Second round is ‘one stop beyond’ for Madness fan Fitton

St Helen’s Dave Chisnall hurtled into the second round toppling fourth seed Darryl Fitton 3-1 in a 46-minute high-scoring encounter.

Chisnall’s five 180s and two 13-dart finishes helped to punish the lack-lustre performance of the Fitton - a losing semi finalist 12 months ago.

Stockport-based Fitton had high hopes of a good run in this year’s championship and started confidently, taking the opening set 3-1, despite the St Helens player blasting into the game with a maximum.

Chizzy raced into a 2-0 lead in the next but three missed attempts for double tops cost him the set as Fitton exited on double 10. Chisnall blazed in his fourth 180 as he produced a spectacular match-levelling 102 checkout finished on double eight in the fifth leg.

Twice the St Helens man trailed in the third set but after hitting 180 he wired double 16 for a set-winning 89 finish and then missed a further three doubles before recovering to exit on double four for a surprise 2-1 match lead.

Throwing first tense Fitton missed bull for a blockbusting 164 in the opening leg of the fourth, Chisnall stealing the advantage and following up with double 12 with the throw.

Fitton fired in 140 and 129, Chisnall replying with a ton and two 140s but Dazzler then missed three attempts for a match-saving double tops as Chisnall required just one dart at the same double to despatch the popular Stockport sharpshooter in 13 darts.

The quietly-spoken Chisnall smiling broadly after his win said: “It was very hot up on stage but I just played the board. I am on top of the world. The best part of this game was winning!”