JAMIE Lewis is hoping his good form continues when he takes to the stage in the William Hill World Darts Championship against Daryl Gurney of Northern Ireland tonight (Thursday).

Lewis has broken into the top 32 this year, and progressed to his maiden major quarter-final at the World Grand Prix in Dublin in October.

Gurney, meanwhile, made it to the semi-finals for the first time in a major at last month’s Players’ Championship Finals.

All the action from Alexandra Palace gets underway at 7pm, with Lewis and Gurney the second game scheduled.

It will be the third year that Lewis has competed in the last 64 of the World Championships.

Last year, Lewis had taken out finishes of 141 and 125 to be 1–1 against fellow Welshman James Wade in the first round of the World Championship. He won the first leg of the third set, but then lost six legs in a row to be knocked out 3–1.

His first semi-final appearance in over a year came at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy in March, where he was beaten 6–1 by Michael van Gerwen.

Lewis was now the number two Welsh player on the Order of Merit behind Webster, and they teamed up at the World Cup in June, but suffered a surprise 5–3 loss to Hong Kong in the first round.

Lewis defeated Justin Pipe 10–7 at the World Matchplay, before losing 13–2 van Gerwen the second round.

He then threw the first nine-dart finish of his PDC career as he reached the last 16 of the Players’ Championship in Dublin, before losing to Stephen Bunting in round four.

In October, Lewis reached his first major event quarter-final at the World Grand Prix in October, before finally being beaten defeated 3–0 by Van Gerwen.

He reached the last 16 of the Players’ Championship Finals in Minehead, produced one of the finest performances of his emerging career by landing six 180s before edging out Robert Thornton 6-5 in an 11-leg thriller.

He led Dave Chisnall 8–6 in the second round, but lost four legs on the trot, missing three darts to force a deciding leg in the final leg.

Victory for the 24-year-old in the first round of this year’s World Championships would probably set-up a second round clash with current World Champion Gary Anderson, on Boxing Day.

Anderson is 15/2 to make a successful defence of his World Championship, having lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy last year following a thrilling 7-6 victory over 16-time champion Phil Taylor.

The ‘Flying Scotsman’ starts his defence by facing the winner of England’s Andy Boulton or Per Laursen of Denmark, who kick off the event with a preliminary-round encounter.

World number one Michael van Gerwen is the 6/5 favourite with Taylor at 5/1.