Beaton looked confident from the outset and took the opening two legs in double-quick time.

Anderson, a former world champion, missed an attempt at double 18 to pull a leg back and Beaton finished with 74 to clinch the first set.

The ‘Bronze Adonis’ followed up with a 61 checkout in the first leg of the second but Anderson finally opened his account in the next.

The number 28 seed also won the third leg and a successful attempt at double eight handed him the set.

Both players shared the next four legs but it was Anderson who held his nerve to win the deciding leg and take the set.

Beaton levelled but Anderson totally dominated the fifth set, winning three legs without reply.

However, former Embassy world champion Beaton showed coolness under pressure to finish with 98 and clinch the sixth set by three legs to two.

Anderson managed to stay focused and won the first leg of the deciding set, but Beaton prevailed in the next two - including a 120 checkout.

In a see-saw battle, Anderson finished with double 16 to take the match into a tie-break.

But after the winning the next leg, Anderson then missed three attempts at double eight for the match - and Beaton made him pay with a clinical 73 checkout.

The Southam thrower then won the next two legs to clinch victory and a second-round clash with either Mick Manning or John Part.

A relieved Beaton said: ‘‘I haven’t seen Bob play like that for a long time. He missed chances in the first set but then he started taking them.

‘‘I just kept telling myself to finish the game off and it was like that to the finish.’’

Speaking about his chances of winning the tournament, Beaton added: ‘‘I’m ready for this championship and would love to win it. The next round now is 11 sets and I prefer the longer game.’’