by Dave Allen

ADRIAN LEWIS produced the shot of his career to take out 164 in the deciding leg of his thrilling PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic first round clash with Vincent van der Voort  last night.

In a match which fully lived up to the pre-game hype, the quick-fire duo went all the way to an 11th leg at the Mandalay Bay Resort.

Van der Voort looked to have taken control when he left 92 after 12 darts with his opponent on 164 – only for Lewis to produce two treble 19s and a bullseye finish.

He now takes on Peter Manley in round two today, with the pair meeting for a third successive year in the event, and Lewis admits he will be on a high.

“That was the best shot of my career, without a doubt,” said Lewis. “Vincent was sat on 92 so to take out 164 under that pressure is brilliant.

“I’m feeling really confident and if I can play like that throughout the week there’s no reason I can’t win this.

“It was an amazing last leg and a really good game. Vincent played really well and I was pleased with my grouping around the treble 20 as well as my finishing.”

The game’s first four legs all went with the throw before Lewis took out double top in the fifth to edge 3-2 up.

Van der Voort landed maximums in the next two to edge himself back ahead, only for Lewis to level on double 16 and go 5-4 up on tops.

He missed two match darts in the tenth, with a superb 101 finish from the Dutchman sending the game into a decider.

Lewis landed his first maximum of the contest in leg 11, before producing his sensational showpiece to snatch victory.

Talke Pits’ Andy Hamilton kicked off his campaign with a 6-1 victory over American ace Chris White.

Hamilton, a quarter-finalist in last year’s Desert Classic, never looked in trouble after the California-based qualifier let him take a 4-0 lead.

Hamilton broke throw in the opening leg on double 16, and punished a missed double top in the second to take out double four.

Hamilton then posted a 180 in winning the third, and double eight put him four legs clear.

White stepped in to get off the mark in the next, following three misses from Hamilton, although the Englishman won leg six to move 5-1 up.

He then secured his second-round spot – where he will play James Wade – on double ten, after White allowed four darts to continue the comeback slip away.

Phil Taylor is also in second-round action today when he plays Dennis Priestley.