MICHAEL VAN GERWEN overcame a scare against Dutch youngster Jeffrey de Zwaan as he opened his defence of the Unibet European Championship with a 6-2 win on Friday, as Kim Huybrechts delighted the home crowd in Belgium by defeating Mervyn King.
 
The £300,000 tournament kicked off at the Ethias Arena in Hasselt on Friday, with the 32 players competing across two sessions in the first round of the three-day event.
 
Reigning champion van Gerwen found himself 2-0 down early on against youngster de Zwaan, who broke in the game's opening leg and then took out a superb 156 finish in a nerveless opening to his European Championship debut.
 
Van Gerwen, though, fired his challenge with a 13-darter as 180s in successive legs helped him to level, before finishes of 72 and 74 in the next three helped him take five in a row.
 
De Zwaan landed a 180 and double two to rally, but van Gerwen posted a maximum of his own and before posting tops to seal victory with another 13-dart leg.
 
"I was fairly happy with how I played, and especially how I came back after Jeffrey's good start," said van Gerwen. "He's a good player and he will do well in the game, but my aim is to defend my title and that's a good start."
 
Van Gerwen now faces Spain's Cristo Reyes, who impressed with a 100 average as he kicked off the European Championship with a 6-2 win over German teenager Max Hopp.
 
Hopp opened the game with a 180 as he took the first leg, but Reyes took out double 18, double eight and double 16 to move 3-1 up and added a 12-darter to regain that advantage before finishing 76 and a 14-darter to wrap up the win.
 
Belgian ace Kim Huybrechts gave the home crowd plenty to cheer with a 6-3 win over Mervyn King, as the Antwerp ace rounded off the first round in style.
 
Huybrechts - who lives in Antwerp and was being watched by his mother, partner and daughter - took out 108, double 18 and 83 on the bull as he stormed into a 3-0 lead.
 
King got off the mark in leg four on double 16 and then took out a superb 160 finish to pull back to 3-2, but he crucially missed the bull to level in the next, as double top edged Huybrechts away and a brilliant 11-darter gave him a 5-2 cushion.
 
King replied with a 14-dart finish, but Huybrechts landed a 180 and hit double eight in leg nine to complete the win, setting up a second round meeting with Peter Wright.
 
"I'm very proud," admitted Huybrechts. "I had so many of my friends and family here, and with it being the first big PDC event in Belgium it was extra special - but I've never had to deal with so much pressure before, so I'm happy to win.
 
"Being 3-0 up takes a lot of pressure away, but Mervyn came back and the 160 hurt a little bit and if he made it three-all he would have been the stronger man so going 4-2 up, so that made it a bit easier for me."
 
Huybrechts added: "I've played Peter a lot in the last two or three years and all the games have been exciting and close, and that's what I expect tomorrow.
 
"He usually has all the crowds on his side, so I'll be counting on the Belgian support and finally having them on my side!"
 
World number four Wright overcame European Championship debutant Alan Norris 6-3 as he won through to the last 16 in Hasselt earlier on Friday.
 
Norris held the early advantage at 1-0 and 2-1 before Wright took out 60 and 100 to edge ahead before producing a fine 11-darter to move 4-2 up.
 
Norris responded by taking out 130 for a 12-dart leg, but Wright wrapped up victory in style with 180s in back-to-back legs as another 11-darter secured his second round spot.
 
Four-time European Champion Phil Taylor punished Vincent van der Voort for missing 11 darts at doubles as he claimed a 6-1 win over the Dutchman, who had taken victory when they met in the World Grand Prix earlier this month.
 
Van der Voort actually led as he opened the game with a 14-darter, but six missed doubles in the second allowed Taylor to level and another miss in the third saw the 16-time World Champion move 2-1 up.
 
Taylor then opened the fourth leg with seven perfect darts, scoring 177 and 180, and though he was unable to complete a nine-dart finish, took the leg in 11 for a 3-1 lead.
 
Van der Voort then missed two more doubles as Taylor posted a third-dart double 16 to win the fifth leg, double 16 for a 14-darter to move 5-1 up before hitting a 180 and double five to complete victory.
 
Taylor now takes on Michael Smith, the former World Youth Champion who produced an impressive display of finishing as he took out six doubles from nine attempts in his 6-4 win over Gerwyn Price.
 
After Welshman Price took the opener, Smith finished 81 on the bull, 72 and 70 as he took a 3-1 cushion, only for the debutant to better those checkouts with a 161 finish before hitting double ten and an 11-darter to move 4-3 up.
 
Smith, though, hit a 180 as he levelled again with a 13-darter, before double ten moved him 5-4 up and a fine 14-darter wrapped up his win.
 
2013 European Champion Adrian Lewis edged a tight contest with Benito van de Pas as he overcame the Dutch youngster in a deciding leg to progress to a second round meeting with Justin Pipe.
 
Both players landed 180s in the opening leg as Lewis edged ahead, before the Dutchman levelled by taking out 101, and the next four were shared before Lewis hit tops and then broke throw on double five for a 5-3 lead.
 
Van de Pas broke back immediately on double ten, and when Lewis missed two match darts at double 16 the youngster posted tops to force a deciding leg.
 
Lewis, though, was first to a finish in the final leg, and though he initially wired double four with two further match darts, he returned to finally claim the win on double two.
 
Pipe landed four 180s and finished 50 percent of his darts at a double as he overcame Dutch debutant Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2.
 
The Taunton ace made all the early running, finishing 82 in the opening leg and taking out legs of 13 and 12 darts - the latter with a 125 finish - to lead 3-0, before taking the next two to move to the brink of a whitewash win.
 
Van Duijvenbode took out a 14-darter to get off the mark and continued his revival on double ten, but Pipe ended the fightback in leg eight with a 108 checkout.
 
2012 European Champion Simon Whitlock began his bid to win back the title with a 6-2 defeat of Sweden's Magnus Caris, who led after taking the opening leg but never recovered from losing the next five as the Australian pulled clear.
 
Whitlock's run included two 12-dart legs, a 13-darter and a 104 checkout, and though Caris rallied briefly with a 180 as he took leg seven, the former champion took out tops in leg eight for victory.
 
Whitlock will now face reigning World Champion and Premier League champion Gary Anderson, who overcame a slow start to defeat Brendan Dolan 6-3.
 
Dolan finished tops for the opening leg and also shared the first four before Anderson hit top gear, edging 3-2 up with tops before breaking throw in leg six with the aid of two 180s.
 
He landed another maximum in taking a 5-2 lead, and though Dolan replied on double 15, another tops finish sealed Anderson's win.
 
Jelle Klaasen won his all-Dutch battle with Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 with another strong display as the two-time Players Championship winner in 2015 progressed to the last 16.
 
Klaasen defied an early 12-darter from van Barneveld with back-to-back 14-dart finishes as he moved 4-1 up, with the five-time World Champion hitting another 12-darter and a 64 checkout to pull back to 4-3.
 
Klaasen, though, fired in a 174 score and double 18 to win his fifth leg, with van Barneveld hitting back on double eight but unable to prevent his rival sealing victory with a 14-darter, which featured a 180 and double 18.
 
Klaasen now takes on James Wade, who knocked out 2014 European Championship finalist Terry Jenkins with a 6-3 victory.
 
Wade took the opening three legs to take command of the game, with Jenkins pulling back to 4-3 but crucially missing five darts to level in a key leg eight.
 
Left-hander Wade punished him by landing tops before firing in a 180 and double ten to seal victory on leg nine.
 
Dave Chisnall powered to six 180s against Mensur Suljovic - but still needed a 121 bullseye finish in the deciding leg of their clash to see off the in-form Austrian.
 
Suljovic, who has reached for ranking semi-finals during October, took out 98 and 118 to win the opening two legs before Chisnall, inspired by his first 180, edged a tight third - after four missed doubles from the Austrian - to get his challenge off the mark.
 
Chisnall landed another 180 in the fourth as he levelled and took the next two, as the pair traded maximums in both, for a 4-2 cushion, with three straight 14-dart legs and landed a fifth 180 in as many legs as he moved 5-2 up with a 12-darter.
 
Suljovic, though, hit back as a 171 score set up tops for a 13-darter, and a 14-dart finish was followed by a 111 checkout to punish Chisnall's miss at double 12 for the match, as the game went into a decider.
 
Chisnall landed his sixth maximum as the pair fought for victory, and when Suljovic missed the bull to finish 161 to snatch the win, the St Helens ace returned to hit the middle double to complete a 121 combination and claim a second round spot against Stephen Bunting.
 
