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Nitin Kumar created history by becoming the first Indian to win a match at the PDC Darts World Championship with a sensational victory over Dutchman Richard Veenstra. <\/b><\/p>\n
The 40-year-old had lost in all four of his previous first-round encounters at the Alexandra Palace, but his 3-2 win puts him in the last 64 of the competition. <\/p>\n
Kumar’s scoring was inferior to that of Veenstra’s, but it was his finishing that proved crucial, boasting a 75% checkout success and hitting all his last seven doubles.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know what to say right now. I’m overwhelmed, I’m happy,” said Kumar, who is nicknamed ‘The Royal Bengal’.<\/p>\n
“If you dream it, anything is possible. I’ve dreamed of this ever since I saw Dennis Priestley win the World Championship (in 1994).”<\/p>\n
Kumar could next play fourth seed Stephen Bunting, who faces Sebastian Bialecki in Sunday’s evening session.<\/p>\n
Veenstra hit five 100-plus finishes, with his highest coming at 144. Kumar was not as flamboyant with his scoring, but proved to be incredibly consistent as the Alexandra Palace crowd roared him on. <\/p>\n
Three-time BDO world champion Glen Durrant said on Sky Sports: “It was one of the greatest games I have ever commentated on.<\/p>\n
“It’s not just the quality of the match, it’s the impact for Nitin Kumar and what it does for Indian darts.”<\/p>\n
Earlier world number 27 Ritchie Edhouse was knocked out by debutant Jonny Tata. <\/p>\n
Former European champion Edhouse was stunned in a 3-0 defeat by the New Zealander, to taste defeat at this stage for the fourth time in a row.<\/p>\n
Another debutant, Englishman Dom Taylor, progressed to the second round with a 3-0 win over Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak, with the Englishman hitting a brilliant 114 checkout. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n