Michael van Gerwen (Photo Kelly Deckers/PDC)
Michael van Gerwen will renew his rivalry with Rob Cross in round two of the World Series of Darts Finals, after overcoming fellow countryman Wessel Nijman in a thrilling first round encounter in Amsterdam.
Van Gerwen took centre stage on Day One in the Dutch capital on Friday night, edging out an impressive Nijman in a decider to open his bid for a record-extending sixth World Series of Darts Finals title.
Nijman led 2-0, 3-1 and 5-4 as he set his sights on a landmark victory, but Van Gerwen refused to relent, producing a stunning 132 finish on the bull en route to completing the comeback.
The three-time World Champion also survived a match dart in the penultimate leg, before following up a majestic 174 set-up shot by pinning double 18 to prevail with a 104.75 average.
“Of course I am delighted with this result,” claimed Van Gerwen, who lifted this title in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2023.
“Wessel is a great player and his cover shooting was absolutely phenomenal tonight, but I felt great the whole game.
“I think this was one of my best performances in Holland for a long time, and that gives me a lot of joy.”
Luke Humphries also survived two match darts on his way to victory on a dramatic opening night, edging out 2018 champion James Wade with a 99 average in another compelling affair.
“It was a strange performance,” reflected the world number one, who produced legs of 14 and 13 darts to overturn a 5-4 deficit.
“One minute it was great, and the next it was really poor. My consistency is not there yet, but I’m working my way back into form and I’m pleased to win.
“I was very fortunate that James missed those two match darts, but when I get past that first round I’m usually dangerous, and now I’m more hungry than ever.”
However, top seed Stephen Bunting was sent packing by Dutch number two Danny Noppert, who will now take on World Cup champion Josh Rock for a place in the quarter-finals.
Noppert put in a typically efficient display to defeat Bunting 6-4, while Rock turned on the style in the closing stages of his 6-3 victory against Krzysztof Ratajski, sealing his progress with a 121 checkout on the bull.
Friday’s action at AFAS Live also saw Cross make a winning return to the Netherlands, after lifting the Dutch Darts Masters title in Den Bosch back in January.
The 2017/18 World Champion defied an excellent performance from New Zealand’s number one Haupai Puha to open his title challenge, landing 60% of his attempts at double to complete a 6-3 win.
Australian number one Damon Heta and World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker will go head-to-head in round two, after the pair overcame Joe Cullen and Gabriel Clemens in their respective round one ties.
Heta celebrated his first televised victory over Cullen with a resounding 6-1 success, before De Decker saw off Clemens 6-3, despite the German missing double 12 for a nine-darter in leg three.
Earlier in the evening, Kevin Doets opened proceedings with a narrow victory over his compatriot Jermaine Wattimena, surviving four match darts to set up a meeting with Humphries on Saturday night.
Round One will conclude with a further eight matches on Saturday afternoon, as reigning champion Luke Littler opens his defence of the title against Australian veteran Simon Whitlock.
Former winners Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton take on American duo Danny Lauby and Jason Brandon respectively, while Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld faces Norway’s Cor Dekker.
Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey and Ross Smith also enter the fray in the afternoon session, with Peter Wright and Cameron Menzies locking horns in an all-Scottish affair.
RESULTS
First Round: Kevin Doets 6-5 Jermaine Wattimena; Josh Rock 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski; Damon Heta 6-1 Joe Cullen; Mike De Decker 6-3 Gabriel Clemens; Luke Humphries 6-5 James Wade; Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Wessel Nijman; Danny Noppert 6-4 Stephen Bunting; Rob Cross 6-3 Haupai Puha