Bunting also edged through an 11-leg thriller as he defeated Ian White 6-5 to reach the second round with the narrowest of wins, as the Stoke ace hit back from a three-leg deficit to send the contest all the way.
 
After landing tops to win the opening leg, Bunting finishes 60 and 66 for 14-dart finishes to move 3-0 up, only for White to take out double four, 75 and a 13-darter to level.
 
Bunting replied with a 13-darter and the next two were shared as the St Helens ace moved 5-4 up, with White landing another 13-dart finish to send the game into a deciding leg.
 
The former Lakeside Champion, though, hit his third 180 of the game at a key point before finishing 64 on double 18 to edge the win.
 
Big-finishing John Henderson knocked number five seed Robert Thornton out of the tournament by hitting three ton-plus checkouts in his 6-4 victory.
 
Scottish star Thornton had won the World Grand Prix three weeks ago and was aiming to follow up that Dublin triumph with further glory in the PDC's first major televised event in Belgium, at the Ethias Arena in Hasselt.
 
However, Henderson punished early missed doubles to take a 2-0 lead, hitting a 130 finish in the process, and also led 4-2 before Thornton took out 101 and 121 to level the match.
 
Henderson, though, hit back with a 121 checkout on double 11 before hitting two 180s and a thundering 111 finish to claim the win with a 12-darter.
 
Austria's Rowby-John Rodriguez held off a spirited comeback from Christian Kist to claim a 6-4 win from their first round game, despite the Dutch ace missing double 12 for a perfect nine-dart finish.
 
Rodriguez responded to losing the game's opening leg by taking the next five without reply, twice punishing missed doubles from Kist as he pulled clear.
 
Kist, though, finished 63 and double six to pull back to 5-3 before hitting two 180s to open the ninth leg, adding another treble 20 and treble 19 before pulling his dart at double 12 into the single nine.
 
He recovered to win the leg, but Rodriguez traded 180s with his rival in the tenth before hitting double ten to seal his second round spot against Henderson.
 
Saturday's second round is split across two sessions at the Ethias Arena in Hasselt as players compete for spots in Sunday's Finals Day, which features the quarter-finals in the afternoon and the semi-finals and final in the evening.
 
Tickets can be purchased through www.pdc-europe.tv.
 
Unibet European Championship
Friday October 30
First Round
Afternoon Session
Cristo Reyes 6-2 Max Hopp
Christian Kist 4-6 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Magnus Caris
Justin Pipe 6-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Michael Smith 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Ian White 5-6 Stephen Bunting
Robert Thornton 4-6 John Henderson
Peter Wright 6-3 Alan Norris
 
Evening Session
Adrian Lewis 6-5 Benito van de Pas
Mensur Suljovic 5-6 Dave Chisnall
James Wade 6-3 Terry Jenkins
Gary Anderson 6-3 Brendan Dolan
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 6-1 Vincent van der Voort
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Mervyn King
 
Saturday October 31
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1.45pm-6pm local time, 12.45pm-5pm UK time)
John Henderson v Rowby-John Rodriguez
Stephen Bunting v Dave Chisnall
Adrian Lewis v Justin Pipe
Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock
 
Evening Session (8pm-12am local time, 7pm-11pm UK time)
Peter Wright v Kim Huybrechts
Phil Taylor v Michael Smith
Michael van Gerwen v Cristo Reyes
James Wade v Jelle Klaasen
 
Second Round - Best of 19 legs

ROBERT THORNTON stunned Michael van Gerwen with a scintillating 5-4 victory to claim the partypoker.com World Grand Prix title in the most thrilling final in the history of the tournament at Dublin's Citywest Hotel on Saturday.
 
Van Gerwen's bid to win a third title in four years at the double-start tournament saw him land an incredible 18 maximum 180s in an astonishing nine-set contest.
 
Thornton, though, produced a gutsy, resilient display to win his second major PDC title with some ruthless finishing as he picked up the £100,000 first prize.
 
After van Gerwen raced through the first set 3-0, the Scot won the next two in a deciding leg and also led 3-2 and 4-3 before the Dutchman hit back to send the game all the way.
 
The pair shared the opening two legs of the ninth and final set, but van Gerwen missed doubles in the next two as Thornton followed a tops finish with a 13-darter to seal glory.
 
The win adds to Thornton's previous victories in the 2007 BDO World Masters and 2012 UK Open, and the Scot admitted: "It's the best day of my darting career.
 
"It's unbelievable, absolutely awesome. If you're going to win a tournament, this is the way to do it, and Michael showed why he's the world number one at the moment.
 
"I beat Phil in the UK Open final and he was on top of the pile then, and I've beaten Michael tonight. This is so sweet and it goes to show that you should never give in.
 
"Going into the last set I thought to myself that if I could hold my own throw then I could do this. My wife says that I'm a little pitbull with the heart of a lion; I never give in and I keep fighting to the end.
 
"Michael hit me with everything but he missed a few doubles going for finishes, and I just kept battling.
 
"I'm looking forward to the next tournaments but I've enjoyed this one. It's a great tournament."
 
Van Gerwen landed 180s with his first two full scoring throws in the match as he opened with a 14-dart finish, and he landed further maximums in the next two legs to take the set without reply.
 
He added further 180s in the opening two legs of the second set, but saw Thornton finish double five and double eight to lead 2-0 - only for the world number one to hit back on double ten before taking out 101 to level the set.
 
The fifth leg proved dramatic as Thornton kicked off with scores of 160 and 180 before defying a maximum from the Dutchman to land double 16 to edge the set 3-2 to level.
 
The third set also went all the way, with finishes of 89 and 68 from van Gerwen cancelled out by a 101 checkout and double three from Thornton, who again kicked off the deciding leg with a 160 before hitting double two for the set and a 2-1 lead.
 
Van Gerwen hit back immediately by taking the fourth set without reply, hitting checkouts of 104 and 110 in the process, but missed his chance to take the fifth set into a decider when Thornton punished five missed doubles by hitting tops to take the set 3-1 and regain the edge.
 
Another superb set saw van Gerwen level the contest at three-all, as he hit a 13-darter, a 180 and double four and a 15-dart leg on double nine to hit back - and he continued his momentum in the seventh with two more maximums as he took a 2-0 lead.
 
Thornton hit back to level by taking out tops and 118, and when van Gerwen missed two darts for the set - at double ten and five - in the decider, a 74 checkout put the plucky Scot 4-3 up.
 
A superb 177 from van Gerwen set up double 12 as he led in the eighth set, with Thornton levelling only to see van Gerwen hit tops following his 17th maximum as he moved 2-1 ahead before defying a 180 to claim the set on double nine.
 
Thornton kicked off the decider with a 90 finish, despite van Gerwen piling home another 180, before a 13-darter which was opened with a 160 score saw the Dutchman level.
 
Three misses from van Gerwen, though, allowed Thornton in to take out 48 as he moved 2-1 up and to the brink of victory, and when the Dutch star missed tops in the next his rival hit the same bed to complete a 13-darter for glory.
 
Van Gerwen has claimed the UK Open and World Matchplay titles so far this year, but fell just short of adding another winner's trophy to his ever-growing collection.
 
"I think it was a fantastic final for everyone to watch, but I didn't win and I'm gutted," said the 26-year-old Dutch superstar.
 
"I missed too many doubles and I gave him too many chances, especially in the last set, and you can't do that at this stage of the tournament.
 
"Robert is a fighter and he never gives up. Fair play to Robert; every chance he got he took it and deserved to win this, but I will be back even stronger in the next tournament."
 
The win also secures Thornton's place in the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts from November 7-15, with the Scot having been the runner-up two years ago at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
 
Thornton also moves up to fifth in the PDC Order of Merit after securing his 13th PDC ranking title.
 
Saturday also saw Balbriggan’s Mick McGowan claim a place in the William Hill World Darts Championship as he won the final of the biggest domestic event in Ireland, the Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay.
 
