Luke Humphries won nine legs out of nine as he made a dominant start to his world title defence at the Alexandra Palace.
Cool Hand was well below his best from a statistical point of view as he averaged just 90.79 but it was plenty good enough to brush Thibault Tricole aside 3-0 on the opening night of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
His French opponent had earlier battled past Joe Comito 3-1 in a match which saw both players average in the very low 80s and he didn't improve on those levels much when he returned to the oche a couple of hours later.
Tricole missed all eight of his attempts at doubles as Humphries punished him in style.
The defending champion will now head home for Christmas before returning after the break for the third round.
"I could probably win five world titles and Luke Littler would still be more popular."
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) December 15, 2024
Luke Humphries is always so humble when asked about being in Littler's shadow and explains why neither of them want any animosity in their rivalry. Class act. pic.twitter.com/XP7dwmUMiC
Elsewhere, Jermaine Wattimena came through his first round clash with Stefan Bellmont 3-0 with an impressive average of 98.54 and a similar performance could put James Wade in big trouble on Monday afternoon.
Keane Barry came from a set down to defeat Kim Huybrechts 3-1 in a thrilling clash that featured 17 maximums.
Barry, who hit seven of those and averaged almost 95, will now face Gerwyn Price on Monday night.
WATCH: ALL THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TIES PREDICTED!
Day one results and day two schedule
Sunday December 15
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Thibault Tricole 3-1 Joe Comito (R1)
- Jermaine Wattimena 3-0 Stefan Bellmont (R1)
- Kim Huybrechts 1-3 Keane Barry (R1)
- Luke Humphries 3-0 Thibault Tricole (R2)
Monday December 16
Afternoon Session (12.30pm GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Wesley Plaisier v Ryusei Azemoto (R1)
- Luke Woodhouse v Lourence Ilagan (R1)
- Alan Soutar v Kai Gotthardt (R1)
- James Wade v Jermaine Wattimena (R2)
Evening Session (7pm GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Niels Zonneveld v Robert Owen (R1)
- Connor Scutt v Ben Robb (R1)
- Cameron Menzies v Leonard Gates (R1)
- Gerwyn Price v Keane Barry (R2)
CLICK HERE FOR FULL TOURNAMENT RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
Darts: Related content
- Watch our 2025 World Darts Championship predictions
- 2025 World Darts draw, schedule & results
- 2024 PDC Darts Calendar
- 2024 Premier League Season
- Watch: Littler on his 2024 season
- How Littler won £1million in one season
- What's easier, a nine-darter or a 147?
- Watch: Ranking the major winners in history
- Watch: Royal Rumble and other new tournament ideas
- Watch: How much do darts players earn?
- Watch: Is Luke Littler the next Phil Taylor?
- Watch: Building the perfect darts player
- Watch: How to become a darts professional
- How legends would fare today
- Troubles and triumphs
- Tournament ideas for darts
- 'What If' moments in darts
- Agony of missed match darts
- Good, Bad, Ugly: Nicholson on darts shirts
- Referees in darts
- Calling the shots in darts
- Weird actions in darts
- Hidden talents in darts
- Superstitions in darts
- Routes to glory
- Paul Nicholson's five darts drills
- Paul Nicholson's five mental tips
- Paul Nicholson's five practice games
- Worst losers in darts
- World number ones in darts
- Best players never to be number one
- Five characters in darts
- Do averages lie?
- Greatest Tournaments Ever
- Paul Nicholson's Ally Pally tales
- Watch all the Ally Pally nine-darters
- Players everyone hates to face
- Players everyone loves to face
- How to make it as a pro?
- How much money do players earn?
- Greatest darts rivalries
- Rivalries to cherish
- Be canny with counting
- Phil Taylor's greatest display
- Greatest World Championship displays
- World Cup of Great Darts performances
- Sky Bet's darts odds
