SOUTHEND darts professional Steve Maish crashed out of the PDC World Championships at the first hurdle with a straight sets defeat to Mark Webster.

The Welsh player, who finished third in the World Championships earlier this year, claimed the first set by winning three legs on the trot. But Maish missed two chances at double 16 to win the third leg.

Maish saw his throw broken in the first leg of the second set and even a 180 maximum in the third leg could not stop Webster reeling off another three unanswered legs to claim the set.

Maish, nicknamed Mr Magic, rallied in the third set but by then the damage had been done.

Webster took the first leg and claimed the second before Maish took the third with a double eight.

He maintained his comeback with a double one to win the fourth leg, but with Maish missing double top to claim the set, Webster hit 78 to secure the first round victory at the Alexandra Palace in north London.

Webster admitted the win was comfortable for him as he continued the form that saw him a losing finalist while representing Wales against the Netherlands in the inaugural World Cup of Darts earlier this month.

But he added Maish had given him a fright in the third set.

Both players hit two maximums and nine 140s, with Webster scoring a dozen tons to Maish's ten.

Maish had a three-dart average of 93.76 compared to Webster's 98.93, with Maish's highest finish being a 58 and Webster's 120.

Crucially Maish only broke Webster's throw once, with his rival taking four legs against his throw.