McGowan had trailed Cork-based left-hander Tom Biggane 5-3, but hit back to level the game before escaping from four missed match darts to claim a 6-5 win and a return to the big stage for his third World Championship challenge in December at Alexandra Palace.
 
partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Final
Michael van Gerwen 4-5 Robert Thornton
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay Final
Mick McGowan v Tom Biggane
1-0 - McGowan takes out 86 to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Biggane punishes missed doubles from McGowan to land double five to level.
1-2 - Biggane lands a 180 before finishing 68 on tops to move ahead.
1-3 - Cork's Biggane opens with another 180 before finishing double nine to establish a two-leg cushion.
2-3 - Double nine sees McGowan hit back.
2-4 - Biggane lands another maximum before finishing double 16 to regain his lead.
3-4 - McGowan takes out a 13-darter on double 16 to respond once more.
3-5 - McGowan lands a 180 of his own, but Biggane finishes a 14-darter on double five to move a leg away from the win.
4-5 - Biggane hits his fourth 180, but McGowan keeps the game alive by finishing 48 on double 16.
5-5 - Biggane misses three match darts, and double 13 for McGowan forces a deciding leg.
6-5 - McGowan misses double ten to take out 83, but Biggane wires tops for a 120 checkout to allow the Balbriggan ace in to seal victory on double two.
 
partypoker.com World Grand Prix Final
Michael van Gerwen v Robert Thornton
First Set
1-0 - van Gerwen lands his opening double on his first visit and then posts back-to-back 180s before taking out 32 for a 14-darter.
2-0 - The Dutchman lands another maximum and finishes double 16 to move two legs up.
3-0 - van Gerwen hits a fourth 180 before finishing tops to claim the set comfortably.
Second Set
0-1 - The world number one hits another 180, but misses darts at double 16 and eight to allow Thornton in on double five.
0-2 - Thornton doubles his lead in the set, defying another maximum from heavy-scoring van Gerwen by taking out 76 on double eight.
1-2 - Thornton hits a 180, his first, but van Gerwen's third-dart double ten sees him save the set.
2-2 - van Gerwen hits another 180 before leaving Thornton waiting on 28 as he checks out a superb 101 finish.
2-3 - Thornton kicks off the decider with six perfect darts of 160 and 180, and though van Gerwen replies with another maximum, the Scot finishes double 16 to take the set.
Third Set
1-0 -  van Gerwen takes out 89 on double eight to claim the opening leg against the throw.
1-1 - Thornton hits a 180 to leave 101 before checking out the combination for a superb 12-darter to level.
2-1 - Thornton kicks off with another 160 opening score, but van Gerwen's ninth 180 is followed by a 68 finish to move back ahead.
2-2 - van Gerwen misses two darts at tops for the set, and Thornton posts a third-dart double three to level.
2-3 - Thornton opens with another 160 to mean that van Gerwen's tenth maximum comes in vain, with double two giving the Scot the set and a 2-1 lead in the game.
Fourth Set
1-0 - Thornton fires in his fourth 180, but a superb 104 checkout sees van Gerwen lead.
2-0 - Double four sees the Dutchman move two legs clear with a break of throw.
3-0 - van Gerwen lands a 110 checkout to claim the set.
Fifth Set
0-1 - Double top gives Thornton the opening leg.
1-1 - van Gewen lands his 11th maximum before punishing Thornton's miss at double 12 - for a 101 finish - by hitting double eight.
1-2 - Thornton opens with another 160 score before finishing 54 on tops to edge back ahead.
1-3 - van Gerwen punishes a slow start from Thornton with a 180 - but the Scot replies with two of his own to get back into the leg before five misses at double four from the reigning champion are punished as his opponent lands tops to snatch the set.
Sixth Set
1-0 - Double 16 moves van Gerwen ahead.
2-0 - van Gerwen lands his 13th 180 before double four breaks throw for a two-leg lead.
3-0 - The Dutchman levels the match by taking out 96 on double nine - winning his third set without reply.
Seventh Set
1-0 - The pair trade 180s before three misses from Thornton prove costly to allow van Gerwen in on double 16.
2-0 - van Gerwen hits his 15th 180 of the game to leave 40, and lands tops for a 14-darter.
2-1 - Thornton hits tops to respond.
2-2 - van Gerwen lands yet another maximum, but missed doubles for the set allow Thornton in for a 118 checkout on tops as he sends the set into a decider.
2-3 - van Gerwen misses double ten and five to finish 80, and Thornton capitalises with a 74 finish on double 16 to move 4-3 up and a set away from the title.
Eighth Set
1-0 - Thornton opens with a 160, but van Gerwen hits a 177 to leave 24 before hitting double 12 to lead.
1-1 - Thornton finishes double ten to level.
2-1 - van Gerwen's 17th 180 is followed by tops to edge him back in front.
3-1 - van Gerwen opens with a 160 and adds a 145 score, with Thornton hitting a 180 but unable to prevent the Dutchman finishing double nine to send the game into a deciding ninth set.
Ninth Set
0-1 - van Gerwen piles in another 180, but Thornton takes out 90 with a bullseye, double top combination.
1-1 - van Gerwen opens with a 160 score, and returns on double 18 to level the set.
1-2 - van Gerwen misses three darts to win the leg - at double 14 and seven - and Thornton finishes 48 on tops to move a leg away from victory.
1-3 - Thornton hits his ninth 180, and when van Gerwen misses tops to finish 116, the Scot lands double top for a 13-darter to complete an incredible triumph.

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN came from a set down to storm into the partypoker.com World Grand Prix quarter-finals with a 3-1 defeat of Kim Huybrechts on Tuesday night, as Jamie Lewis, Jelle Klaasen and Mark Webster caused second round upsets in Dublin.

Reigning champion van Gerwen is aiming to collect a third triumph in the double-start tournament at the Citywest Hotel, but overcame an early scare before seeing off Huybrechts.

The Belgian ace came from a leg down to win the opening set 3-1 with the aid of two 180s, and also came from two legs down to send the second set into a decider.

Van Gerwen, though, fired in a key maximum as he edged the set 3-2 to level before replying to Huybrechts winning the third set's opener with a 160 checkout.

That finish was followed by a missed bullseye from Huybrechts in the third leg as a third-dart double 16 moved van Gerwen 2-1 up and double ten sealed the set before the world number one raced through set four without reply to complete his fight back.

"I'm really glad I won but it wasn't the performance I wanted and I struggled to hit double top at times," said van Gerwen, the 2012 and 2014 champion. "I felt fantastic in the practice room but I was a bit nervous when I got on stage.

"I didn't want to lose and I'm still in the tournament, which is the most important thing. I was annoyed with my own game because I can perform a load better than this but the win will give me confidence.

"I want to retain this title and make this the hat-trick, and I know I can do that."

Van Gerwen now meets Jamie Lewis in the quarter-finals, after the Welsh youngster knocked out Michael Smith in one of three other second round games which saw a player from the world's top ten eliminated.

Number eight seed Smith made a superb start by winning the opening set without reply - including checkouts of 96 and 92 - before edging the second set 3-2.

Lewis, though, took out 95 to win the deciding leg of the third set before taking the fourth 3-1 to send the game into a one-set shoot-out.

Smith led 1-0 as the Welsh ace missed three darts at doubles, but Lewis regained his composure to take the next two before winning the deciding leg with a superb 108 finish to reach his first major TV quarter-final.

"I'm over the moon," said Cardigan-based Lewis. "At 2-0 down I thought it was game over so I'm really chuffed to come back and win.

"I felt a bit edgy and at 2-0 down I had nothing to lose. I've learned over the years that at 2-0 down the game's not over until they hitting the winning double, so that was in my head tonight and I managed to get the job done in the end.

"I'm really pleased. In the last year or so, I've felt as if I belong playing in the TV majors and I'm trying to make myself an established player, and it's going well so far."

World number five Adrian Lewis suffered a straight sets defeat to an inspired Mark Webster, who won through to his first major quarter-final for 18 months as he averaged almost 92 in the double-start format in a confident display.

The Welsh left-hander swept through the first set without reply and came from a leg down to win the second 3-1 courtesy of a 104 checkout in the fourth leg.

Lewis shared the opening two legs of the third set, but Webster landed a key 180 in the third leg before hitting tops in the next to seal his last eight spot.

"It was a solid performance and it's great to be in the quarter-finals," said Webster. "Adrian wasn't at the races but I was there to take my chances and I did the job.

"I've shown before that I can beat these big players if they don't perform, and I'm in the quarter-finals now and enjoying it.

"I've got Jelle Klaasen next and it's going to be tough but I've got the game to beat him, and I've got nothing to lose. He'll start as the favourite and I'm happy being the underdog, so I've got to pile on the pressure and make him think."

Webster will now face a fellow former Lakeside Champion, Jelle Klaasen, in Thursday's quarter-finals after the Dutchman saw off Dave Chisnall in a five-set thriller.

