Russian wildcard angers Bristow

Former world champion Eric Bristow has slated the decision by the Professional Darts Corporation to hand a wildcard to female player Anastasia Dobromyslova.

Russian Dobromyslova is the reigning BDO women's world champion and the PDC World Championships begin on Friday.

Bristow told BBC London 94.9: "There are a lot of top players who are not very happy about it.

"They are paying a lot of money to travel around the world and she's just been invited."

Five-times British Darts Organisation world title winner Bristow added: "I feel so sorry for Trina Gulliver who won the women's world title seven years in a row. The year she loses it we invite the winner over.

"If Anastasia wants to join the PDC, travel the world earning ranking points and earn her way through then we could have five women in it next year and no-one could complain.

"I don't think she's that good to be honest. People are saying she's the best woman player ever but Maureen [Flowers] would have killed her, Deta Hedman would have murdered her and Trina Gulliver has been a great ambassador."

Dobromyslova has been drawn against Remco van Eijden in the preliminary round at Alexandra Palace, Phil Taylor is odds-on favourite to win his 14th world crown.

Dobromyslova falls to early exit

Anastasia Dobromyslova, the first woman to play in the PDC world championship, went out in the preliminary round with a 5-3 defeat by Remco van Eijden.

The 24-year-old Russian had several chances against her Dutch opponent and won the first leg as the fans at Alexandra Palace cheered every dart.

But Van Eijden remained composed to take a 3-1 lead before eventually wrapping up the win in the eighth leg.

Former finalist Peter Manley fell to a shock 3-2 defeat by Mensur Suljovic.

Raymond van Barneveld and Wayne Mardle sealed first-round wins.

Dutchman Van Barneveld, ranked second in the world, beat Mark Stephenson 3-0, while Mardle had little trouble in seeing off David Fatum by the same scoreline.

World number seven Andy Hamilton had earlier booked his place in the second round with a 3-0 win over Michael Barnard.

Dobromyslova's arrival at the championship had drawn plenty of attention, but the women's world champion was not able to make the headlines with a famous victory.

"I'm disappointed but I wasn't good enough on the day," said Dobromyslova.

"I felt comfortable on stage but we were both nervous in the first few legs and I felt some pressure.

"But this is just the start for me and I'll be better for the experience. I'll be travelling to all the PDC tournaments next year and hopefully I will qualify again."

Van Eijden admitted: "I've played most of the best players in the game but that was the hardest match I've ever had.

"Everyone wanted to see me lose but I settled down after the first couple of legs and got the win.

"Anastasia is a world champion and a very good player, and she can play better than this, but she was under pressure and did well."

Mark Walsh beat Jamie Caven 3-2 but missed the chance to claim the first ever nine-dart finish in the history of the championships - and a £20,000 bonus.

"On the nine-darter, I was thinking about the £20,000," said Walsh. "The double 12 attempt was nearer the treble!"

The 2005 World Championship runner-up Mark Dudbridge was pushed all the way by qualifier Nick Fullwell before taking a 3-2 win, while Denis Ovens saw off Steve Maish 3-0.

Top seeds stumble out of Masters

BDO world champion Mark Webster and number one seed Gary Anderson both crashed out of the Winmau World Masters at the last-16 stage.

Wales' Webster lost 3-1 to qualifier Ross Montgomery, while Scot Anderson was beaten 3-1 by Robert Wagner.

Montgomery's joy was short-lived though as he lost his quarter-final to Tony O'Shea, who defeated Ted Hankey.

Scott Waites and 2007 world champion Martin Adams also progressed to complete the semi-final line-up.

With Anderson and number two seed Webster eliminated, England's Adams is the highest ranked player left in the tournament.