Betfred World Matchplay darts in Blackpool: Michael van Gerwen wins 'match to forget'

Van Gerwen was making just his second appearance since undergoing surgery on his throwing arm last month, and he defied a below-par display to claim a 10-7 victory over 2013-runner-up Lewis at the Winter Gardens.

The Dutchman opened his account with a brilliant 126 on the bull for a 12-dart hold, but Lewis delivered a 13-dart riposte, sparking a sequence of three straight legs for the Stoke-on-Trent star.

The two-time World Matchplay champion regained control with three consecutive legs of his own, though Lewis levelled proceedings at six apiece courtesy of a sublime 11-dart hold.

Van Gerwen was visibly struggling for consistency, yet Lewis’ doubling unravelled and Van Gerwen capitalised, winning four of the final five legs to keep his hopes of a third Blackpool crown alive.

“I think my doubles were the key but I have to forget this game really quickly,” said Van Gerwen, who now plays Joe Cullen in a repeat of last month's Premier League final.

Cullen stormed into the second round with a comprehensive 10-2 victory over World Cup winner Damon Heta, reeling off nine straight legs midway through the match to dismantle the beleaguered Australian.

Heta started brightly, firing in a maximum and drawing first blood with a 110 finish before Masters champion Cullen rattled in 160 and 120 checkouts

“I felt good and I was bang up for this game” said Cullen, who averaged 95.72 to cap off a professional display. “It’s an absolutely brutal draw but this is the best field we’ve ever had.”

Nathan Aspinall continued his resurgence to claim an impressive 10-5 victory over the highly-fancied Luke Humphries, to set up a last 16 clash against 2007 champion James Wade.

After the pair exchanged breaks in an edgy start to the tie, Aspinall stormed 7-1 ahead courtesy of six unanswered legs, with a fabulous 143 checkout in leg three providing the tonic.

Humphries, a four-time winner on the European Tour in 2022, threatened an unlikely fightback after reducing the arrears to 7-4, yet a clinical 100 combination from Aspinall in leg 12 inspired the former UK Open champion to a convincing win.

"Nobody expected me to win that game tonight and that fired me up," admitted Aspinall, a quarter-finalist last year.

In the evening's other tie, Wade began his bid for a second World Matchplay crown with a hard-fought 10-4 success against debutant Martin Lukeman, in a contest dominated by missed doubles.

Wade raced into 3-0 and 7-2 leads as Lukeman toiled on the outer ring and following a sequence of four straight breaks, a 120 finish in the penultimate leg provided the highlight for the fifth seed.

Wade said: “Martin is absolutely phenomenal. He is an amazing dart player and I believe he could be one of the next stars of the sport.”

The first round draws to a close tonight as world number two Gerwyn Price takes on German debutant Martin Schindler, with 2019 champion Rob Cross up against Chris Dobey.

Seventh seed Jose De Sousa opens his campaign against German number one Gabriel Clemens, while five-time quarter-finalist Dave Chisnall plays the returning Kim Huybrechts.