ST HELENS darter Michael Smith had to dig deep to progress into the second round of the William Hill World Darts Championship after a gripping clash at Alexandra Palace.

On a night that had already seen shocks, with number six seed Robert Thornton losing to Alan Norris, Smith faced a real test of nerve before beating Dutch teenager Jeffrey De Zwaan in sudden death.

Number eight seed Smith came through a dramatic encounter with the Ally Pally debutant, with the Clock Face man triumphing in a sudden-death leg after the pair had shared 12 180s.

Smith, who reached his first major semi-final at last month's Grand Slam of Darts, took the first set but was at risk of becoming another big-name casualty when De Zwaan won the next two.

He levelled the match with the aid of a brilliant 134 finish before the pair shared ten legs in set five to set up the tournament's first sudden-death decider, in which Smith took victory with a strong 14-darter.

Smith said: “It was a nervy game at times and a brilliant game at times.

"Jeffrey is a top class player and he showed that.

"I could've thrown in the towel but I dug in and I'm pleased with how I held it together at the end,"said Smith, who will meet Steve Beaton in the second round.

How the match was won.

Michael Smith 3-2 Jeffrey De Zwaan Set one: 3-1.

De Zwaan took out 90 on the bull to take the first leg before Smith also landed the same target to complete a 92 checkout. The former World Youth Champion then finished 50 on tops before winning an incredible leg, which saw De Zwaan start with six perfect darts and Smith hit five treble 20s before he wrapped up the set with a clinical 101 finish.

Set two: 0-3.

De Zwaan quickly reeled off three legs without reply, landing double four, double five and double two to level the match.

Set three: 1-3.

De Zwaan took out 60 to break and the Dutch teenager then finished 86 on the bull before Smith pulled a leg back. De Zwaan moved ahead in the match though, pegging double 14 after hitting a 180.

Set four: 3-0.

Smith produced a fantastic 134 checkout, completing the combination with two double tops. A 180 helped him double his lead and he then took out 105 to level the match.

Set five: 6-5.

After Smith's third 180 helped him take the first leg, De Zwaan took out 62. Smith responded with a 93 finish on the bull but the Dutchman cleaned up 56 to take the match to a tie-break, with a winning margin of two legs required.

The pair then shared four legs, the last of which ended with a sensational 128 finish from De Zwaan, and the next two legs also went with the throw to force this year's first sudden death leg.

Smith won the bull to throw first and kicked off with 125, 131 and 134 - punishing his opponent for starting the leg by scoring 29 - before nailing double four to move into round two.