After Klaasen won the opening leg with a 13-darter, Chisnall levelled with a 103 finish and edged the set in the deciding leg, only for his opponent to take the next two sets with 3-1 scorelines, finishing 129, 134 and 132 in the process.

Klaasen also took out 100 in the fourth set, but Chisnall held his nerve in the fifth leg to take out a key 71 as he sent the match into a decider.

Klaasen, though, landed two 180s and a 177 as he took the set 3-1 to continue his fine year on the circuit with a first Dublin quarter-final.

"I'm feeling very good but it was such a tough game," said Klaasen. "I didn't miss many doubles to start the legs and I finished well, so I'm very happy with my game.

"In the middle of the game Dave out-scored me a bit and I needed the big finishes, so luckily I hit them."

Klaasen added: "Two years ago I didn't win a leg against Gary Anderson, so to be in the quarter-finals is the result of all the work I've put in. I've practised a lot for the past 18 months and it's paying off.

"I feel good, and if I keep hitting double 18 like I did in this game then I can go far."

The second round concludes on Wednesday evening with the remaining four games, including Vincent van der Voort taking on Terry Jenkins two days after the Dutchman knocked out Phil Taylor.

World Champion Gary Anderson plays Ian White, Robert Thornton opens up against Justin Pipe and Mensur Suljovic takes on Simon Whitlock.

The partypoker.com World Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and worldwide through the PDC's series of international broadcast partners, and through www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers.

Tickets for the partypoker.com World Grand Prix are available from the Citywest Hotel by email viadarts15@citywesthotel.com or by calling 01 401 0505 (Outside Ireland 00353 1 401 0505).

partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Tuesday October 6
Second Round
Michael Smith 2-3 Jamie Lewis
Dave Chisnall 2-3 Jelle Klaasen
Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Kim Huybrechts
Adrian Lewis 0-3 Mark Webster

Wednesday October 7 (7pm)
Robert Thornton v Justin Pipe
Mensur Suljovic v Simon Whitlock
Vincent van der Voort v Terry Jenkins
Gary Anderson v Ian White

Format
Second Round - Best of five sets
* All Sets are the best of five legs. There will be no tie-break in any set.
* All legs must begin and end with a double, meaning that a player must hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.

MATCH INFORMATION
Michael Smith v Jamie Lewis
First Set
1-0 - Double ten gives Smith the opening leg.
2-0 - A 96 checkout for Smith sees him move two legs clear.
3-0 - Smith fires in a 180 before finishing 92 to claim the set in a fine start.
Second Set
1-0 - Smith's superb opening continues as he posts tops to lead in set two.
1-1 - Smith lands a 180, but Lewis posts double five to claim his first leg of the game.
2-1 - Lewis misses the bull to finish 85, and Smith takes out 75 on double 12.
2-2 - Lewis hits a 180 and takes out 92 to level the set.
3-2 - Smith replies with a 180 before taking the set on double ten to move two sets up.
Third Set
0-1 - Smith sets up a possible nine-dart finish by scoring 160 and 171 to leave 170 - but after missing out on a nine-darter he sees Lewis claim the leg.
1-1 - The roles are reversed as Lewis hits a 180 but misses three doubles, allowing Smith in on double nine.
1-2 - Lewis hits another maximum before moving back ahead.
2-2 - Smith posts a 180 and double six to level, moving a leg away from the win.
2-3 - Lewis keeps the game alive by winning the deciding leg, despite a 180 from his opponent, with a 95 finish.
Fourth Set
1-0 - Smith powers in a 180 for a third successive leg before finishing 48.
1-1 - Tops sees Lewis level.
1-2 - Lewis lands double 16 to move ahead in the set.
1-3 - Lewis hits a 180 and double eight to square the game at two sets all.
Fifth Set
1-0 - Lewis fires in a 174 score to leave 16, but misses three doubles to allow Smith in tops.
1-1 - Smth hits another maximum, but six missed doubles allow Lewis in on tops to level the set.
1-2 - Further misses from Smith allow Lewis to hit double eight to lead for the first time in the game.
2-2 - Smith hits back to send the game into a deciding leg, opening with a 160 score before finishing double ten.
2-3 - Lewis completes his superb fightback by taking out 108 on double 16 to reach his first major quarter-final.

Dave Chisnall v Jelle Klaasen
First Set
0-1 - Klaasen makes an ideal start, landing a 180 in a 13-darter which he finishes on double 18.
1-1 - Chisnall takes out 103 to level.
1-2 - Klaasen lands a 171 score as he edges back ahead.
2-2 - Double 18 for Chisnall sends the set into a deciding leg.
3-2 - Klaasen lands a 180 but misses the bull to finish 90, allowing Chisnall in on double eight to edge the set.
Second Set
1-0 - Chisnall holds throw to claim the second set's opener.
1-1 - Chisnall sets up a possible nine-dart finish by opening with a 160 and adding a 180 - but after missing out on a nine-darter sees Klaasen finish 129 on the bull to take the leg.
1-2 - Klaasen takes out 75 to move ahead.
1-3 - Chisnall's miss at double 16 allows the Dutchman to take the set and level the match.
Third Set
1-0 - Chisnall finishes double 16 to move ahead.
1-1 - Klaasen opens with a 156 score before defying a Chisnall with a 180 with a superb 134 finish.
1-2 - Klaasen moves ahead by taking out 97 on double 12.
1-3 - A thrilling 132 bull finish gives Klaasen the set and a 2-1 lead.
Fourth Set
1-0 - A 24 finish sees Chisnall move in front in the fourth set.
1-1 - Klaasen again kicks off with a 156 score before taking out 100 for an 11-darter.
2-1 - Chisnall takes out double ten to move ahead.
2-2 - Klaasen's 74 checkout moves him a leg away from the win.
3-2 - Chisnall kicks off with a 160 score before finishing 71 with two pressure darts to send the tie into a fifth set.
Fifth Set
0-1 - Klaasen lands his third 180 of the game and finishes 56 to lead in the deciding set.
1-1 - The pair trade maximums before Klaasen's miss at double 18 allows Chisnall in on double ten to square the game.
1-2 - Klaasen lands a third 180 in as many legs before double nine moves him a leg away from the win once again.
1-3 - Klaasen hits a 177 before Chisnall hits a 171 score - but the 2013 runner-up misses tops to keep the game alive, and Klaasen returns on double 18 to seal the win.

Michael van Gerwen v Kim Huybrechts
First Set
1-0 - van Gerwen finishes 61 on double 18 to make a confident start.
1-1 - Huybrechts replies in kind with a 61 checkout on double 16.
1-2 - Huybrechts fires in a 180 before finishing eight to move ahead.
1-3 - A second break of throw sees Huybrechts claim the set, landing another maximum and double eight.
Second Set
1-0 - Huybrechts lands another 180 but four missed doubles allow van Gerwen to snatch the leg on double ten.
2-0 - van Gerwen scores 174 before finishing 60 to break and move two legs up.
2-1 - The Belgian keeps the set alive with a 63 finish.
2-2 - The pair trade 180s before Huybrechts levels the set with a 76 checkout.
3-2 - van Gerwen pulls clear in the deciding leg, landing a 180 before returning to claim the set on double five.
Third Set
0-1 - van Gerwen opens the set with a 160 score, but missed doubles allow Huybrechts to hold throw.
1-1 - van Gerwen this time takes out 160 in superb fashion to level.
2-1 - The Dutchman fires in a 180 before punishing Huybrechts' missed bullseye by landing double 16 to break.
3-1 - van Gerwen fires in double ten to claim the set.
Fourth Set
1-0 - Double 18 sees van Gerwen continue his charge.
2-0 - van Gerwen fires in two 180s, and when Huybrechts wires double 12 the Dutchman takes out double 16 to win a fifth straight leg as he moves to the brink of victory.
3-0 - van Gerwen seals his place in the quarter-finals on double six.

