Darts star Justin Hood, who was born in Glastonbury and now lives in Street, will return to the World Championship stage on Tuesday, 23 December, after storming through his Ally Pally debut with a 100+ average and a straight-sets win.

The 32-year-old beat Welshman Nick Kenny 3–0 in the first round of the PDC showpiece and now faces a festive clash with Dutch No.6 seed Danny Noppert in round two.

Hood, ranked 86 in the world, was in ruthless form on his first appearance at the iconic London venue, punishing his opponent's missed chances and landing heavy scores to the delight of the Sky Sports crowd.

Speaking after the win, he said: "I enjoyed it up there. It was tougher than it looked. I played well. I punished him when he was struggling a little bit. I'm happy with the performance."

The former World Masters qualifier scooped his first PDC title last year and secured a tour card for 2025 — but this is his first run at the Alexandra Palace tournament.

He said he was "very happy" with his opening display and ready for whoever came next. "If I play well, I can win," he said.

More local stories:

• Glastonbury MP slams Evri over Christmas parcel chaos
• Street's lost shops: remembering the heyday of the Crispin Centre

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