A delighted Martin Lukeman can’t wait to face Martin Schindler in the second round of the Cazoo World Darts Championship after making a triumphant debut on the sport’s biggest stage.

The Watford thrower admitted it took him a while to adjust to playing at Alexandra Palace, but he encountered few difficulties in defeating Nobuhiro Yamamoto 3-0.

Lukeman’s first appearance at the showpiece PDC event caps a memorable 2022 during which he has reached a first European Tour final and played in his first televised quarter-final at the World Grand Prix, and ‘Smash’ will be hoping it continues when he faces world number 29 Schindler in the last-64 on Friday evening.

Speaking after his straight sets win, Lukeman said: “I’m over the moon. It’s everyone’s dream to play here and I done the job. I didn’t play very well but I’ll kick in for Schindler next.

“I’ve said in a few interviews lately it’s going to be the same stage, different colours, sponsors whatever but, yes, it’s a totally different ball game out there.

“It took me two or three legs to get used to that and he (Yamamoto) was a little bit of a slow player but I’ve got to learn to adjust to these players…I won, Schindler next, let’s have it!”

Asked what he attributes his emergence this year to, Lukeman said in the PDC interview: “Last year I was practising more than what I’m doing now. I was doing probably between seven and nine hours a day. Now I’m practising an hour, two hours, maybe three maximum if I’m out playing Super League or whatever, but I’m going to a lot of local competitions and still doing what made me good.”

Looking ahead to the prospect of facing Schindler, the world number 41 smiled: “I can’t wait to play him in England. I’ve played him so many times in Germany. I’ve got the fans behind me this time so game on!”