Adrian Lewis v Mark Webster
First Set
0-1 - Webster claims the opening leg on top.
0-2 - The left-hander finishes 64 on tops to double his lead.
0-3 - Webster finishes 60 on double ten to win the opening set without Lewis having a dart at a finishing double.
Second Set
1-0 - Lewis finishes 86 to claim his first leg of the game.
1-1 - Lewis fires home a maximum, but Webster takes out 54 to level.
1-2 - Webster has enough cushion to recover from misses across two visits to move ahead.
1-3 - Webster kicks off the leg with a 160 score before finishing 104 on tops to claim a two-set lead.
Third Set
0-1 - Lewis opens the leg with a 160 score, but Webster fires in a maximum before hitting double ten to lead.
1-1 - Lewis finishes 66 to level the set.
1-2 - Webster fires in a maximum before taking out 68 to move a leg away from the win.
1-3 - Lewis leaves a double with a 171, but Webster seals a superb victory with tops, reaching his first major quarter-final since the 2014 World Championship.

FORMER champions Phil Taylor and James Wade were sensationally knocked out of the partypoker.com World Grand Prix by Vincent van der Voort and Mensur Suljovic on a thrilling night of first round action on Monday.

Taylor had travelled to Dublin aiming to win the double-start tournament for a 12th time since 1998, but saw his hopes dashed at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin as he lost in straight sets - despite missing the bullseye for a nine-dart finish!

Taylor's narrow miss for a perfect leg came in the game's second leg, which he won in 14 darts, but he found himself 2-1 down as van der Voort punished missed doubles in the other two legs.

An 81 checkout for Taylor levelled the set, but van der Voort opened the decider with a 160 score - as his rival missed his first three opening doubles - before finishing double two to claim the lead.

A high-scoring second set saw the first four legs go with throw - despite van der Voort landing a 180 in each - as Taylor sought to level, but the deciding leg saw him miss double 16 for a 105 finish to allow the Dutchman in on double eight to claim a momentous win.

"Phil's the best player every and everything around him is magical," said van der Voort. "To beat him here is an amazing feeling.

"I was very focused and determined to win today and I'm glad I pulled it off. My finishing helped me - I can score as well as anybody but my finishing sometimes lets me down, and today it didn't so I'm really happy.

"I've got a day off now and I've got to realise that the next match is just as important as this."

World number six James Wade, the 2007 and 2010 winner, was also eliminated as Austrian ace Mensur Suljovic came from a set down to win 2-1 with six straight legs in a high-quality clash.

Wade took out 118 as he claimed the first set 3-1 and also led 1-0 in the second before a superb response from Suljovic saw him take the next three legs to level the game with a 13-darter, a 114 finish and a 14-dart leg.

Checkouts of 148 and 129 then put the Austrian 2-0 up in the deciding set before he took out double 14 to claim victory on his World Grand Prix debut.

Suljovic will now face Australia's Simon Whitlock, who dropped only one leg in a straight sets victory over Andrew Gilding in the night's opening fixture, sealing the win with a 13-darter as he prevailed 3-0, 3-1.

"I expected a much tougher game than that and I think the key was starting with my first three darts in every leg, which makes a big difference," said Whitlock, the former European Champion.

"It wasn't too special a performance but it's a win. I've worked hard going into this and worked out which doubles work best for me and narrowed it down to two doubles which I've worked on, and it paid off for me.

"I've been playing really well lately and have had some good results and I'm comfortable again playing darts, so all the practice is paying off.

"I'm confident and that's a big thing, and no matter who I play I just want to play the best darts I can."

World Champion Gary Anderson began his challenge with a superb straight sets win over Scottish rival John Henderson, who was only able to win one leg as the number two seed averaged almost 98 in the double-start format.

Anderson took out 85 on the bull to claim the opening leg, and though Henderson levelled it was his opponent who landed seven perfect darts in the third leg before sealing the set 3-1 with a 96 finish.

Anderson then landed a 180 in the second set's opener and added a 174 score as he took the set without reply to seal a second round spot.

"I'm pleased with that and when the doubles go in like they did tonight it helps with your confidence," said Anderson. "My darts have been going well for the last week or so but there's a lot of great players still in the tournament."

Anderson will now meet Ian White, who enjoyed a 2-0 win over Jamie Caven as he moved into the last 16 in Dublin for a second time.

White took the opening set 3-1 before finding himself 2-1 down in the second, but after landing a 180 as he levelled he fired in another maximum before taking out 81 in the deciding leg to complete the win.

"At 2-1 in the second set I knew I had to hit back because if Jamie had taken that set he'd have been on a high, and the final leg went nicely for me," said White.

"My performances have been good this year and I had a nice win at the weekend on the ProTour, and I'm hitting a lot of 140s and 180s. I'm enjoying the game and it's going well at the moment.

"I want to start doing well on the TV stage because that's where everyone sees you, as opposed to the ProTour where you earn your bread and butter, so that's my goal now."

Robert Thornton - who landed a nine-dart finish in Dublin 12 months ago alongside Wade - impressed with a straight sets win over Daryl Gurney, averaging 97, hitting two ton-plus checkouts and six doubles from ten attempts.

Thornton finished 60 and 110 to move 2-0 up in the opening set, and though the Northern Irish ace hit back to level, a 106 checkout gave the former UK Open champion the set.

He shared the opening two legs of set two, but kicked off the third with a 160 score as he moved 2-1 up before finishing 56 on tops to move into the last 16.

"You're always nervous in the first round but I'm happy enough," said Thornton. "To average just under 97 is good but they don't matter if you don't hit your doubles and I did that too.

"I can look forward to playing Justin Pipe now that I've got this game out of the way because with the longer format you're not as edgy, and I'm feeling good."

Thornton now takes on Justin Pipe, who came from a set down to defeat Steve Beaton 2-1 in their first round clash.

Beaton had punished nine missed doubles from his opponent to win the opening set without reply, only for Pipe to turn the tables by taking the second set 3-1.

Pipe then finished 105 and 106 to move 2-0 up in the decider, and though Beaton hit back on tops, a 71 checkout sealed victory for the Taunton thrower.

"I was very nervous in the first set and I think Steve was as well, so to get through the first round is massive for me and I had to dig deep," said Pipe.

"My starting and finishing was okay, and I can relax and go up and play in the next round. I think it will be a different game."

Two-time World Grand Prix finalist Terry Jenkins - who turned 52 recently - overcame 2012 runner-up Mervyn King in another three-set thriller as he moved into the last 16.

King, using a new style of dart for the first time on TV, took the game's opening two legs before Jenkins replied with three in a row to move 3-2 up.

Jenkins also led 2-1 in the second before King battled back to win the set with a 13-darter to force a decider, but the Ledbury ace was to strong with a 12-darter, a 14-dart leg which featured a 100 checkout and a 76 finish as he sealed victory in style to continue his bid for a maiden major title.

"I'd love to win this event," admitted Jenkins. "I'm always good on the doubles and this is my favourite tournament, and over the longer format I'm more dangerous.

"When I was 2-0 down in the first set I still felt alright and pretty confident, and maybe Mervyn was trying too hard to win that first set with the darts. I punished him for it but he got it back in the second set.

"There were a lot of nerves there but I'm glad I managed to get the win.

The second round kicks off on Tuesday evening (7pm) with the four games from the top half of the draw, including reigning champion Michael van Gerwen's clash with Belgian ace Kim Huybrechts.

Number five seed Adrian Lewis takes on resurgent Mark Webster, Dave Chisnall faces Jelle Klaasen and Michael Smith meets Jamie Lewis.

Tickets for the partypoker.com World Grand Prix are available from the Citywest Hotel by email viadarts15@citywesthotel.com or by calling 01 401 0505 (Outside Ireland 00353 1 401 0505).

partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Monday October 5
First Round
Andrew Gilding 0-2 Simon Whitlock
Justin Pipe 2-1 Steve Beaton
Mervyn King 1-2 Terry Jenkins
James Wade 1-2 Mensur Suljovic
Ian White 2-0 Jamie Caven
Phil Taylor 0-2 Vincent van der Voort
Gary Anderson 2-0 John Henderson
Robert Thornton 2-0 Daryl Gurney

Tuesday October 6 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Michael Smith v Jamie Lewis
Dave Chisnall v Jelle Klaasen
Michael van Gerwen v Kim Huybrechts
Adrian Lewis v Mark Webster

Wednesday October 7 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Robert Thornton v Justin Pipe
Mensur Suljovic v Simon Whitlock
Vincent van der Voort v Terry Jenkins
Gary Anderson v Ian White

Format
Second Round - Best of five sets
* All Sets are the best of five legs. There will be no tie-break in any set.
* All legs must begin and end with a double, meaning that a player must hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.

