PDC World Darts Championship: Adrian Lewis knocked out by 2,000-1 outsider Kevin Munch in major upset at Alexandra Palace


ADRIAN LEWIS was sent screaming from Ally Pally after losing to an ex-German landscape gardener in one of the biggest upsets in darts history.

Jackpot was taken apart 3-1 by 2,000-1 tournament outsider Kevin Munch, losing for the first time in the first round of the World Darts Championship.

Adrian Lewis lost in one of the biggest upsets in World Championship history
Adrian Lewis lost in one of the biggest upsets in World Championship history
Lawrence Lustig/PDC

The No 7 seed becomes the highest casualty of this tournament and the fifth player in the top 16 to exit at the first hurdle.

Qualifier Munch hit eight 180s and took out finishes of 158, 124 and 118 – only a few months after giving up gardening to concentrate fully on darts.

The 29-year-old from Bochum, formerly known as the Crazy Banana but now nicknamed the Dragon, said: “I cannot believe what happened up there.

“My boss told me not to turn professional and carry on working. But I will go to Q School next month and try to win my Tour card.”

“This is my biggest win. There were so many English and German fans calling my name. That wasn’t normal. This is unbelievable.”

Adrian Lewis was beaten by 2,000-1 outsider Kevin Munch
Adrian Lewis was beaten by 2,000-1 outsider Kevin Munch
Lawrence Lustig
Kevin Munch pulled off one of the biggest upsets in tournament history
Kevin Munch pulled off one of the biggest upsets in tournament history
Getty Images - Getty

Lewis, the two-time world champion, had a career-threatening back injury in the summer, which required painful exploratory surgery.

And he was unable to replicate the form that took him to the pinnacle of the world, allowing Munich to dictate play and secure the famous win in front of a passionate north London crowd.

Raymond van Barneveld had double 20 vision after he sent Richard North packing 3-0 earlier in the evening.

The popular Dutchman, 50, often wears glasses on the oche, especially when his diabetes makes his eyes sore and blurry.

In the opening round, the five-time world champion was without spectacles but he could see the second round clearly enough – securing the win with double top.

Adrian Lewis had high hopes of winning a third world title
Adrian Lewis had high hopes of winning a third world title
Getty Images - Getty

Barney said: “I’ve been wearing for contact lenses for the last six weeks. They have better focus.

“At times, I struggled to read my phone. But this optician has helped my eyesight.

“At this time of the year, you eat more sweets in Holland and the sugar levels go up. The last 2-3 days I had blurred vision and bad eyes. But these lenses make me feel better.”

John Henderson called out Michael van Gerwen after battering Finnish flop Mario Kantele 3-0.

The No.29 seed is the last man to beat the world No.1 on TV following his first-round triumph at the World Grand Prix in Dublin in October.

Raymond van Barneveld was a comfortable first-round winner
Raymond van Barneveld was a comfortable first-round winner
PA:Press Association

The Highlander sealed the first and second sets with checkouts of 160 and 121 respectively and then roared: “It would give me no greater pleasure to get to the semis and then get Michael again!

“If you cannot take inspiration from beating Van Gerwen in a televised match, then you will never get any inspiration in life. It was a great weekend and gave my career an almighty lift.”


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