Australia’s Beau Anderson landed a double eight in sudden death to clinch a dramatic 3-2 first-round victory over Colin Lloyd at the World Darts Championship in London.

Anderson claimed the first set with a double 20 on his pressure third dart but Lloyd soon levelled, hitting a maximum and landing an accurate attempt on double 10.

The West Australian then found his third 180 and put Lloyd in deep trouble when taking the third set, only for the 2005 World Matchplay champion to land a bullseye to complete a 110 checkout, sending the match into a decider.

Neither man appeared capable of edging the two-leg lead required to win, with Anderson missing three chances to close out the game in the eighth leg, and one more in the 10th.

But the Perth player’s overall consistency would see him finally swing the game in his favour to find the left side of the board and book a meeting with world No.9 Robert Thornton.

He told www.pdc.tv: “I’m very relieved to get through that after missing four darts to win it.

“I led the match twice but Colin came back both times and I thought my chance may have gone. But I kept holding throw in the decider and I’m thrilled with this result.”