MIKE WARBURTON admitted the pressure was on as he faced darts' most-talked about player in his online tournament debut.

Warburton, the 35-year-old Welsh international from Gwersyllt, had just been mauled 5-0 by Martin 'Wolfie' Adams in a nightmare start to the Modus Icon of Darts competition.

Next up was a best of nine match against Fallon Sherrock, who took the world of darts by storm in becoming the first female to beat two male rivals at the World Championships.

"It was a bad a start as you could get. 5-0 and to not eve get a leg," said Warburton. "And then to have the next game against Fallon. The pressure was really on.

"No disrespect to Fallon because she is an awesome player but you can imagine some of the messages I was getting about taking on one of the best female players in the world.

"I knew I was going to have to give it my best shot. And I did. I won 5-1 although Fallon didn't play the best but at least it got me my first points of the night."

Warburton is good friends with Sherrock, who beat Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljović in the opening two rounds of the World Championships.

"It’s great to be drawn in the same group as Fallon," added Warburton, who is back in action against Sherrock at 7.15 tonight.

"She has had such a great year, and she is really flying the flag for ladies darts.

"I’m looking forward to battling it out with her again. I’ve done a lot of practicing with her and I know what she can do. She’s a great player."

Warburton, who will once again kick off the second night's group action against Wessel Nijman, recovered well on Monday night to win the final match against Dave Evans 5-2 after suffering a 5-1 masterclass from Kyle McKinstry.

"I finished well in that last match and I needed to," said Warburton. "Four points on the first night keeps me in it.

"What I was pleased with was how I twice hit back. To lose 5-0 and then bounce back with a 5-1 was important.

"And I did the same later on. Kyle was unplayable in the 5-1 defeat. I didn't play bad but he was averaging over 100. But I finished off with that win over Dave."

Father of four Warburton, who works at Airbus, is happy to be playing his part as online darts continues to really take off with sports fans.

"The first match, I was so nervous because it was so different setting things up at home," he added. "But I got better and there's a long way to go in this tournament and most importantly I'm still in it."

Adams has a night off tonight with group leader Evans taking on McKinstry in the key match at 7.40pm.

To watch the action go to dartsshop.tv and checkout live stream events as Warburton starts the night against Nijman at six o'clock.