Mark Hylton goes out at first hurdle

Rugeley's Mark Hylton was edged out of the PDC World Championships in the first round despite coming from behind twice against Vincent van der Voort.

In a five-set thriller on Saturday night at the Alexandra Palace in London, a see-saw affair went the way of 'the Fastest Player in the Game.'

Van der Voort hit an 83 finish to win the opening leg of the match, before both players registered maximums in the second.

Hylton won it on double top before the Dutchman, who enjoyed an excellent run to the last 16 a year ago, hit a superb 134 checkout to take the third.

The fourth leg saw Hylton guilty of missing three darts at doubles and van der Voort cashed in by landing double eight to win the first set.

Hylton started the second set well by breaking throw with the aid of a maximum and the second also fell his way, after both players missed previous attempts at doubles.

In the third leg, Hylton missed three darts to win the set and van der Voort stepped in to hit double 14, taking the fourth with an 80 finish.

Hylton threw first in the deciding leg and managed to land a pressure double six with his last dart, to level the match at one set apiece.

Van der Voort held throw at the start of the third set and then hit a 14-dart finish to win the second leg, after both players had hit 180s.

Hylton hit double top to win the third, but missed two darts at the bed to take the fourth and that proved expensive, as van der Voort took out 75 to win the set and lead for the second time.

Van der Voort hit his ninth maximum of the game at the start of the fourth set, but missed three darts at double top and Hylton hit the same bed to take the leg.

The second leg proved to be role reversal of the first as Hylton missed chances for a 2-0 lead, allowing van der Voort to level.

Hylton won the third leg with a 13-darter but missed three chances to win the set in the next and van der Voort took the leg by hitting tops.

The Dutchman hit another maximum in the deciding leg, but Hylton won it with an excellent two-dart 72 finish to force a fifth set.

Van der Voort started the decider in confident fashion, with a 12-dart finish followed by double eight to establish a 2-0 lead.

The third leg also fell the way of the Dutchman, who hit double top at the first time of asking to seal a place in the second round.