Brendan Dolan insisted his injury nightmares are behind him as he beat Hong Kong’s Lok Yin Lee 3-0 to set up a Third Round clash against three-time World champion Michael van Gerwen at the PDC World Darts Championship.
Fermanagh’s Dolan, who reached the Quarter-Finals at last year’s World Championship, has been battling a shoulder problem in recent months, but his finishing power ensured he cruised over the line against Lee at Alexandra Palace.
“I would have liked better scoring but my doubles finishing was brilliant,” Dolan told Sky Sports.
“I’m glad to get over the line and I’m delighted with the win.
“I’m over the injury. That’s gone. That’s done and dusted. Onwards and upwards.”
Dolan beat Van Gerwen at last year’s World Matchplay Championship and he is looking for a repeat when the duo clash again in the biggest tournament of them all.
“I’m hoping for more of the same. I don’t think Michael is,” he added with a smile.
“I’m going to get stuck in, do my best and hopefully put in a really good performance that I know I can do.”
Van Gerwen began his bid for a fourth World Championship title with a comfortable 3-0 victory against England’s James Hurrell on Friday night, but the Dutch darting great was not at his best.
The World champion 2014, 2017 and 2019 has struggled for form of late and not won a major televised tournament this year, and that continued against Hurrell.
Despite his inconsistency, Van Gerwen insisted he was happy with his displayed and promised there was more to come.
“I think I played okay, of course like everyone knows it’s been a tough year for me,” said Van Gerwen.
“To stand up here and do the thing you want to do always takes a lot of energy, but overall I put in a good performance. My doubles were there, I was confident, and the most important thing is that I won the game.
“It wasn’t spectacular but I don’t really care because I won the game. It’s only the start of my campaign and there’s more to come.”