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Adrian Lewis crashes out of World Championship

Tim Williams/Action Plus via Getty Images

Two-time world champion Adrian Lewis was on the end of a major shock in the opening round of the William Hill World Championship after being beaten by Germany's Kevin Munch.

Munch had to come through a preliminary contest on Tuesday to earn his match against Lewis and responded by defeating the Englishman 3-1 at Alexandra Palace.

Munch hit the bullseye to complete a 124 checkout and take a 2-1 lead, then settled matters on double eight to stun a man who reigned supreme at the event in 2011 and 2012.

Defeat in the first round is the latest setback in a miserable couple of years for the 32-year-old, who is now destined to slip out of the world's top 16 for the first time in more than a decade.

Raymond van Barneveld had a smoother ride into the second round, easing past Richard North 3-0, with Scotland's John Henderson also sailing past Marko Kantele without dropping a leg.