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Gary Anderson launched the defence of his PDC World Darts Championship crown at Alexandra Palace in London with a routine 3-0 first-round win over Mark Frost. Two-time defending champion Anderson, who beat Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis in the last two finals, never hit top form but required just 36 minutes to see off his unseeded opponent. Hot favourite and world number one Michael van Gerwen launches his bid for the Sid Waddell Trophy on Saturday against Ross Snook or Kim Viljanen. Anderson required double one to clinch the first set against Frost 3-0, but rarely looked in danger of losing a leg and took the second set by the same score in double-quick time. The out-classed Frost finished with a bullseye from 73 to win his first leg at the start of the third set and clinched another to lead 2-1, hitting double 20 after Anderson had missed the same target. But the champion responded to level it up and in the deciding leg checked out on 40 to seal the set 3-2 for a comfortable victory. Earlier, unseeded Kevin Painter, tournament runner-up to Phil Taylor in 2004, checked out with a bullseye from 124 to beat 29th seed Jamie Caven 3-1 and 30th seed Jamie Lewis held off Mick McGowan's fightback to prevail 3-2 after a tense deciding set. In the final game of the opening session Michael Smith overcame Ricky Evans 3-2 in another thrilling see-saw encounter. Smith, the 11th seed, trailed 1-0 and 2-1 against his unseeded opponent but prevailed through some quality finishing as he checked out from 143 during the fourth set and 94 at the beginning of the fifth.
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