When Mark Webster lifted the BDO World Championship last year, many expected that he would throw a spanner in the works by giving up his plumbing course and defecting to the PDC organisation. To his great credit the Welshman has, so far, disregarded the overtures to turn professional and pit his wits against Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and Co.

Webster is the overwhelming favourite to repeat his triumph at the BDO event after a comprehensive display at Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey, yesterday. His first set was quick, the next two lightning fast, as Willy van de Wiel was sent spinning to a 3-0 defeat in the first round.

Webster, the No 2 seed from Denbigh, North Wales, does not conform to the orthodox image of a darts player, and not only because he is left-handed. Clean-cut and quiet, he does not court the limelight that he was thrust into after his victory a year ago. And on the oche too, he has some unconventional routes towards clinching a leg.

During the second set, Webster was indebted to a friend in the audience for shouting out that double six was required, when his own calculations went awry. His attempts at double 20 often fell short and on at least four occasions he had to drop down to the ten. “The important thing is that they went in, eventually,” Webster said.

Six times in the event's history, the winner had fallen at the first hurdle, but Webster was never in danger after winning the opening leg against the darts before going on to clinch the first set. He won the next two without dropping a leg. “It felt such a relief to get through,” he said. “I was so nervous. I knew that the first round has been a graveyard for many top players and I wanted to be sure I got through. Maybe, unlike in the PDC, where there are some qualifiers that may be are not that good, you have to be straight on your game here.”

Webster has benefited from being given lengthy time off by his employer to practise before the tournament, but he will return to complete the six months he has left of his plumbing apprenticeship next week. It is easy to see why Webster has been coveted by the PDC - he held his own in reaching the quarter-final of the Gland Slam of Darts, a tournament in which the rival codes compete in Wolverhampton in November.

Webster will play John Walton in the second round on Wednesday. Walton endured an emotional 3-0 victory against Shaun Greatbatch, who is having treatment for bone marrow cancer. Greatbatch walked on to a standing ovation from the crowd and exited to a guard of honour by the other players in the tournament, amid many tears.

Greatbatch's partner had suggested that he did not play when he awoke with a tremendous headache. “I had to play for myself and for all the people who have come here,” Greatbatch said. “I had no energy at all. I did not have the momentum because I have not played at this level for a while. I can now relax and enjoy time with the other players.”

Greatbatch threw three maximums, but did not trouble Walton, the No 15 seed who lifted the trophy eight years ago. “It was the most difficult match I have ever played,” Walton said. “It feels like a hollow victory. He is like a brother to me.”

Alan Norris, of Sweden, became the second unseeded player to reach the second round, defeating Steve West, the No 13 seed, 3-0. West won just one leg. “I was sweating buckets - it was like being back in Sweden in the saunas,” Norris said.

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