Darts World Championship: Peter Wright brushes aside fitness concerns to reach second round as seeds crash out

Both Kim Huybrechts and Cristo Reyes became the latest seeds to suffer a first round defeat, taking the total number eliminated to 12 out of 32

Peter Wright beat Brazilian Diogo Portela to reach the second round at the Darts World Championship (Getty)

Peter Wright firmly brushed aside any fitness concerns as he beat Diogo Portela in the first round of the William Hill World Championship at Alexandra Palace.

The Scot’s participation in the biggest major on the darts calendar was in doubt after he was rushed to hospital on November 30 with suspected gallstones.

But the number two seed declared himself fit on the eve of his match with the first Brazilian to compete in this tournament and, after showing no signs of discomfort during his trademark entrance, eventually breezed to a 3-1 victory.

Wright did suffer a brief scare as, despite winning the first set, Portela held his nerve to take two legs in a row and level up at 1-1.

Yet Wright, after a change of outfit, showed all his experience against the debutant to claim the next two sets and set up a second-round clash with Jamie Lewis.

“I’m still not well, to be honest,” Wright told Sky Sports.

Darren Webster will play Simon Whitlock next after the 23rd seed held off a late comeback from Devon Petersen to claim a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

But Kim Huybrechts and Cristo Reyes, seeded 18th and 26th respectively, became the latest big names to crash out.

James Richardson wasted little time in dispatching Huybrechts 3-0 to ensure a second-round tie with Alan Norris.

And Toni Alcinas won the battle of the Spaniards in the opening match of the evening, beating his World Cup partner Reyes 3-1 to secure a meeting with giant-killer Kevin Munch.

PA