Several top seeds crash out of BDO Darts Championships

Several top seeds are out of the BDO World Darts Championship after yesterday's first-round action at the Lakeside.

Hotly-tipped Dutch teenager and third seed Michael van Gerwen went down 3-2 to England's Gary Robson after a sudden-death leg at the end of the fifth set.

Second seed Gary Anderson also went down 3-2 to Dutchman Albertino Essers, while Phil Nixon progressed to the second round at the expense of seventh seed Daryll Fitton.

This evening 2004 champion Andy Fordham is in action against sixth seed Simon Whitlock.