Van Gerwen sends home Littler (Photo by Taylor Lanning/PDC)
Michael van Gerwen produced a vintage display to subject Luke Littler to a First Round exit at the 2024 World Matchplay in Blackpool on Monday.
Two of the sport’s hottest properties locked horns in a box office clash at the Winter Gardens, and it was Van Gerwen who emerged victorious to kick off his quest for a fourth World Matchplay title.
Van Gerwen reaffirmed his credentials with a statement 10-6 victory, averaging 102, landing five 180s and converting ten of his 23 attempts at doubles.
The 35-year-old charged into a 5-2 lead – aided by a run of four straight legs – and though Littler responded to reduce the deficit to 5-4, the 17-year-old paid the price for missing three darts to level in a pivotal tenth leg.
Van Gerwen maintained his advantage with a brace of 12-darters – including a stunning 146 checkout – to move 8-5 up, before capping off a relentless display to send Littler packing.
“This means a lot to me,” said an emotional Van Gerwen. “Everyone knows I’ve been going through a rough time, so to perform and get rewarded for your hard work is always nice.
“It’s always a joy to play games like this. Luke is the man in form, he has incredible talent, but you have to face the challenge.
“I don’t have to prove a point to anybody, but when you’re both playing well and you win the game, it’s an incredible feeling.”
Meanwhile, Michael Smith produced a blistering mid-match burst to defeat his former mentor Gary Anderson, recording his highest average on the Winter Gardens stage to run out a convincing 10-5 winner.
2018 champion Anderson started magnificently, following up a 101 checkout in the opening leg with a double-double 92 outshot to establish a 3-0 lead and a double-break.
However, Smith responded with an astonishing seven-leg spell to seize control at 7-3, before backing up a brace of 12-darters with a clinical 90 finish to prevail with a 102 average.
“I was 3-0 down and I wasn’t playing well,” admitted Smith, who won ten of the last 12 legs to condemn Anderson to an early exit.
“I was trying too hard early on. I have so much respect for Gary. I used to be in the same management stable as him and we’re still really good friends.”
In the evening’s opener, Ryan Searle produced an exhibition of finishing to dispatch Australian number one Damon Heta, converting three ton-plus checkouts and averaging 101 to celebrate a 10-4 success.
Searle recorded the highest average of last year’s tournament in his opening round demolition of Raymond van Barneveld, and he produced a similarly dominant display to sweep aside Heta.
Trailing 2-0, Searle conjured up 167 and 142 checkouts in consecutive legs to level at two apiece, and a brilliant 130 finish in leg ten catapulted the Somerset star to an emphatic victory.
“Something has just clicked for me over the last few days,” admitted the 36-year-old, who now takes on 2019 champion Rob Cross for a place in the quarter-finals.
“The way I was practising before my game tonight, I felt like I was going to hit a nine-darter – they were going in that nicely!
“I’m going to need to continue playing like I did tonight, and if I can get my scoring and finishing together, it’s going to take something special to stop me.”
Chris Dobey booked his place in the Last 16 with a battling 10-7 win over debutant Ritchie Edhouse, despite squandering 28 darts at doubles in a gruelling contest.
Edhouse – courtesy of 130 and 116 checkouts – led 5-3, but Dobey’s superior scoring turned the tide, as the former Masters champion won seven of the next nine legs to complete the comeback.
“I knew it was going to be tough, and I really had to battle up there,” reflected Dobey.
“Ritchie is one of those players who never gives up. He never missed a double early on, but I knew over this format it was unlikely to last, so I just tried to dig in.
“This has been a place where I’ve struggled in the past, but that changed last year, and I feel at home on the stage now.”
Betfred World Matchplay 2024 Day Three Results
Monday July 15
First Round
Damon Heta 4-10 Ryan Searle Michael Smith 10-5 Gary Anderson Michael van Gerwen 10-6 Luke Littler Chris Dobey 10-7 Ritchie Edhouse
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