2250: It's all over in double-quick time although it is worth mentioning that Burnett at least won a leg in the final set.

Roy looked very convincing but he wasn't made to work too hard for his 3-0 victory. At least he can put his feet up for Christmas before returning to the Circus Tavern to face Roland Scholten in the next round.

For the Prince of Wales it's another sad end but despite his heroics in the mid-90s he's just not up to the challenge any more and he joins Kevin Painter as one of tonight's big name exits.

2234: Poor Richie. He's on the brink of a demoralising thrashing tonight having gone 2-0 down in sets and could become the 18th player to be whitewashed in this year's first-round.

His opponent Roy is in ruthless mood and obviously wants an early night as he nears what should be a inevitable triumph.

2224: It's first blood to the Ace of Herts who has notched up the first set against an ailing Welshman who might as well be Prince Charles.

The night is drawing to a close here at the Circus Tavern but the passionate crowd are hoping they'll be served up with a classic to finish with. Unfortunately it'll probably end in a whimper because Burnett looks deflated and defeated already.

He's simply a fading shadow of the player who beat Raymond van Barneveld in the final of the 1995 BDO Championship.

2210: The Prince of Wales is in the building in the form of Richie Burnett for this evening's final match which also brings the curtain down on the first-round matches.

He's up against Alex Roy, nicknamed 'Ace of Herts', who is another one of these bright prospects for the game.

2158: It's the end of the Artist as the Wizard waltzes on to the second round following this 3-1 victory.

Despite the heartache for Painter, matches like this restore your faith in darts following those terrible one-sided walkovers earlier today.

There were a staggering eleven 180s in this thrilling clash while Painter had hit a second 12-dart finish to take the fourth set into a deciding leg.

Osborne really did live up to his billing, producing some magic darts at times and he's certainly one to look out for.

2142: The Artist is bravely fighting back, taking the third set after a titanic struggle. He's pumped up for this and so is his family, in particular his father who is going absolutely bonkers!

We've seen a lot of crazy dads in this tournament so far and Painter's is no exception.

2126: Painter looks absolutely furious with himself as he falls two sets down against Osborne and aggressively throws some practice darts at the board to relieve his frustration.

As for the 'Wizard', he's casting a rather effective spell on his own game and perhaps a curse of jittery finishing on his opponent.

2110: I've just watched the final three legs of this opening set in utter disbelief!

To cut a long story short, Painter was leading 2-0 only to lose the next three legs in succession despite having ample chances to get the job done.

Credit to Osborne who kept hanging in there and that's what darts is about. You just have to cling onto that faint hope that the pressure will get the better of your opponent - just make sure he knows your waiting to the wings for a shot at the double.

2056: What a start! Painter has just nailed a superb 155 outshot to take the first leg! And now he's pumping up the crowd by following it up with a 180! He raises his hand aloft and he's certainly painting an attractive picture.

2050: 'I Predict A Riot' rings out inside the Circus Tavern as 'The Artist' Kevin Painter makes his way to the stage sparking wild scenes from the supporters.

He's up against Colin Osborne right now, hoping to rediscover the form which saw him reach the 2004 final - arguably the best match of all time.

On that occasion Painter led 4-1 against Phil Taylor but eventually was beaten in a final-leg shoot-out and he's never been the same since.

2045: Scholten has sensationally revealed he has fully recovered from his recent neck injury by having a new one installed!

After twisting his bionic neck several times during interview he's convinced everybody he'll be in condition to reach at least the quarter-finals here.

2035: The treble 20 looks so big when Scholten is throwing, yet so small when Miller is taking aim.

In fact the Canadian makes the one and the five segments look bigger than the entire board! Here lies the difference between the two men tonight.

The Tripod has stormed to a 3-0 victory and this was just as easy as it gets for anyone in the sport of darts.

2028: This is ridiculously easy. The Tripod leads 2-0 and is hardly breaking sweat - making him an unlikely candidate to enter our Sweat Watch league tables.

Miller is just not good enough and he'll be forgotten very quickly after this match as he returns to the unknown.

2018: Scholten is showing his best form now and he's taken the first set after two impressive outshots from 121 and 101 and he'll probably go on to win this 3-0 in another one-sided battle.

The Tripod sets himself the highest of standards and the look of sheer disgust he displayed when following up two treble 20's with a single 5 in the previous leg just sums his attitude to the game up.

