Former Walsham-le-Willows and Stowmarket ace Andrew Gilding beats Robert Owen on his World Darts Championship return

Andrew Gilding edged through a deciding set to beat Robert Owen 3-2 in the first round of the Cazoo World Darts Championship this afternoon.

The Suffolk thrower, who lives in Bungay, near Harleston, was making his first appearance in the sport's biggest tournament for six years, having booked his return as the second highest qualifier on the ProTour Order of Merit.

Gilding took on Welsh debutant Owen at London's Alexandra Palace in a best of five sets tie which went the distance, with the ex-Walsham-le-Willows Sports Club and Stowmarket-based Cedars Park player coming from a set down to win.

Owen, who qualified for his first World Championship as the highest ranked player on the Winmau Challenge Tour, won the opening set 3-1 before missing a dart at the bull for a 126 finish which would have put him 2-0 up.

Gilding made the most of the missed set dart with a 105 finish to level up the second set 2-2, and held throw to level up the match, with the 52-year-old then claiming the third set 3-1 to go in front for the first time.

A back and forth tussle continued as Owen reeled off three straight legs, culminating with a 154 checkout on double 17, to make it 2-2 in sets, and send the first-round tie to a deciding set.

The pair traded 14 darters in the opening two legs, before Gilding started the third leg with a 180 and broke in 13 darts to go 2-1 up, and then checked out 120 to clinch the set 3-1 and a victory on his World Championship return.

Gilding, who is provisionally up to number 39 in the world after that win, will now face the 12th seed Dave Chisnall in the second round on Wednesday afternoon.

It will be a repeat of their meeting in the final of the Belgian Darts Open in September, which Chisnall won 8-6, and was the third of three finals Gilding has appeared in on the ProTour in 2022.

A spot in the third round when the tournament resumes after the Christmas break is on the line, with Gilding bidding to win two games in a World Championship campaign for the first time.

"I'm so happy," Gilding told the PDC. "I had forgotten what it was like (playing at Alexandra Palace) to be honest.

"I've had a great year and now I've got a chance to get further in this competition than I have got before.

"I'll have to play better obviously but maybe I've got over the shock of the stage after six years."