FORMER UK Open quarter-finalist Chris Thompson crashed out in the preliminary round of this year’s competition at Bolton.

World number 53 Thompson, who reached the last eight in 2008, lost 4-0 to Nigel Heydon, ranked one place above him in the PDC rankings, on a disappointing night for the Minster Law legal executive.

The Ainsty ace, sponsored by Woodthorpe Dental Centre, was left clenching his teeth at the end of the match having not thrown for one double in a contest which also saw him have just one attempt at a finish – 113 in the first leg.

Heydon won that nervy opening leg in 20 darts against the throw and never looked back in the best-of-seven-legs format.

The Acomb-based ‘Hitman’ threw the only 180 of the match and also managed six other tons but Heydon, nicknamed ‘the Undertaker’, hammered the final nail in his opponent’s coffin when he finished the game in style, checking out on 167 to complete a 12-dart leg with his opponent waiting on 121 to save the match.

A deflated Thompson said afterwards: “I was poor and it just did not happen for me.

“That’s sometimes the case in darts but I’m thinking too much about my game recently and that’s not me.

“Fair play to Nigel because he beat me fair and square but I could have won the first three legs if I had been in any type of form although there was not a lot I could do about the fourth.

“It was a short-format game but I’m not going to make that an excuse because we know that a long time before the matches start.

“It’s a game of darts – as simple as that. In all likelihood I will be having a two-month break in the season soon and I need to take stock and come back stronger.”

Rawcliffe’s Martyn Turner had an infinitely easier first match against Speedy Hire qualifier Tommy Little, cruising to a 4-0 triumph.

The Speedy Services health and safety manager struggled to hit 20 all match and failed to throw above three figures throughout the first round clash.

Turner was never extended and enjoyed the luxury of recording legs of 20, 23, 24 and 25 darts without the 47-year-old Scotsman having a shot at a finish even when Turner twice bust on double one in the third leg.

World number 25 Co Stompe, meanwhile, ended the interest of North Yorkshire hopeful Terry Temple on his UK Open debut.

Temple was beaten 4-0 in the first round contest against the two-time World Championship quarter-finalist.

For a report on Turner’s second round match against another Speedy Hire qualifier, Ryan Murray, who beat former World Championship semi-finalist Colin Monk 4-1 in the previous round, log on to this website tomorrow morning.