MICHAEL SMITH hit nine 180s to get the better of Mensur Suljovic as he overcame what was a potential banana skin to win 3-1 in the first round of the William Hill World Darts Championship.

Smith set the tournament benchmark for 180s with nine during his tough 3-1 win over Mensur Suljovic, where all four sets went the full five legs.

Suljovic had a slightly better average of 98.91 than Smith's 97.47 and also had a higher checkout percentage of 60 to Smith's 50, but it was all to no avail as the St Helens ace progressed.

It was no easy ride for former World Youth Champion Smith, with all four sets going the distance, but he crucially Smith broke the Suljovic throw twice while losing his own just the once.

Suljovic won the first set by finishing double eight in the decider, despite an earlier 13-darter from Smith and a 120 finish from the Austrian.

The second saw Smith's opening 12-darter bettered by an 11-dart finish from Suljovic, who also levelled in leg four with a 12-darter only to see his rival edge the decider in style with a 13-dart leg.

It was a similar story in the third set, as Suljovic took out 76 and 56 either side of a Smith 124 in the third, only to see the youngster land 180s in the next two as a break of throw in the decider gave him the set against the darts.

Suljovic led in the fourth set courtesy of a 14-darter, with Smith replying in 11 darts to level before finishing double six to move a leg away from the win, and though another 14-darter kept the Austrian's hopes alive it was the former World Youth Champion who fired in a 180 before taking out 76 on the bull to seal an impressive win.

"Two years ago I wouldn't have won that match, but I just had my head focused on the game, I wasn't distracted and I just stuck to my game," said Smith.

"I wasn't getting too carried away or too down on myself in the match, even though he was playing well and putting me under pressure, so I just kept calm and hit the crucial doubles when I needed to."