Van Gerwen is dumped out in bad-tempered all-Dutch clash
FIVE-TIME World Grand Prix champion Michael van Gerwen was left stunned after being knocked out in the first round by fellow Dutchman Danny Noppert, writes Paul Mason.
Van Gerwen lost both legs 3-2 to go out in straight sets in a heated encounter at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
Three-time world champion Van Gerwen went agonisingly close to pulling off the first nine-darter to finish on a 170 in PDC history in the opening leg of the second set, but missed the bullseye.
Noppert then produced a 103 checkout to take the second set to a decider and at 2-2 Van Gerwen was made to pay for missing too many trebles.
In his post-match interview on the PDC’s official Twitter account, Noppert revealed there had been some angry exchanges between the pair during the match.
“I’m really happy with this win and my own performance, it was really good,” Noppert said.
“But after the first set we had some troubles with each other.
“Every time I was on a double, he was stamping on the floor and after the first set we met each other backstage and had words with each other.
“It was my feeling about it, but I’m happy with the win. I just kept going.”
Meanwhile, Rob Cross dumped number two seed Peter Wright out of the tournament with a 2-0 win in a battle of former world champions.
Reigning World Matchplay champion Wright had his chances in the second set, but Cross proved too clinical.
Cross said on the PDC’s Twitter account: “I played well. I was better in the first set, second set a little bit sluggish and never got away.
“In a tournament I’ve probably struggled in, I’ve got to be grateful.
“Peter’s a great player and been round many more years than me, but I’ll take the win and move on.”
Number six seed Gary Anderson was sent packing by Ian White, who missed seven match darts, and faced a match dart from the Scot, before taking a deciding leg for a 2-1 victory.
“I’m happy to go through, but I don’t think it was a classic,” White said.
“The two of us are good friends. We go fishing together, so it was hard work.”
Nathan Aspinall was defeated by Kryzsztof Ratajski in a deciding leg, but Jose de Sousa breezed through in straight sets against an out of sorts Glen Durrant.
Jonny Clayton celebrated his 47th birthday with a 2-0 win over Callan Rydz, with a 170 finish the highlight from the reigning Masters and Premier League champion.
Former World Matchplay champion and world number five Dimitri Van den Bergh, who is based in Leicester for the tournament, was eliminated in a deciding set by Ryan Searle.
Searle next faces Luke Humphries, who defeated last year’s finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode 2-1.
Joe Cullen suffered an upset as Kent’s Ross Smith impressively sealed a 2-0 win over ‘The Rockstar’ to set up a second round tie with Dave Chisnall, who was a 2-1 winner against Mensur Suljovic.
Darius Labanauskas produced a 156 checkout on the way to a 2-1 victory over 2011 runner-up Brendan Dolan, and Stephen Bunting had a 113 finish in a 2-0 success against 2017 champion Daryl Gurney.
Vincent van der Voort recorded a 2-0 win against Germany’s Gabriel Clemens.
NOPPERT STUNS THE FIVE-TIME CHAMPION IN FIRST ROUND