Martin Adams (Eng) 3 Scott Mitchell (Eng) 0

Clinical Adams sweeps aside promising Mitchell

Top seed and defending champ Martin Adams produced a clinical performance to whitewash local man Scott Mitchell 3-0 in just 26 minutes.

The experienced defending champ recovered from a nervy opening set in which he missed a string of doubles to book his place in the last 16. It means the 55-year-old veteran from Peterborough remains on course for a third successive title.

Only one other player has won the title in three successive years – that was the legendary five times winner Eric Bristow. The Crafty Cockney completed the feat back in 1986.

Veteran Adams missed doubles in the opening set but his younger inexperienced opponent was unable to steal the initiative. Adams missed 15 doubles before clinching double16 for a 3-1 opening set success against the man from the nearby village of Bransgore.

Strapping 41-year-old Mitchell took the opening leg of the second set with the throw, Adams sweeping back to level with a show-stopping 136 checkout, finished on double eight. He struck a further psychological blow in the next as he fired in a maximum and followed up with a faultless 106 finish, completed on his favourite double 16

Despite missing double 12 and double six in the next for a set-winning 81 finish, Adams recovered and with his next visit to the board nailed bull for a 2-0 match lead.

The opening legs of the third set were traded, Wolfie howling back with a super 132 checkout finished on bull to move ominously 2-1 ahead.

Nerves crept back into the match in the fourth leg, Adams missing four match-winning doubles and Mitchell also suffering double trouble before sneaking home on double two after missing finishes.

The Dorset ace edged ahead in the fifth leg, wiring double 16 for a match-saving 136 finish before cool Adams clinched victory with single 16, double tops.

Adams, who is competing in a record 19^th tournament, said: “I had some shaky moments. No one likes to play the first round but you have to do it. I had big finishes when I needed them.