BDO World Championships: Adams begins defence with win

Martin Adams began his title defence of the BDO World Championship with a fairly comfortable 3-0 win over Scott Mitchell at the Lakeside.

Earlier, Scottish qualifier Gary Stone saw off Dutch number 16 seed Ron Meulenkamp by the same scoreline in the opening game of the tournament.

Tony O'Shea collected the third 3-0 win of the day against Steve West.

And Ross Montgomery made it a double success for Scotland over the Dutch by beating Fabian Roosenbrand 3-0.

In the evening session, fifth seed Gary Robson was dumped out 3-0 by Gillingham's Steve Douglas, while fourth seed Robbie Green earned a 3-1 win over Darryl Fitton.

Stone fired in four 180s to despatch Meulenkamp in 31 minutes in a match featuring two Lakeside debutants.

Adams, the top seed and seeking his third successive BDO title, missed some early doubles but recovered to earn victory.

Meanwhile, 2009 runner-up O'Shea, the eighth seed from Stockport, made swift work of West in an all-English clash.

Reflecting on his win over Bournemouth-born Mitchell, whom he also beat at the Dutch Open in November, England captain Adams said: "I had some shaky moments. No-one likes to play the first round but you have to do it, and I had big finishes when I needed them.

"Scott is a good player but he is too nice to win, and I had to bully him. He needs to learn to do the same."

In the women's event, top seed Deta Hedman beat Rhian Edwards 2-1, while in Saturday's other quarter-final, Lorraine Farlam overcame Karen Lawman 2-1.