• PDC World Championship

Henderson lauds 'best ever' victory

John Henderson had never won on the Alexandra Palace stage before defeating Dave Chisnall © Getty Images

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John Henderson has described his PDC World Championship first round victory over Dave Chisnall as his greatest win since he started playing darts.

Henderson came up trumps to claim a remarkable 3-2 win on the Alexandra Palace stage - his first ever triumph at the tournament - to send the number seven seed crashing out of the competition. Having led 2-0, Henderson held off a brilliant fightback from 'Chizzy' to seal what will be a first ever appearance in the second round.

The sweetest of finishes

• John Henderson checked out a remarkable 132 during his first ever win at the PDC World Championship - made even sweeter by the fact he can't stand double 16.
• "I never feel emotions when I take out finishes," Henderson said. "I haven't done since I started playing darts since 2005. But this means a hell of a lot to me this weekend as I was trying to prove myself to a lot of my sponsors, my family and even myself - that's why I showed a bit of emotion.
• "That 132 is probably the sweetest finish I've ever hit, because I hate double 16. I absolutely hate it. So to hit two bulls and then double 16 was amazing."

"I would probably have to say that is the best win of my career," Henderson told ESPN. "I've had a couple of good wins in the BDO and got to the quarter-final of the World Grand Prix in Dublin, but this is the Mecca of darts - everybody wants to do well, so to get my first win at the worlds at the Ally Pally, I would say it is the best win of my career.

"When I went two-nil up I was expecting a comeback from Chizzy because that's the kind of player Chizzy is. I was expecting a comeback but thought maybe I had enough to take it out 3-1. It was so hard - I'm speechless.

"I refocused, took a couple of wee breaths at the fifth set and managed to cross that finish line tonight. I played him in that Pro Tour event in Barnsley and beat him, but that's a completely different game - longer format, bigger stage, set play rather than legs so just to get a win I'm over the moon.

"I feel for Chizzy, I know there's a lot of pressure on him what with the [prospect of] Premier League, but Chizzy is Chizzy. He hits 180's for fun and I hope he goes on and gets his Premier Legaue place because he deserves it. It was just my night tonight and I'm glad to be through to the next round of the Worlds."

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