Van Gerwen ousts Anderson as Wade launches UK Open title defence and Cross crashes out

Michael van Gerwen continued his winning run on Day One of the 2022 UK Open in Minehead, as defending champion James Wade hit the ground running.

A frenetic opening day of the prestigious multi-board major saw the opening four rounds take place across eight stages at the Butlins Minehead Resort.

The world’s top five players advanced to Saturday’s Last 32, while four former champions suffered early exits.

Three-time UK Open champion Van Gerwen recorded a 10-7 win over Gary Anderson to pick up from where he left off in winning Night Four of the Premier League in Exeter on Thursday.

Both players averaged just 93.7, but it was the world number three who led throughout and produced a 115 checkout with bull, single 15 bull on his way to victory.

Reigning champion Wade came through a thrilling encounter 10-6 against Steve Lennon, averaging 104 to the Irishman’s 105.5 and converting 66 per cent of his attempts at doubles.

World number one Gerwyn Price eased past a below-par Krzysztof Ratajski 10-5 with a 98 average and a high checkout of 150, while 2017 champion Peter Wright got the better of fellow Premier League Joe Cullen 10-6 despite playing through the pain barrier with a back injury which almost forced him to pull out of the competition.

Callan Rydz punished four missed match darts from Nathan Aspinall to snatch victory in a deciding leg on Stage Two, while Raymond van Barneveld squandered eight match darts in the deciding leg of his Third Round clash with William Borland as he crashed out 6-5.

Local favourite Ryan Searle recovered from 6-2 down to knock out two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis 10-7 in the Fourth Round.

European Champion Rob Cross also joined the list of high-profile casualties as he went down 10-7 to German number one Gabriel Clemens.

Former semi-finalist Jelle Klaasen and surprise package Graham Hall were the final two Rileys Qualifiers left standing, but were both eliminated in Round Four.

Devon Petersen got the better of Klaasen, while Irish youngster Keane Barry dispatched Hall to reach the Last 32 for the first time.

Polish youngster Sebastian Bialecki, who qualified via the Development Tour, is the last non-PDC Tour Card Holder remaining in the field and the only player remaining whose campaign began in round one.

Bialecki, who hit a nine-darter in last year’s UK Open in Milton Keynes, defeated Matt Campbell, Joe Murnan, Keegan Brown and Ritchie Edhouse on a memorable day in his career.

Jose Justicia landed the 13th nine-darter in UK Open history, but the Spaniard lost his Third Round tie against Adam Gawlas.

One of the day’s other eye-catching moments came courtesy of Ian White, who produced a sensational 170 checkout in the deciding leg of his clash with last year’s runner-up Luke Humphries to overturn a 9-7 deficit.

Ricky Evans pulled off a miraculous comeback from 5-1 and 8-2 down to edge out Darius Labanauskas 10-9, while Dave Chisnall thrashed Brendan Dolan 10-3.

Two-time world finalist Michael Smith advances to the Last 32 courtesy of a 10-7 win over Chris Dobey on the Main Stage with seven 180s and a 100 average.

Dimitri van den Bergh averaged 104 in thrashing two-time major winner Daryl Gurney 10-2, while Premier League champion Jonny Clayton held his nerve to deny Martin Lukeman in a tense deciding leg.

Saturday sees the Last 32 ties take place across four stages in the afternoon, before the Last 16 ties are held over two stages in the evening.

GET £30 IN FREE BETS ON THE UK OPEN WHEN YOU REGISTER HERE AND PLACE ANY BET (18+)

UK Open 2022 – Day One Results

Friday March 4

Afternoon Session

First, Second & Third Rounds

Main Stage
Bradley Brooks 1-6 Rowby-John Rodriguez (R1)
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Mark Rice (R1)
David Evans 2-6 Keane Barry (R2)
Lewy Williams 1-6 Martin Schindler (R2)
Connor Scutt 6-3 Jules Van Dongen (R2)
James Wilson 2-6 John Henderson (R2)
Florian Hempel 6-3 Lukas Wenig (R3)
Raymond van Barneveld 5-6 William Borland (R3)
Adrian Lewis 6-0 Fabian Schmutzler (R3)

Stage Two
Kai Fan Leung 5-6 Fabian Schmutzler (R1)
Matt Campbell 1-6 Sebastian Bialecki (R1)
Mario Vandenbogaerde 5-6 Jules van Dongen (R1)
Danny Lauby 6-5 Niko Springer (R1)
Jon Worsley 5-6 Niels Zonneveld (R2)
John Michael 5-6 Danny Baggish (R2)
Ted Evetts 6-3 Jack Main (R2)
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-4 Gordon Mathers (R2)
Madars Razma 1-6 Jamie Hughes (R3)
Krzysztof Kciuk 6-4 Ross Smith (R3)
Martin Schindler 6-2 Jeff Smith (R3)
Kim Huybrechts 6-2 Luc Peters (R3)

Stage Three
Ted Evetts 6-4 Nick Fullwell (R1)
Ryan Harrington 6-2 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (R1)
Richie Burnett 6-3 Tony Martinez (R1)
Darren Webster 4-6 Jose Justicia (R1)
Martin Thomas 4-6 Kenny Neyens (R1)
Berry van Peer 6-3 Kevin Doets (R2)
Graham Hall 6-5 Andrew Gilding (R2)
Peter Hudson 3-6 John O’Shea (R2)
Jim Williams 6-3 Jurjen Van der Velde (R2)
Max Hopp 2-6 Ritchie Edhouse (R3)
Martin Lukeman 6-3 Adam Hunt (R3)
Jason Lowe 4-6 Jelle Klaasen (R3)
Andy Boulton 6-5 Danny Lauby (R3)

