Steve Duke is Australia's only remaining representative at the 2004 Lakeside World Professional Championship after inflicting a 3-1 defeat on Albertino Essers in the first round tonight.
Compatriot Tony David, who won the title in 2002, crashed out of the tournament yesterday when he lost 3-2 to Darryl Fitton. But Manchester-born Duke, whose family emigrated Down Under in 1969, battled back from losing the opening set to progress.
Dutchman Essers, who was well supported by his fellow countrymen in the capacity crowd, won the opening set by three legs to one. However, he has suffered before with dartitis - which stops players from releasing the dart - and it came back to haunt him in the second set.
It allowed Duke to get a foothold in the game and he edged a tight set with a successful attempt at double eight. He also nailed the same double in the third set to take it 3-1 and move within one of victory.
Essers fought back to take the third set to a deciding leg, but Duke nailed double nine to end his opponent's title dream.