Robbie Green (Eng) bt Darryl Fitton (Eng) 3-1

Kong scales new heights as he dazzles Darryl

Fourth seed Robbie Green dumped out people’s favourite Darryl Fitton 3-1 after a nail-biting opening round clash.

It is the third successive first round exit for Dazzler, who failed to sparkle in the 53-minute gripper as the giants of the oche blasted out 15 180s in a match marred by glaring double errors.

Green, nicknamed Kong now has the chance to scale new darting height after capturing the scalp of one of the sport’s biggest personalities.

The fourth seed signalled his intentions, storming into a 2-0 lead in the opening set despite a maximum from Fitton who wired bull for a 121 checkout. Dazzler sparkled in the third leg, firing in his second 180 and then levelled but failed to press home the throwing advantage in the deciding fifth, possibly memories of his shock first round exits playing on his memory.

Green took the opening leg of the second set, both players hitting maximums in the next and then missing countless doubles before Fitton ended the agony.

Grimacing and trying to gee himself up, Fitton powered in his fifth 180 but was punished for missed doubles, Green hitting a maximum in the next as he annexed the set for a shock 2-0 match lead.

The opening three legs of the third set went with the throw despite countless double errors by both players, Fitton holding his nerve to hit double tops for a 74 finish to claw back a set.

Again the legs went with the throwing advantage in the fourth set as Green opened up a 2-1 lead as both players pounded the 60 sector.

But it was Merseysider Green who triumphed booking his second round spot with double tops in the next leg as fellow Liverpool fan Fitton was left to reflect on what might have been.