CARDIGAN darts hero Jamie Lewis delighted his countless supporters by reaching the second round of the William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London.

In four consecutive appearances at the tournament the 25-year-old, ranked 30th in the world, failed to win a match, but came up trumps this time with a 3-2 win over Mick McGowan of Dublin.

Lewis took the first set 3-0, McGowan bounced back to win the second set, Lewis, who hit a total of five 180s made it 2-1 before his opponent squared matters again to take the match into a deciding set.

The Welshman, with the help of his fifth maximum, went through after a 108 finish.

Afterwards Lewis told the Tivy-Side: "In the past I have not done myself justice here but I felt really good out there tonight and although I had a few jitters when Mick came back at me I managed to get the job done.

"If I play as good as I know I can then I can beat anybody, but you never really know how you are going to play," he said.

The former pupil at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi, who now lives in Carmarthen, faces a mammoth task in the second round this weekend when he takes on world number three and one of the favourites for the title Peter Wright.

The 46-year-old Scottish born Wright, who lives in Suffolk, and was runner-up two years ago is a big crowd favourite with his Mohawk hairstyle, which changes colour each tournament and is made by his hairdresser wife.

Wright stormed into round two with a 3-0 win over 20-year-old Dutch outsider Jerry Hendriks.

Even if he is eliminated at the next stage Lewis will still pick up a cool £16,000.