MATCH INFORMATION
Andrew Gilding v Simon Whitlock
First Set
0-1 - Whitlock finishes double four to claim the opening leg.
0-2 - Double two gives the Australian the second, after Gilding misses double 12 with three darts to steal the leg.
0-3 - Gilding lands a 180 but misses double five to punish further misses from Whitlock, who returns on double one to claim the set.~
Second Set
1-0 - Double eight gives Gilding his first leg of the game.
1-1 - Whitlock levels by taking his second leg on double one.
1-2 - Both players land 180s in the leg before Whitlock finishes 54 on tops to move to the brink of victory.
1-3 - The Australian seals his second round spot in style with a 13-darter, hitting a 168 score to set up double eight.

Justin Pipe v Steve Beaton
First Set
0-1 - A scrappy opening leg goes to Beaton with his 12th dart at a winning double, after Pipe misses six chances to take the lead.
0-2 - Pipe lands a 180 but misses the bull and two further darts to take the leg, as double 16 moves Beaton two legs up.
0-3 - Beaton posts a third-dart double eight to seal the first set.
Second Set
1-0 - Double 16 sees Pipe claim his first leg of the game.
1-1 - Beaton fires in a 180 before punishing two misses from Pipe by landing double eight to leve.
2-1 - Pipe again posts double 16.
3-1 - Tops gives Pipe the set as his revival continues.
Third Set
1-0 - Beaton lands a 180, but Pipe takes out 105 on double 16 to move ahead.
2-0 - The Taunton ace produces a fine 106 finish as he moves to the brink of victory.
2-1 - Beaton opens the leg with a 146 score before hitting tops to keep his hopes alive.
3-1 - Pipe's comeback is complete as he takes out 71 on tops to seal the win.

Mervyn King v Terry Jenkins
First Set
1-0 - King - using a new design of darts in a major event for the first time - lands a 180 as he takes the opening leg, hitting double eight.
2-0 - Another double eight finish moves King two legs ahead.
2-1 - Jenkins finishes 72 on tops to get off the mark.
2-2 - The two-time finalist punishes misses from King at double 16 an eight by landing double eight to level the set.
2-3 - Tops sees Jenkins claim a third successive leg and the opening set.
Second Set
0-1 - Both players land 180s before Jenkins takes out 68 to move ahead in set two.
1-1 - King finishes 76 on double eight to reply.
1-2 - Jenkins lands a 180 and tops for a 14-darter to move a leg away from the win.
2-2 - King keeps his hopes alive, landing a 180 and double 12.
3-2 - King saves the game to force a deciding set courtesy of a superb 13-darter.
Third Set
0-1 - Jenkins lands a 180 and a 96 finish for a 12-darter to lead in the decider.
0-2 - Jenkins finishes 100 for a 14-dart leg to move to the brink of victory once more.
0-3 - The 52-year-old seals victory with a 76 checkout to claim the final set without reply.

James Wade v Mensur Suljovic
First Set
1-0 - Wade finishes 118 to take the opening leg.
1-1 - Suljovic takes out 93 on double 14 to level.
2-1 - Wade lands a 180 before finishing tops to punish the Austrian for a miss at double seven.
3-1 - Double ten gives the two-time champion the opening set.
Second Set
1-0 - Wade posts a 180 in a superb 11-darter as he continues a fine start.
1-1 - Wade lands two maximums in the leg, only for Suljovic to take out double 16 for a 13-darter to level.
1-2 - A 114 checkout moves the Austrian ahead.
1-3 - Wade misses seven starting doubles, and Suljovic lands a 174 score and double 16 for a 14-darter to seal the set.
Third Set
0-1 - Suljovic finishes 148 in superb style to move ahead in the match for the first time.
0-2 - The Austrian now finishes 129 on double 12 to move a leg away from the win.
0-3 - Double 14 seals a superb comeback victory from Suljovic, who avenges his quarter-final defeat to Wade in July's World Matchplay.

Ian White v Jamie Caven
First Set
1-0 - White lands a 180 and has enough cushion to initially miss three doubles to win the leg, with Caven missing two darts at double 16 to allow his rival back in on double two.
2-0 - Double three sees White move two legs up.
2-1 - Caven hits back with his first leg of the contest.
3-1 - Tops gives White the opening set.
Second Set
1-0 - White fires in a 180 and double 16 to move a leg up.
1-1 - Caven finishes 53 on tops to level.
1-2 - Caven follows a 180 with a 76 finish to move ahead in the set.
2-2 - White lands a 180, and is again given a reprieve for missed doubles as Caven misses his chance to claim the set, as the Stoke thrower posts double one to move a leg away from the win.
3-2 - White fires in his fourth maximum of the game before finishing 81 on double 12 to seal the win.

Phil Taylor v Vincent van der Voort
First Set
0-1 - Taylor lands a 180 in the opening leg, but misses the bull for a 122 finish as van der Voort is handed a reprieve for earlier missed doubles by returning finish double two.
1-1 - TAYLOR MISSES THE BULL FOR A NINE-DART FINISH! Taylor opens with a 160 and adds a 180 to leave 161, hitting another treble 20 and the treble 17 before wiring the bullseye - but he returns to win the leg on double eight for a 14-darter.
1-2 - Taylor opens with a 160 score, but missed doubles allow van der Voort in on double ten.
2-2 - Taylor takes out 81 on double 12 to level.
2-3 - van der Voort kicks off with a 160 score before taking the set on double two.
Second Set
1-0 - The pair trade 180s before Taylor lands double eight to move a leg up.
1-1 - van der Voort lands another maximum before levelling on double eight.
2-1 - Taylor kicks off with a 160, and though the Dutchman lands another 180 the 11-time champion lands double ten to take the leg.
2-2 - van der Voort fires in a fourth 180 of the set and double 16 to move a leg away from a huge win.
2-3 - Taylor misses double 16 to take out 105, and van der Voort seals a memorable win on double eight - becoming only the seventh player to defeat the Stoke legend in the World Grand Prix's history.

Gary Anderson v John Henderson
First Set
1-0 - Henderson lands the game's first 180, but Anderson finishes 85 on the bull to take the opener.
1-1 - Tops sees Henderson hit back to level.
2-1 - Anderson lands seven perfect darts by opening with a 160 and adding a 180 before hitting another treble 20, but he misses the treble 17 on the 161 combination to see his hopes of a nine-darter dashed, before he returns to take the leg in 12 darts.
3-1 - The World Champion kicks off another leg with a 160 score before finishing 96 for a 14-darter to seal the set.
Second Set
1-0 - Another 14-dart leg sees Anderson lead in set two, courtesy of double 18.
2-0 - Double five moves the world number two a leg away from the win.
3-0 - Anderson fires in a 174 score before securing victory on double ten.

Robert Thornton v Daryl Gurney
First Set
1-0 - Gurney misses two darts at double 18, and Thornton capitalises by finishing 60 on tops to claim the first leg.
2-0 - The Scot also wins a high-quality second leg, opening with a 160 score before following a Gurney 180 with a 110 checkout of his own for a 12-darter to double his lead.
2-1 - Gurney finishes a 14-dart leg on double seven to get off the mark.
2-2 - The Northern Irish ace then finishes 62 on double 16 to square the set.
3-2 - Thornton claims the set in style, landing a 180 before completing a 12-darter with a 106 finish.
Second Set
1-0 - Thornton misses three starting doubles but then scores 180 and 177 before finishing double 12 for a 13-dart finish.
1-1 - Gurney replies with a 180 - trading maximums with Thornton - before levelling by taking out 74 on double four.
2-1 - Thornton again kicks off with a 180 before landing double ten.
3-1 - Thornton seals victory with a 14-darter as tops completes a fine performance as he averages 97 and takes out six doubles from ten attempts.

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN overcame a scare against Keegan Brown as he opened the defence of his partypoker.com World Grand Prix title with a hard-fought 2-1 win on Sunday night, as Dave Chisnall, Michael Smith and Jamie Lewis prevailed in sudden-death legs.

World number one van Gerwen had looked set to cruise through to the last 16 at the Citywest Hotel when he took the opening set without reply against the World Youth Champion and also led by a leg in the second set.

Isle of Wight youngster Brown hit back with three successive legs to send the game into a third set, and then took out a superb 152 finish to level in the decider - but van Gerwen sealed victory with legs of 13 and 14 darts to progress.

"My doubles were good in the first set but then my level dropped and I put myself under pressure, but Keegan put me under pressure too in that second set," said van Gerwen, who landed five 180s.

"I let myself down in the second set and that shouldn't happen, especially in a format like this, but it's nice to know that I've got an extra gear and I played a fantastic last set.

