Jenkins finishes job in grand style

Rod Harrington became the second of the top four seeds to fall in the first round of the World Matchplay Championship when he lost 10-7 to Andy Jenkins here last night.

The "Prince of Style" ­ winner of the tournament in 1998 and 1999 ­ followed top-ranked Peter Manley through the Winter Gardens exit.

Harrington, the fourth seed, trailed from the outset as Jenkins, from Hampshire, made a flying start to lead 3-0, helped by check-outs of 107 and 81.

The 29-year-old 14th seed put himself on the brink of victory at 9-4 with a finish of 101, before Harrington won the next three legs to stay in the match.

But a 106 checkout secured Jenkins a second-round meeting with Nigel Justice, a 10-5 winner over Shayne Burgess.

The eighth seed, Dave Askew, also found himself in a battle but scraped into the second round with a 10-8 win over Graeme Stoddart and Cliff Lazarenko prevailed 12-10 against 15th-ranked Colin Lloyd.

* Barry Hearn has declared his intention to transform darts into a global sport after being appointed chairman of the PDC yesterday. "Darts is the sport of this millennium," Hearn said.