Stage Four
George Killington 6-4 Reece Robinson (R1)
Dan Read 6-3 Diogo Portela (R1)
Josh Rock 5-6 Damian Mol (R1)
James Wilson 6-4 Shaun Wilkinson (R1)
Keelan Kay 1-6 Lukas Wenig (R2)
Jelle Klaasen 6-1 Cameron Menzies (R2)
Richie Burnett 3-6 Ryan Harrington (R2)
Jeffrey de Zwaan 2-6 Keane Barry (R3)
Steve Beaton 3-6 Graham Hall (R3)
John O’Shea 1-6 Maik Kuivenhoven (R3)
Jose Justicia 5-6 Adam Gawlas (R3) – *Justicia hits a nine-darter*
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Ross Montgomery (R3)

Stage Five
Matt Good 5-6 Keelan Kay (R1)
Jim Williams 6-3 Ryan Murray (R1)
John O’Shea 6-0 Nathan Rafferty (R1)
Jurjen van der Velde 6-4 Mickey Mansell (R1)
Geert Nentjes 6-3 Jake Jones (R2)
Radek Szaganski 4-6 Scott Waites (R2)
Jose Justicia 6-2 Eddie Lovely (R2)
Paul Hogan 3-6 Danny Lauby (R2)
Keegan Brown 2-6 Sebastian Bialecki (R3)
Steve West 6-3 Damian Mol (R3)
Steve Lennon 6-5 Ryan Harrington (R3)
Berry Van Peer 2-6 Niels Zonneveld (R3)

Stage Six
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-2 Scott Taylor (R1)
Vladimir Andersen 2-6 Steve Clayson (R1)
Paul Hogan 6-4 Dom Taylor (R1)
Prakash Jiwa 6-2 Toni Alcinas (R1)
Krzysztof Kciuk 6-1 Brett Claydon (R2)
Jamie Clark 3-6 Martin Lukeman (R2)
Scott Mitchell 4-6 Danny Jansen (R2)
Luc Peters 6-2 Geert De Vos (R2)
Ron Meulenkamp 6-2 Danny Baggish (R3)
Danny Jansen 2-6 Ricky Evans (R3)
Darius Labanauskas 6-4 John Henderson (R3)
Jim Williams 6-5 Alan Soutar (R3)

Stage Seven
Darren Beveridge 3-6 Jimmy Hendriks (R1)
Wesley Plaisier 5-6 Radek Szaganski (R1)
Ross Montgomery 6-3 Reece Colley (R1)
Danny Jansen 6-2 Liam Meek (R1)
Ricardo Pietreczko 2-6 Zoran Lerchbacher (R2)
Sebastian Bialecki 6-5 Joe Murnan (R2)
John Brown 3-6 Damian Mol (R2)
Steve Clayson 2-6 Fabian Schmutzler (R2)
Ryan Joyce 6-0 Mike De Decker (R3)
Luke Woodhouse 6-2 Ted Evetts (R3)
Martijn Kleermaker 5-6 Jason Heaver (R3)
Geert Nentjes 6-5 Kenny Neyens (R3)

Stage Eight
Adam Warner 3-6 Lukas Wenig (R1)
Shaun McDonald 0-6 Jamie Clark (R1)
Kevin Burness 3-6 Graham Hall (R1)
Luc Peters 6-0 Paul Marsh (R1)
Adam Gawlas 6-3 George Killington (R2)
Ross Montgomery 6-2 Dan Read (R2)
Prakash Jiwa 3-6 Jason Heaver (R2)
Kenny Neyens 6-4 Jimmy Hendriks (R2)
Boris Krcmar 6-2 Zoran Lerchbacher (R3)
Connor Scutt 5-6 William O’Connor (R3)
Rowby-John Rodriguez 0-6 Ryan Meikle (R3)
Brian Raman 2-6 Scott Waites (R3)

Evening Session

Fourth Round

Main Stage
Chris Dobey 7-10 Michael Smith
Krzysztof Ratajski 5-10 Gerwyn Price
Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Gary Anderson
Joe Cullen 6-10 Peter Wright

Stage Two
Jermaine Wattimena 5-10 Vincent van der Voort
Daryl Gurney 2-10 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Steve Lennon 6-10 James Wade
Callan Rydz 10-9 Nathan Aspinall

Stage Three
Andy Boulton 5-10 Damon Heta
Maik Kuivenhoven 9-10 Simon Whitlock
Luke Woodhouse 5-10 Boris Krcmar
Ron Meulenkamp 10-9 Krzysztof Kciuk

Stage Four
Ritchie Edhouse 6-10 Sebastian Bialecki
Jason Heaver 7-10 William O’Connor
Jelle Klaasen 6-10 Devon Petersen
Steve West 7-10 Jose de Sousa

Stage Five
Ryan Joyce 8-10 Martin Schindler
Glen Durrant 5-10 Scott Waites
Brendan Dolan 3-10 Dave Chisnall
Danny Noppert 10-3 Ryan Meikle

Stage Six
Mervyn King 4-10 Stephen Bunting
Geert Nentjes 10-5 Florian Hempel
Jamie Hughes 10-5 Adam Gawlas
Ian White 10-9 Luke Humphries

Stage Seven
Ryan Searle 10-7 Adrian Lewis
Darius Labanauskas 9-10 Ricky Evans
Dirk van Duijvenbode 10-6 William Borland
Rob Cross 7-10 Gabriel Clemens

Stage Eight
Jim Williams 5-10 Niels Zonneveld
Kim Huybrechts 9-10 Mensur Suljovic
Keane Barry 10-7 Graham Hall
Martin Lukeman 9-10 Jonny Clayton