DEAN WINSTANLEY came from 5-0 down to defeat Gary Anderson 13-11 in an incredible Betfair World Matchplay debut on Tuesday night, as local favourites Wes Newton and Ronnie Baxter and emerging star Justin Pipe joined him in progressing to the second round.
Yorkshireman Winstanley - who only joined the PDC circuit in January - endured a nightmare opening in his early legs on the Winter Gardens stage despite opening the game with a 180, as a string of missed doubles allowed Anderson to take command.
Winstanley then found his range to win eight of the next nine legs and move 8-6 up - only for Anderson to then level and edge back in front, but the Yorkshireman held his nerve on tops to secure a tie-break victory.
"I^ve never been stuck for words before but I am tonight - I can^t believe it," said the 31-year-old. "Gary^s a great competitor and a fantastic guy, but at 5-0 down I said to myself that I wasn^t going out, and I dug in.
"The crowd were brilliant and they got me through the game, and I^m just so happy to win - it^s uneblievable."
Winstanley now plays Blackpool^s Ronnie Baxter in the second round on Thursday, after the 1998 runner-up defeated Dave Chisnall 10-7.
