Colin Monk knew he was in for a huge battle against up-and-coming Finn Marko Pusa but no-one could have forseen the epic encounter on the world's famous darts stage.

Unfortunately it ended with heartbreak for the Basingstoke-based player who needed all his experience to drag himself back from two sets down against talented Pusa.

Monk looked as if he was heading for the players' room in quick fashion but drew on his eight years of top-class experience to pull back level before getting the upper hand in the fifth and final set. Back came Pusa to force a tie-break and at five legs each a one-leg sudden death play-off was needed to decide a winner.

Just as in a pub or club, a simple nearest the bull would decide who threw first. Pusa, who has charged up the world rankings in the last season, hit 25 and Monk was just outside. Those single shots had a huge affect on the outcome. It gave Pusa first throw advantage and he needed it after starting legs one and two with scores of 41.

A timely 180 got him back in the match and Monk was facing a 167 - the highest shot out in the tournament up to that point - for survival. He nailed the 60 and knew Pusa was waiting in the wings when he missed the treble 19. Up stepped the Finn to coolly slot home double ten with his last throw in front of a capacity Lakeside Country Club that echoed with support for Monk.

Monk said afterwards: "I'm a fighter, I have always been a fighter and in the end it could have gone either way. He hit two 41s in the last leg and I should have capitalised but didn't."

Hampshire's other hopeful, Cosham bricklayer Andy Jenkins, gets his campaign underway this evening when he takes on close friend Kevin Painter. Sixth seed Painter is favourite to take the tie but Jenkins is determined to improve his record in the world's biggest tournament - this is his seventh successive appearance and he has only been beyond the first round on one occasion.

But this year he notched his first major title - the English Open - and is enjoying a rich vein of form.

"I have been playing well recently. It looks like I have come good just at the right time - I just hope I haven't peaked too soon," he said.

* Play at the Embassy World Professional Darts Championships at Frimley Green came to a sudden halt last night when a female streaker dashed across the oche..

The blonde, known as Emma from Oxford, brought capacity crowd to their feet as she finished her naked run around the Lakside Country Club.

The rumpus did little to put off defending champion Ted Hankey, who was two sets to the good against fellow Englishman Shaun Greatbatch at the time.

Meanwhile glamorous Trina Gulliver showed fans just what they have been missing when she put on an astonishing display of darts at the first ever Women's World Darts Championship at Frimley Green.

Gulliver won her opening matches 3-0 - notching up four 180s in the process and boasting a 31.64 average.