2010: I'm going to call Miller 'The Unknown Quantity' for however long his Purfleet experience lasts - probably not very long.

Then again I could call him the 'Floater' given his strange way of throwing the arrows. You'd have to see it to understand.

But this technique is paying off as he takes the first leg against the Dutchmen who is looking far too laid back and relaxed.

2005: "I don't know anything about him," says Roland Scholten ahead of his match with Canadian Ron Miller.

The "Tripod", who clearly hasn't bothered to do any homework, should get the better of this total unknowner but, as they say, you never know in darts!

1956: All of a sudden Dudbridge picked up the pace, found an extra gear and claimed the next to sets to wrap up a 3-1 victory to reach the second-round.

He'll have to perform better if he wants to progress far in this year's competition but it's an adequate start for 'Flash'.

Dudbridge admits he's still shaking like a leaf after a nervous appearance but insists he's going to rely on his "natural ability" against Andy Hamilton in the next round.

1935: I'll have to eat my words! Kuczynski has won the second set but I'm blaming Dudbridge's woeful finishing for making me look the fool.

Trailing 2-1 in legs, 'Flash' had three arrows at the double nine to square the set but he missed them all and allowed his opponent to capitalise.

After a bright opening this is a poor standard of darts and you'd see much better down the road at the Swan & Cemetery.

1920: 'Easy, Easy, Easy' is the chant as Dudbridge follows up his opening 12-dart finish with a 15-darter to storm into a two-leg lead.

It's a great start for the 33-year-old from Bristol who will be looking to become the 17th player to win 3-0 in this poor overall standard of first-round matches.

As I've said earlier, there's too many bad players here and Kuczynski doesn't look much different.

In fact moments later this is proven as the American spurns plenty of opportunities to pick up his first leg of the match only for Dudbridge to steal in and claim the opening set.

1915: We're finally ready for the first match of this evening session but only a chorus of boos greets John Kuczynski as he walks to the stage.

The American comes out to the song 'Johnny Be Good' but the crowd have made it clear they won't be rooting for him tonight. Instead it'll be the 2004 runner-up Mark 'Flash' Dudbridge, who has actually had a nightmare season and is desperate need of some success at the Circus Tavern.

1646: It's all over for the brave American as Jenkins takes the fourth set to win 3-1 in what was a surprisingly exciting clash.

After the match the former bricklayer, who is now a full-time professional, admits it's a difficult life knowing he isn't going to get a guaranteed 100 pounds a day from a normal job.

Well, considering he's never go past the second round before, this is understandably a big worry for him.

1635: He's done it! Davis has finally made his mark on the match by winning the third set. There is still plenty of work to do but it's a relief to see that he won't go home without achieving anything.

1615: Poor Bill Davis. In every tournament there are many players who choke while in a promising position and are unable to go for the jugular.

Despite having three darts to take the second set and square the match up at 1-1, Davis couldn't handle the pressure and missed his chances.

His opponent Andy Jenkins, who was two legs down at the time, stormed back to take the next three and move into a commanding two set lead. Surely it's all over now.

It just goes to show that in darts you should never give up the ghost.

1545: I can't help but think there are too many players in this year's competition who don't deserve to be here.

So far in this first round there have been no fewer than 16 whitewashes and it's just all too easy for the better players.

There is as much point as players such as Tetsuya Wada, who has just been thrashed by Wes Newton to become the 16th player to lose 3-0, as there is for San Marino in the World Cup qualifiers.

Sorry Tetsuya, but to not even win a leg is pretty pathetic. Especially when hitting a single one when aiming for double top! Having said that at least he's in plenty of company at the Circus Tavern.

1500: Anyone who logged on here on Monday will know we love keeping an eye out for for the sweating hulks of the game - with it comes the whiff, quite literally, of nostalgia, you see.

Well, it appears John Part has just been overtaken in the sweat stakes.

Andy Smith is nicknamed 'The Pieman', and with good reason looking at his frame.

He didn't have much to worry about in terms of his opponent this afternoon - Shi Yongsheng failed to win a set - but the heat of the lights certainly affected him.

On a serious note, if you're are considering having a bet on future games involving the likes of Part and Smith, factoring the sweat issue in looks worthwhile.

The matches get longer as the tournament progresses - best of five now becomes best of seven from tomorrow and then longer - and you wonder how Smith will fare if he's forced into an 11th set should he continue his winning run.