It was an unforgettable evening in Leicester, with world-class excitement and some surprising results, as two of the pre-tournament favorites—Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen—were both knocked out.
Match Highlights
Dave Chisnall vs. Cameron Menzies
Chisnall delivered a dominant performance, winning 2-0 in sets with impressive 3-0 scores in both. His consistency with the treble 20 was evident, hitting four 180s and six 140+ scores.
Luke Woodhouse vs. Dimitri Van den Bergh
A much closer contest saw Van den Bergh overcome Woodhouse in a thrilling match. Woodhouse initially had the upper hand but faltered with a series of missed doubles, which Van den Bergh capitalized on. In the final set, Van den Bergh broke Woodhouse’s throw with a spectacular 132 checkout, ending the match on a high.
Mike De Decker vs. Damon Heta
In his debut, De Decker showed great composure, overturning a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 in a gripping match. Although Heta fought back in the second set, De Decker’s resilience and a key missed opportunity from Heta in the third set sealed the win for the Belgian.
Peter Wright vs. James Wade
Wade claimed a hard-fought victory over Wright, where checkout percentages played a key role—Wade finishing 8 out of 22 while Wright struggled at 4 out of 20.
Gerwyn Price vs. Danny Noppert
Noppert dominated the first set, but Price ultimately edged him out. After Noppert fought back to level the score, it was Price who held his nerve and clinched the match with a key double 12 finish in the third set.
Michael Smith vs. Gary Anderson
Smith and Anderson engaged in a high-speed battle, with Smith initially taking the first set. However, Anderson leveled the match, and in the deciding set, Smith had two match darts but missed. Anderson took full advantage, pulling off an impressive win.
Michael van Gerwen vs. Daryl Gurney
Van Gerwen, full of confidence coming into the tournament, was shocked by Gurney’s calm, mistake-free play. Gurney clinched a surprise 2-0 victory, with Van Gerwen failing to win a single leg.
Chris Dobey vs. Joe Cullen
Dobey looked promising early on, winning the first set with a brilliant 160 checkout, but Cullen came back strong, claiming the next two sets and securing a straightforward victory.
Round 2 Preview
The second round begins today, with matches played best of 5 sets. More margin for error is available, but players will need to keep their nerves in check if they hope to reach the weekend’s finals. Here are the matchups:
- Nathan Aspinall vs. Ryan Joyce
- Rob Cross vs. Martin Schindler
- Luke Humphries vs. Ricardo Pietreczko
- Jonny Clayton vs. Ross Smith
- Gary Anderson vs. Mike De Decker
- Dave Chisnall vs. Dimitri Van den Bergh
- Daryl Gurney vs. Joe Cullen
- Gerwyn Price vs. James Wade
