Wednesday 24 December 2014 13:53, UK
Adrian Lewis says he is determined to reclaim the World Championship title after a dazzling 3-0 win over David Pallett in the first round.
The 29-year-old is a former two-time winner of the trophy and dispatched the debutant with an average of over 101, the highest in the opening stage of the tournament.
An early celebration from Pallett seemed to rile Lewis, who responded with some heavy scoring which almost led to a record breaking performance at Alexandra Palace.
“The first set I was trying for the record. I think it’s 126 average after the first set. I wish Sky would stop putting it up on the TV screen,” he joked.
I’m not here for first round matches, I’m here to win the tournament.
“Dave, he made me play there. He certainly played really well in the last set, but I’m here to win the tournament. I’m not here for first round matches, I’m here to win the tournament.
Asked if he had made a statement, Lewis said: “That was my aim – go up there set a marker out. I think I can improve on that and hopefully next round I can do that.”
The Stoke thrower revealed how Pallett had stoked up the rivalry on social media and was glad to prove his point in convincing fashion.
“Like I said, he was giving me a bit of gyp on Twitter and so on,” said Lewis. “He’s brought all his family down there and I’ve come here to turn him over, simple as that.”
This victory set up a showdown with Keegan Brown, the world youth champion, who holds a recent win over Lewis. But the man with the ‘Jackpot’ nickname hopes he can prevail over the longer format.
"Keegan’s got a great head on his shoulders. I mean he beat me at the Grand Slam, only first to five legs, that’s a difference you know," he said.
"But I think he’ll be up there in the future for a long, long time. He’s got a lot to give to the game.”
