Ted Hankey out for the count at Lakeside
Telford's Ted Hankey tumbled out of the BDO World Championship in uninspiring fashion with a straight sets first round defeat tonight.
The two-time Lakeside champion paid the price for a dreadful ratio on his doubles as he was whitewashed 3-0 by Martin Phillips,
Hankey, who lives in Aqueduct, was whitewashed in the final two sets and won just one leg in nine over an error-strewn outing.
'The Count' - who took the title in 2000 and 2009 - was back at Lakeside for a 16th worlds tournament appearance, but his first since 2012.
The 47-year-old had shut-out David Cameron 3-0 in their preliminary tie on Sunday afternoon, but the tables were turned against Phillips with the BT Sport cameras rolling live.
The Shropshire thrower's game completely deserted him, with just one out of 24 attempts at a double hitting the target. He averaged a below-par 71.39.
The one leg he did win levelled the first set, but he needed three darts to take out eight on double one.
Phillips had struck first blood on tops after Hankey bust himself in the madhouse, going up the gears with a first dart at double 10 and double four for 32 to take the first set.
His Welsh opponent continued to find his rhythm in the second set as Hankey again bust himself going for double 10, Phillips landing on double four to lead once more.
He then erased 78 on tops to go 2-0 up, before making it the same score in sets with his second dart at double 10.
Phillips landed the game's only 180 in the first leg of the third and last set, which he took on double four for 25.
Tops on his first attempt and with the second dart for 54 in the same bed settled matters, with Phillips only averaging 76.01 himself.
Nerves again seemed to hamper Hankey, who had admitted to feeling the pressure on stage after the Cameron clash.
There was an extended break as he needed to use the bathroom, while the match official had to call for the best of order during the last set.
