Brendan Dolan booked a place in the third round of the World Darts Championship with a 3-1 win over Japan's Edward Foulkes.

The victory for the Fermanagh man sets up a post-Christmas date with tournament second favourite Gerwyn Price. 

Dolan, with a new faster throwing technique, raced into the lead as he took the opening set with a 104.86 average that included a 105 outshot.

However, Foulkes took advantage of a dip from the Belcoo man to take the second 3-2 with the throw and then missed a dart for the third set to allow Dolan to take a 2-1 lead in what was turning into a thrilling clash.

The History Maker’s experience told as he claimed the fourth set 3-0 to end debutant Foulkes' interest in the competition, which, the PDC confirmed, will remain behind closed doors for its duration.

"He was very dangerous. I knew nothing about him bar his first-round game," Dolan told Sky Sports. "I'd seen how well he had played. 

"His finishing was brilliant against Mike de Decker and his scoring wasn't bad either.

"I knew if he felt a wee bit comfortable he could be an awesome player. It made me feel very uneasy up there for my first game, when he had already been up there."

On his new technique, the number 30 seed said: "I’m still working on it, I haven’t got it right...it’s a work in progress.

"It's not about being quick, it's about getting rhythm. It has improved my game over the last three months." 

Steve Lennon was left to regret a slew of missed darts at doubles at he bowed out to Devon Petersen.

The Carlow man had chances to win the first two sets but allowed his South African opponent to capitalise to go 2-0 up.

It was the story of the night for Lennon, a World Cup finalist in 2019, who ended up with an incredible 39 missed darts at double in a game where he hit four 180s and averaged 89.34.

Lennon survived seven match darts as he scraped the third set 3-2 before more missed doubles in the fourth finally sealed his fate as world number 29 Petersen, who will now face Michael Smith or Jason Lowe, cleaned up.

Mickey Mansell is the next Irish player in action, the Tyrone southpaw faces 'Rapid' Ricky Evans tomorrow afternoon.

There were wins earlier in the day for Simon Whitlock over Darius Labanauskas, and Joe Cullen against Wayne Jones. 

Former two-time champ Adrian Lewis was beaten 3-1 by American Danny Baggish. 

Lewis, who claimed back-to-back world titles in 2011 and 2012, paid for a slow start, missing 15 darts at doubles during the opening two sets.

Although 'Jackpot' started to find his range in the third set with finishes of 84 and 127, it was only delaying the inevitable as Baggish landed a 170 checkout before completing a 3-1 victory.

The American will next take on 2020 Premier League winner Glen Durrant.

"I'm so happy. That is a special win for me," said Baggish, who dedicated the impressive performance to his brother, Harrison, who had suffered a severe stroke at home in Florida.

"That was for my brother. I'm really emotional and that's why I let it all out at the end.

"It has been a difficult and emotional 24 hours, but I am doing him proud at that means everything."

Former champ Rob Cross was beaten in a five-set thriller by Dirk van Duijvenbode, who held his nerve to win a last-leg shoot-out. 

Matchplay winner Dimitri Van den Bergh made a strong start to his campaign in the £2.5 million tournament with a 3-0 victory over Paul Lim.