"My confidence is good and I want to defend my title."

Belgium's Kim Huybrechts won his first game at the World Grand Prix in four attempts as he came from a set down to defeat Benito van de Pas with six straight legs as he swept into the last 16.

Huybrechts led 2-1 in the opener, only to see van de Pas punish three missed set darts by finishing 100 to claim the lead, and the Dutch debutant also led in the second.

Huybrechts responded superbly, levelling on double 16 before finishing 84 and 109 - for a 12-darter - to take the set before then finishing 76 and 117 to move 2-0 up in the third set as double two for the next leg sealed a second round clash with van Gerwen.

"I've been here three times before and never won a set, and I was so nervous tonight," admitted Huybrechts. "It's a big relief and we were both struggling a bit and thinking about the game, but I was strongest in the end.

"I'm a power scoring player and I'm a bit dodgy on doubles sometimes - and you need two doubles to win games here and that makes it even harder for players like me!

"The first one to win in every tournament is the hardest one, so I'm going to relax now. I'll practice a bit on my doubles to get them sharper and I'll be ready for Michael."

Dave Chisnall won the night's most dramatic clash as he escaped from four missed match darts from Peter Wright to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Wright edged a tight opening set 3-2 after Chisnall missed two darts at double 12 in the fifth leg to claim the lead, only for the 2013 Dublin runner-up to take the second set 3-1 to level.

Wright moved 2-0 up in the decider, but missed the bull for the match in leg three and the saw Chisnall finish a 13-darter to send the game into a sudden-death leg.

Wright landed a 180, but missed three more match darts to allow the Premier League semi-finalist in to take out 60 on tops to claim a narrow triumph.

"It was very hard and I had to keep battling," said Chisnall. "I gave him that first set by missing the double 12 and I had to dig in, but I won and I'm happy with that.

"Peter was quite good with his doubles and I didn't think he'd miss at the end, but it was always going to go to the wire."

Chisnall now plays Jelle Klaasen in round two, after the Dutchman knocked out Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan by coming from a set down to win 2-1.

Dolan, the 2011 World Grand Prix runner-up, took the opening set 3-1, but Klaasen finished 100 and 108 as he won the second set by the same scoreline and then took the final set 3-1 - despite a 125 checkout from his opponent - to progress.

Klaasen has won two Players Championship events this year in his push towards the top 16, and he said: "I've been playing well in the last few months but on TV it's not there yet. I know it will come and maybe this is the beginning.

"I'm very happy and I feel confident. In the first set I missed too many doubles but I was opening well and I felt confident that I could win the game and I'm happy with the way I played.

"It's difficult to play against Brendan but Dave has the same rhythm as me and I hope if I can keep opening like this that I'll have a good chance to win. We're both playing well in the floor tournaments so I hope we can show it on stage."

Number eight seed Michael Smith overcame two missed match darts from Gerwyn Price before claiming a dramatic sudden-death leg win over the Welshman.

Price, on his World Grand Prix debut, kicked off the game with a 160 opening score and won the first set 3-1, but Smith hit back from a leg down in the second to level the game with two 14-darters and also found himself behind in the decider.

Price led 2-0 in set three, with Smith hitting back with a 100 finish before capitalising on two misses from the Welsh ace - at double top and ten - to send the game into a one-leg shoot-out which he claimed on double 14 with a whitewash as his opponent missed 15 starting doubles.

"I didn't get going but Gerwyn let me in and I took my chances," said Smith. "I've played a lot better here and lost, so to get the win I'm happy because I've never won here before.

"During the game I felt like I was playing like the world number 100, but I kept telling myself that I'm the world number eight and to start playing like that, and I battled through where two years ago I'd have lost this game.

"I'm into the last 16 for the first time and it's the business end of the tournament. I've not proven myself on TV yet so that's my focus now."

Smith will now meet another Welshman, youngster Jamie Lewis, in the second round on Tuesday after the Cardigan-based thrower saw off Ireland's William O'Connor 2-1 in another game which went all the way.

Despite the home favourite opening with a 13-darter, Lewis took the first set 3-1 before O'Connor hit back to take the second by the same scoreline.

Lewis led 2-1 in the third before missing two match darts at tops as O'Connor forced a decider, only to then miss two match darts of his own to allow the youngster back in on double five to finally take victory.

"It was a very close game and, after winning the first set, it was closer than I'd expected," admitted Lewis. "Going into that last leg I thought I was gone, but I put myself back in with a chance and managed to get the job done in the end.

"I'm chuffed to win that and I've been playing well, so if I can keep this up then you never know what will happen. I'll take each game as it comes and try to get as far as I can."

Welsh left-hander Mark Webster held off Stephen Bunting's fightback with a superb deciding set as he moved into the second round with a 2-1 up.

Webster - who is battling to maintain his top 32 status - came from a led down to win the opening set 3-1 before Bunting found top gear to win the second set in a deciding leg, despite finding himself 2-1 down at one stage.

The left-hander, though, took out 70 and 104, for a 12-darter, to move 2-0 up in the deciding set, before punishing Bunting's missed doubles by firing in tops for the win.

"I really enjoyed that," said Webster. "It was a big game but I've never lost to Stephen before and I was confident and I thought I did okay.

"Stephen missed too many doubles but when he got back to one set all and it was big, mentally, to get back on top and knock the stuffing out of him in the final set.

"I'm in the last 16 and I'm really pleased."

Webster now meets the number five seed Adrian Lewis, who enjoyed a comfortable straight sets win over two-time World Grand Prix finalist Raymond van Barneveld, who took only one leg in the game.

The Dutchman missed 18 starting doubles in the opening leg as Lewis took the lead, and though van Barneveld posted a 180 in the second it was his opponent who hit tops for a 2-0 lead.

Van Barneveld replied on double eight, but double ten gave Lewis the set before he swept through set two without reply, landing a 177 score and a 180 as he moved into the last 16.

"It's a hard format, no matter who you play, I'll take a 2-0 win over Ray," said Lewis, the 2010 runner-up at the Citywest Hotel. "I've been putting a lot of work in and I started quite brightly."

The first round concludes on Monday night with the remaining eight matches, including 11-time World Grand Prix winner Phil Taylor up against Vincent van der Voort and World Champion Gary Anderson's all-Scottish battle with John Henderson.

Two-time World Grand Prix champion James Wade takes on Austria's Mensur Suljovic, while former finalists Mervyn King and Terry Jenkins also clash.

Australian star Simon Whitlock opens the night against Andrew Gilding, while Justin Pipe meets Steve Beaton, Ian White plays Jamie Caven and Robert Thornton takes on Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney.

Tickets for the partypoker.com World Grand Prix are available from the Citywest Hotel ny email viadarts15@citywesthotel.com or by calling 01 401 0505 (Outside Ireland 00353 1 401 0505).

partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Sunday October 4
First Round
William O'Connor 1-2 Jamie Lewis
Mark Webster 2-1 Stephen Bunting
Kim Huybrechts 2-1 Benito van de Pas
Michael Smith 2-1 Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright 1-2 Dave Chisnall
Michael van Gerwen 2-1 Keegan Brown
Adrian Lewis 2-0 Raymond van Barneveld
Jelle Klaasen 2-1 Brendan Dolan

Format
First Round - Best of three sets
* All Sets are the best of five legs. There will be no tie-break in any set.
* All legs must begin and end with a double, meaning that a player must hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.

MATCH INFORMATION
William O'Connor v Jamie Lewis
First Set
1-0 - O'Connor makes a superb start, landing a 180 in a 13-dart opening leg to break throw.
1-1 - Lewis takes out 48 on double 16 to level.
1-2 - The Welshman lands a 180 and has enough cushion to recover from initial missed doubles by posting double three to edge ahead.
1-3 - Lewis wraps up the set on double 18 to move halfway to victory.
Second Set
1-0 - Lewis' miss at double 16 allows O'Connor in on double six to delight the home crowd.
1-1 - O'Connor fires in a 180 in reply to a 174 score from Lewis, who takes out double 16 to level the set.
2-1 - O'Connor posts a 177 score in being first to a double before missing three darts at tops, but Lewis misses tops himself to complete a 120 finish to allow the Limerick ace back in on double ten.
3-1 - Lewis misses tops to take out 120 for a second successive leg, and O'Connor finishes double 12 to take the set and level.
Third Set
0-1 - Double five moves Lewis in front in the deciding set.
1-1 - O'Connor lands a 170 to leave tops as he hits back.
1-2 - Lewis fires in a 180 and double three to move a leg away from the win.
2-2 - Lewis misses two match darts at tops, and O'Connor finishes 71 with two darts to send the game into a sudden-death deciding leg.
2-3 - Lewis is off-target with a further two match darts, but the local favourite is unable to land two darts at double ten to take out 80, and the Welsh youngster steps up to hit double five to finally claim the victory.

