first eight legs of their 3rd Round match. The man from the North East took the second set with finishes of 101, 84 and 119 and quite simply, Lewis looked lost.

But from somewhere, the talent shone through, despite a controversial finale, when Lewis had to take a toilet break just as the tie-break was about to start in the final set….more of that in a moment.

Two sets and two legs down, it was time for action….a 106 finally got Lewis on the board and he took the next and then came a brilliant 13 darter to get his first set on the board. He raced through the 4th set with finishes of 136 and 81 and he had pushed his average up to 97.

A superb 70 check-out under pressure gave Lewis set five and he was in front for the first time. Eccles though, wasn’t finished and deserved to take the match into a deciding set.

1st leg to Lewis with a 73 kill, then an 11-darter from Eccles….then he broke the Lewis throw! It looked all over as Eccles had three darts for the match but the tension got to him and D9 from the Unicorn ace forced the tie-break.

It was at that stage that Lewis asked for a toilet break….the crowd voiced their disapproval and the young Stoke star was faced with a barrage of boos. He came back with an 81 finish and his 6th 180 set up the 58 which saw him complete a remarkable win.

He explained: “I was desperate for a toilet break and when I hit the double nine to make it two legs apiece, I asked Tony and the referee if it was alright to go. They said yes and if Tony had objected, I certainly would have stayed on the stage.”

It’s fair to say Lewis was relieved in more ways than one!

For James Wade, another scrappy performance but after being hit by the flu bug, it is still a massive win. Unicorn’s World No.3 was nowhere near his best.

His opponent Mark Dudbridge was also feeling under the weather, so it was never going to be a classic. Wade lost the first set after missing five darts to take it but then came a steady, if unspectacular run.

He lost only three legs in the next three sets to open up a 3-1 lead….a brilliant 98, using two double tops gave him the second set and he fought back from two legs down with a lovely 92 to take set four.

Dudbridge came back in the 5th set but Wade wasn’t going to be denied his quarter-final spot and a 6th maximum set up the win. He was clearly struggling up on the stage and will have to hope his health and his form returns.

What a dream World Championship debut for Unicorn rookie Kirk Shepherd, who continues to live the dream after reaching the quarter-finals.

The 21-year-old can’t do any wrong and he saw off Barrie Bates in the all Unicorn showdown, after the Welshman blew his chances.

“I’m having the time of my life,” said the youngster from Ramsgate, who has now claimed three Unicorn scalps at the Alexandra Palace. Bates added to the list which includes Terry Jenkins and Mick McGowan.

Shepherd’s extravagant celebrations are becoming more flamboyant after each victory and he split his trousers this time! Mind you, he can afford to buy a few new pairs, because he is now guaranteed at least £15,000

Shepherd looked impressive, taking the first set without dropping a leg. Bates levelled with a 102 finish taking the second….the Welshman then missed four clean darts at double top to move ahead in a 3rd set deciding leg and saw Shepherd hit D8 with his first attempt.

Although Bates levelled at two sets apiece, the missed doubles were to cost him dear again in the crucial 5th set. Once more, he missed four darts to take it and Shepherd nailed D12. The youngster then hit two 180s to win set six and it really is a case of darting dreamland.

“I am really enjoying it up there,” he said. “It is becoming an unbelievable experience for me. I am trying not to think about the money – that is a bonus but what I have won so far means that I can now afford to go to Las Vegas for the Desert Classic next summer.”

Friday afternoon 3rd Round results:

Kirk Shepherd 4-2 Barrie Bates
Adrian Lewis 4-3 Tony Eccles
James Wade 4-2 Mark Dudbridge

Friday night 3rd Round schedule:

Peter Manley v Jan van der Rassel
Raymond Van Barneveld v Kevin Painter
Alex Roy v John Part

BY STUART PYKE

Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lustig / PDC