Alan Norris (Eng) bt Benito van de Pas (Neth) 3-2

Maximan Norris topples rookie Van de Pas in thriller

Maximan Alan Norris scorched into the last 16 tumbling the youngest man in the field, 18-year-old Dutchman and 14^th seed Benito van de Pas 3-2.

It was case of the teacher and the pupil as the experienced 39-year-old much travelled Norris bullied the teenager – a 150/1 rank outsider - into submission in the 41-minute gripper.

Both players topped 30 plus per dart averages as Norris blasted in eight 180s while the teenager himself fired out three.

Norris blazed into the opening set, hitting three 180s in the first two legs, taking the throwing advantage from the Dutchman, including a 12-darter.

Van de Pas pinched the third but quick-throwing Norris nipped in for double 20 against the throw.

The teenager hit a maximum but then missed double 20 and then double 10 to steal the opening leg of the second set against the throw, Norris exiting on double 12 at third attempt. The following two legs went against the advantage and the fourth leg appeared to be heading in the same way as Norris powered in his fifth maximum but squandered darts for a double as the cool Dutchman fired in double 15 to level the match.

It was business-like Norris in the third set as he blasted out a two further maximums and a 11-dart checkout to open up a 2-0 lead, wiring double 10 for a set-winning 128, finishing it off with double five on his return to the oche to edge into a 2-1 match lead.

The opening four legs of the fourth set went with the throw after Norris missed double tops for a match-winning 106 checkout in the fourth leg.  Chuck looked comfortable in the next but the brilliant young player from the Lowlands produced a match-saving 119 checkout finished on double tops.

Norris surged into the final set, hitting his 10^th 180 and pulling off a pressure double 18 against the throw after the teenager tensed up and missed doubles. He defended his throw in the next but a maximum steered Van de Pas to the third leg.

It was nip and tuck in the next as Norris clinched victory with a 74 victory checkout, finished on double 20.