Fallon Sherrock has been edged out by Ryan Meikle to bow out of the PDC World Championship at the first-round stage.
The 30-year-old had been hoping to win a match at Alexandra Palace for the first time since December 2019 to set up a clash with Luke Littler.
However, Sherrock instead fell short in a hard-fought contest with Meikle, who shook off being whitewashed in the opening set to prevail by a 3-2 scoreline.
Meikle proceeded to win six legs in a row to move into a 2-1 advantage, only for Sherrock to hit three 180s on the way to forcing a decider.
Both players produced their best darts of the contest in an absorbing fifth, Sherrock missing the bull for a 170 checkout to take the match to a last-leg shootout.
That scenario was prevented by Meikle taking out 96 for the win, one which may make the difference when it comes to retaining his tour card come the end of the tournament.
MEIKLE FENDS OFF FALLON!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 17, 2024
What a finale!
Fallon Sherrock misses the bull for a 170 skin-saver, and Ryan Meikle wraps up victory with a 12-darter to move through to a tie against Luke Littler! 👀
📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqZ5tR #WCDarts | R1 pic.twitter.com/6aic6vkdHs
What else happened on Tuesday night?
Rashad Sweeting - the first ever representative from the Bahamas - entertained the crowd by pushing Jeffrey de Graaf all the way in the opening fixture of the night.
Sweeting took the opener and missed five darts for the second, while also celebrating a 180 by mimicking the 'cold' celebration of Chelsea player Cole Palmer.
First 180 on the World Champs stage followed by the Cold Palmer celebration 🧊😂
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 17, 2024
Who cares if it leaves double seven... An Ally Pally legend is born in Rashad Sweeting 🇧🇸👏 pic.twitter.com/1DPynnbfps
Nevertheless, it was not enough as De Graaf raised his game during the second half of the contest to earn a 3-1 win to set up a match with Gary Anderson.
Meanwhile, Germany's Ricardo Pietreczko came through 3-0 in what was a competitive encounter with China's Xiao Chen Zong.
In the final match of the night, former world champion Peter Wright recorded a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Wesley Plaisier as he battles to stay in the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit.
Darren Plant