Mark Webster v Stephen Bunting
First Set
0-1 - Bunting takes the opening leg to make an ideal start.
1-1 - Webster firest in the game's first 180 before landing double ten to level.
2-1 - Bunting kicks off the leg with scores of 160 and 180 to set up a possible nine-darter - but after missing out on a perfect leg sees Webster finish double ten again to break throw.
3-1 - Double top sees Webster secure the set.
Second Set
1-0 - The left-hander punishes missed doubles from Bunting to claim the opener on double 16.
1-1 - Bunting opens with a 160 score for the second time in the game, and recovers from further missed doubles to land double 16 and level.
2-1 - Webster edges back ahead on double six.
2-2 - Double 16 sees Bunting level the set.
2-3 - Bunting finishes 68 to take the set and square the tie.
Third Set
1-0 - Webster finishes 70 on tops to take the final set's opener.
2-0 - Webster kicks off with a 157 score and then takes out 104 to move a leg away from the win.
3-0 - Bunting's missed doubles prove costly as Webster finishes tops to secure his second round spot.

Kim Huybrechts v Benito van de Pas
First Set
0-1 - Debutant van de Pas settles any early nerves by taking the opening leg against the throw.
1-1 - Huybrechts lands a 180 before finishing double ten to level.
2-1 - Double two moves the Belgian ahead.
2-2 - van de Pas posts double four to send the set into a decider.
2-3 - The pair trade 180s before Huybrechts misses three darts at double 16 and eight, with van de Pas taking out 100 on tops - despite a bounce-out with his first dart - to snatch the set.
Second Set
1-0 - van de Pas takes the second set's opener to maintain his momentum, finishing 60 on tops.
1-1 - Double 16 sees Huybrechts reply to level.
2-1 - The Belgian moves ahead with an 84 checkout.
3-1 - A third successive leg sees Huybrechts level the game as he finishes 109 for a superb 12-darter.
Third Set
1-0 - Huybrechts continues his charge by finishing 76 on double four.
2-0 - van de Pas misses tops for a 114 finish, and Huybrechts capitalises with a superb 117 checkout.
3-0 - Huybrechts fires in his third 180, but misses seven match darts before punishing misses from the Dutchman in two visits by finally posting double two - to claim his first World Grand Prix win.

Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price
First Set
0-1 - Price kicks off his partypoker.com World Grand Prix debut with a 160 score before finishing 90 on double 15 to win the opener.
1-1 - Price lands a 174 score to leave 124, but a miss on double 11 allows Smith to take out 91 to level.
1-2 - Smith posts a 180, but Price holds his nerve with a 64 finish on tops to move back ahead.
1-3 - Double nine gives Price the opening set as he aims to claim a maiden World Grand Prix win.
Second Set
0-1 - Price takes a third straight leg as he moves ahead in set two.
1-1 - Smith levels by taking out 52 on tops.
2-1 - Smith kicks off with a 180 before claiming a huge leg with an 88 finish.
3-1 - Smith wins the deciding set with a 76 checkout, pulling clear as Price needs nine darts to hit his starting double.
Third Set
0-1 - Price once again claim's the set's opening leg.
0-2 - The Welshman lands a 180 before finishing tops to move a leg away from the win.
1-2 - Smith fires in a 180 and takes out 100 to keep his hopes alive.
2-2 - Price kicks off with a 160 score, but misses match darts at double top and ten, allowing Smith in on double ten to send the game into a sudden-death leg.
3-2 - Price's challenge ends with a nightmare leg as he misses 15 starting doubles, and Smith finishes double 14 to seal victory with a deciding leg whitewash.

Peter Wright v Dave Chisnall
First Set
1-0 - Wright takes out 16 to win the opening leg.
2-0 - The number four seed claims a scrappy second leg, punishing four misses from Chisnall by returning on double one.
2-1 - Wright fires in the game's first 180 before Chisnall finishes double 18 to hit back.
2-2 - Chisnall takes out 25 to send the set into a fifth leg.
3-2 - Wright's 146 opening score is bettered by a 160 from Chisnall, who misses two set darts at double 12 to allow the Scot in to finish tops for a 14-darter.
Second Set
0-1 - Double four gives Chisnall the second set's opener.
0-2 - Chisnall moves two legs up on double five.
1-2 - Wright finishes 54 on tops to hit back.
1-3 - Chisnall takes out 93 on double seven to send the game into a deciding set.
Third Set
1-0 - Both players initially miss their doubles before Wright returns on double four to claim first blood in the decider.
2-0 - Wright opens with a 146 score, with Chisnall replying with a 180 only to miss one dart at tops to punish a miss from his opponent, who returns on double ten to move a leg away from the win.
2-1 - Wright misses the bull to take out 85 for the match, and Chisnall takes out 48 on double 16 to keep the contest alive.
2-2 - Chisnall sends the match into a sudden-death leg with a superb 13-darter, opening with a 160 score and adding a 180 during the leg before finishing tops.
2-3 - Wright hits a timely 180, misses another bullseye - to take out 124 - before seeing further match darts at double eight and four go begging as Chisnall takes out 60 on tops to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Michael van Gerwen v Keegan Brown
First Set
1-0 - Double ten gives van Gerwen the opening leg as he kicks off his title defence.
2-0 - van Gerwen lands a 180 and tops to move two legs up.
3-0 - Double 18 seals the opening set for the world number one with the minimum of fuss.
Second Set
1-0 - van Gerwen's charge continues with double ten to claim a fourth straight leg.
1-1 - Brown lands double four to win his first leg of the game.
1-2 - The World Youth Champion breaks throw by landing double top.
1-3 - van Gerwen replies with a 180, but Brown finishes 68 on double 16 to claim the set.
Third Set
1-0 - van Gerwen kicks off with a 160 score, and though Brown responds with a 180 the Dutchman finishes double 16 to move back ahead.
1-1 - The reigning champion lands his third maximum of the game, but Brown takes the leg with a sensational 152 checkout, featuring two treble 19s and double 19.
2-1 - Brown's opening doubles desert him as he misses 12 darts to start the leg, with van Gerwen posting a 180 before whitewashing his opponent on double eight for a 13-darter.
3-1 - van Gerwen's fifth 180 of the game helps him to pull clear before he takes out double ten for a 14-darter to seal victory despite a mid-game scare.

Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld
First Set
1-0 - van Barneveld misses 18 darts to start in a nightmare opening as Lewis lands a 180 and double ten for the first leg.
2-0 - The Dutchman posts a 180, but Lewis posts double top to move two legs up.
2-1 - Double eight sees van Barneveld win his first leg of the game.
3-1 - Double ten gives Lewis the first set.
Second Set
1-0 - Lewis fires in a 177 and double four to move ahead.
2-0 - Lewis lands a 180 and punishes two misses from van Barneveld at double 16 by taking out 59 on tops.
3-0 - van Barneveld battles back with a maximum, but Lewis hits double three to seal his place in round two.

Jelle Klaasen v Brendan Dolan
First Set
0-1 - Dolan lands a 180 and finishes 92 for an immediate break of throw.
1-1 - Klaasen hits back with double 18 against the darts.
1-2 - Both players miss a host of doubles before Dolan lands double four to move back ahead.
1-3 - Despite a 180 from Klaasen, Dolan takes out 80 to claim the opening set.
Second Set
1-0 - Dolan hits a 177 to leave 24, but Klaasen checks out 100 to move in front.
2-0 - Double 18 sees the Dutchman move two legs up.
2-1 - Dolan punishes a slow start from hi opponent by taking the leg to keep the set alive on double one.
3-1 - Klaasen opens with a 156 score and takes out 108 for the set.
Third Set
1-0 - Dolan misses three darts to punish missed doubles from Klaasen, who returns on double two to edge in front.
1-1 - Dolan finishes 125 on tops to level the set - making the tie a best-of-three leg contest.
2-1 - Klaasen finishes 24 to move a leg away from the game.
3-1 - Double 18 sees the Dutchman complete victory and move into the last 16.