NICK Kenny’s wait for his maiden win at the BDO World Darts Championship will go on for at least another 12 months after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Willem Mandigers this afternoon.

Kenny, from Cwmbran, lost in the opening round on his Lakeside debut last year and suffered a first-round reverse this time around as well against the Dutch 10th seed.

“I’m gutted,” said the Cwmbran-born 24-year-old. “Everyone knows I’m a much better player than that.

“I think I played alright but every time I found myself with a chance he kept hitting a double.

“I didn’t play as well as I did last year but Willem didn’t miss and I can’t take that away from him.

“I was 2-1 up in the second set, it went to 2-2, and then he broke me, and that was the key moment.

“I was expecting to win but I knew he was capable of beating me because he’s the number 10 seed.

“I didn’t play my game and he did well so I’ve got no complaints.”

Mandigers took the best-of-five set match 3-0 thanks to a clinical performance that Kenny had no answer to.

The Welshman would have been massively disappointed with his own display, though sets two and three did go to deciding legs.

Mandigers stormed ahead in the opener before Kenny took the third leg, and the Gwent ace had a chance to make it all square but missed a dart at double 16.

That allowed his opponent to seize the initiative as he hit double eight having squandered an opportunity at the same target on his previous turn.

Both men had finishing troubles in the first leg of set two, Kenny eventually taking it on double 10.

Some big scoring saw Mandigers level things up, only for Kenny to regain control of the set in the next.

Kenny’s scoring then deserted him as Mandigers landed double 10, and the Dutchman piled more pressure on his opponent by checking out on the bullseye to go two sets up.

The players shared the first four legs in the third set as each went with the throw.

A bounce out in the fifth leg didn’t help Kenny’s cause and despite a 140, Mandigers took out double eight to seal a comfortable victory.

While Kenny won't be playing any further part in this year's tournament, Gilwern's Chris Harris will after the debutant sealed a first round fixture with Dean Reynolds tonight.

Harris (pictured below) won his preliminary round match against Turkey's Umit Uygunsozlu 3-2, though he did it from 2-1 down.

South Wales Argus:

Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Brynmawr resident Rhian Griffiths lost 2-0 to reigning champion Lisa Ashton.

Griffiths took the first two legs of the match and threw a maximum in the third but three-time winner Ashton hit an 82 checkout.

South Wales Argus:

She then outscored Griffiths (pictured above) in the next two legs to go one set up, while the second set was far more straightforward.

Griffiths’ scoring left her and Ashton took advantage to clinch her place in the next round.