Peter Wright firmly brushed aside any fitness concerns as he beat Diogo Portela in the first round of the World Championship at Alexandra Palace.
The Scot's participation in the biggest major on the darts calendar was in doubt after he was rushed to hospital on November 30 with suspected gallstones.
But the No.2 seed declared himself fit on the eve of his match with the first Brazilian to compete in this tournament and, after showing no signs of discomfort during his trademark entrance, eventually breezed to a 3-1 victory.
Wright did suffer a brief scare as, despite winning the first set, Portela held his nerve to take two legs in a row and level up at 1-1.
Yet Wright, after a change of outfit, showed all his experience against the debutant to claim the next two sets and set up a second-round clash with Jamie Lewis.
"I'm still not well, to be honest," Wright told Sky Sports.
Darren Webster will play Australian Simon Whitlock next after the 23rd seed held off a late comeback from Devon Petersen to claim a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
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