• PDC World Championship

Kim edges Ronny in the battle of the brothers

Kim Huybrechts proved too strong for brother Ronny © Getty Images

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Kim Huybrechts came out on top in the battle of the Belgian brothers as he downed older sibling Ronny 3-1 in the first round round of the PDC World Championship.

Kim, 28, opened the match with a 180 with his very first throw, but 48-year-old Ronny broke twice to take the first set.

It proved to be no fluke as Ronny, 33 places below his brother in the world rankings, raced into a two-leg lead in the second before missing double-two that would have seen him move into a 2-0 lead. Kim took full advantage and won the next three legs to level the match at 1-1.

'I nearly gave up when I lost my brother'

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The sucker punch proved too much for Ronny, who won just two more legs as Kim went on to seal his place in the second round.

"That was the toughest game I've played in my life," Kim said. "I don't feel good at all. Ronny was by far the better player and I got lucky. World Championship, first round, against your brother… I don't think I've ever been so nervous on the stage.

"This was emotional and stressful. I never feel sorry when my opponent misses doubles, but I was feeling bad for Ronny tonight.

"I know I need a bit of luck to be world champion. I promise the next game will be better because I won't be so mentally stressed."

South African Devon Peterson, who has recently returned having taken a year out the game with an arm injury, earned the biggest win of his career when he beat former world champion Steve Beaton 3-1.

The match looked to be a forgone conclusion when Beaton eased through the first set, but crowd-favourite Peterson battled back to win three in a row to book his place in the second round.

Peterson had earlier eased past Malaysia's Mohammed Latif Sapup 4-1 in the preliminary round.

And there was another huge upset as Ronnie Baxter fell to rookie Rickie Evans.

Baxter, 52, who played in his first World Championship just months after 23-year-old Evans was born, fell in straight sets, winning just three legs on the way.

A visibly excited Evans said after the match: "I loved that - bring on the next game.

"I was just happy to be here, but to win the first game - against a legend of the game… It's a dream."

Evans will now face Mervyn King, who ensured he did not join the night's list of upsets by cruising past American Darin Young 3-0.

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