BetVictor World Matchplay Day One

RUTHLESS VAN GERWEN'S WINTER GARDENS WHITEWASH IN BETVICTOR WORLD MATCHPLAY OPENER

RAMPANT Michael van Gerwen began his defence of the BetVictor World Matchplay title with a ruthless 10-0 whitewash of Jamie Caven on Saturday, as Robert Thornton ended his Winter Gardens hoodoo by defeating youngster Josh Payne in Blackpool.

World number one van Gerwen returned to Blackpool as the pre-tournament favourite with sponsors BetVictor, but has been cut from 11/10 to an odds-on 4/5 after his stunning first round display.

After Caven missed four darts at a double to level the game in leg two, the Derby qualifier was denied another dart at a double in the contest as van Gerwen pulled clear.

The clinical Dutchman took out 108 with Caven waiting on tops in leg four, an 11-darter in leg five and also left his opponent stranded on a double in the seventh leg as he powered through to the second round in just over 16 minutes.

"It's a lovely start for me," said van Gerwen, who overcame James Wade in last year's final in Blackpool. "I didn't expect to play this well but it's amazing for me and I'm very happy with this performance.

"Jamie didn't play like he can do tonight and he didn't put me under pressure, but I hit the right shots at the right times and took my chances. I didn't do a lot wrong and I put him under pressure constantly.

"I played a fantastic game but I can do better than this and I didn't feel 100 percent, and that means I've got great confidence. I hope I can show a lot more this week and play as well as possible."

Caven admitted: "A lot of people were saying that I could do the business but until we got on there I felt I could, but fair play to Michael, he was great and it was like I was part of the crowd for a lot of it!

"If I'd made it one-one it's a different game, it could have been closer, but he doesn't miss and when you get a shot you've got to take it. That's why he's number one, so you have to take it on the chin."

Van Gerwen will now face Australian Kyle Anderson, who knocked out another Dutch star, number 16 seed Vincent van der Voort, in the tournament's opening fixture with a 10-4 success.

An early run of three successive legs put Anderson ahead, and though van der Voort hit back from 5-2 down to trail 5-4, Anderson took the next five legs without reply to claim his first victory on the Blackpool stage.

"I came into the tournament in good form and I felt comfortable, and I'll take the win," said Anderson. "I wasn't nervous for the match, I was nervous for the opening game of the Matchplay, I've never played as that and I think I thought about it too much.

"I'm throwing well enough to get through the first round and I'm feeling good, but I'll take it one round at a time so bring on the next round.

"Michael's just another player in the end, I can play well enough to beat him, if I take my doubles out I can do anything. Today they went in and I pulled through."

Reigning World Grand Prix champion Thornton celebrated his first-ever win at the World Matchplay at the seventh attempt as he overcame debutant Josh Payne 10-7 in a tight contest.

A confident start for the number eight seed saw him lead 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 before the 22-year-old from Kent - who won his first senior title at a Players Championship - finished 99 and 84 to level before taking out 118 to move 5-4 up.

Thornton, though, capitalised when Payne missed one dart to create a two-leg cushion by taking out 68 to level, before hitting four 180s in the next two legs as a brace of double ten checkouts turned the game around as he moved 7-5 up.

Double nine saw Payne hit back, but he then spurned his chance to level with missed doubles in two visits as Thornton edged clear before a pair of double 18 checkouts sealed the Scot's maiden Blackpool triumph.

"I'm very, very relieved," admitted Thornton. "I've lost here six times so I was due a win - I was alright until it came to hitting that last double and it was the smallest double you'll ever see!

"It's Josh's first time up there and it's going to be a factor but he didn't play the way he's been doing on the floor. He missed a few doubles and let me in in one of the legs.

"In the past couple of years I've lost close games, so it was a big relief for me and my family to win this one."

Thornton will now meet Dave Chisnall in the second round, after the number nine seed defeated Dutch youngster Benito van de Pas in another tight battle.

Chisnall came from a leg down to open up a 4-1 lead with the aid of an 11-darter and a 115 finish, only for van de Pas to take out 115 himself as he cut the gap to 5-4 before finishing a brilliant 135 on the bull to level at seven-all.

Chisnall took out 68 to edge back ahead as the tension rose, and capitalised on missed doubles in the next two legs to secure his spot in the last 16.

"Benito's done the business against me before on TV but it was my night tonight and I'm very relieved to win," said Chisnall. "I'm very confident at the moment and I felt good tonight.

"I played okay in patches, and if I start like I did today I can give anyone a game and it should be a cracker against Robert Thornton - he's always dangerous."

The BetVictor World Matchplay continues on Sunday with a double session of first round matches.

The afternoon session sees two of last year's quarter-finalists, Mensur Suljovic and Gerwyn Price, up against Stephen Bunting and Kim Huybrechts, before two-time finalist Terry Jenkins plays Justin Pipe and Ian White faces Northern Ireland debutant Daryl Gurney.

2007 champion James Wade opens the evening session against Mervyn King before Adrian Lewis plays Mark Webster, World Champion Gary Anderson faces Alan Norris, with 2015 semi-finalist Peter Wright concluding the day's action against resurgent Joe Cullen.

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BetVictor World Matchplay Schedule of Play
Saturday July 16
First Round
Vincent van der Voort 4-10 Kyle Anderson
Robert Thornton 10-7 Josh Payne
Michael van Gerwen 10-0 Jamie Caven
Dave Chisnall 10-7 Benito van de Pas

First Round - Best of 19 legs
* Each game must be won by two clear legs, with up to a maximum of five additional legs being played before the sixth "extra" leg is sudden-death. For example, should a First Round game (best of 19 legs) reach 12-12 then the 25th leg would be the final and deciding leg.

MATCH INFORMATION
Vincent van der Voort v Kyle Anderson
1-0 - van der Voort takes out 60 on tops to win the game's opening leg.
1-1 - Anderson lands the tournament's first 180 before double five sees the Australian level.
1-2 - Anderson takes out 72 on the bull to break throw and move ahead.
1-3 - van der Voort misses one chance to level, and Anderson hits tops to move two legs clear.
2-3 - van der Voort opens with a 180 and takes out 72 on double 12 to hit back.
2-4 - Anderson finishes 76 on double four to regain his cushion.
2-5 - The Australian breaks throw for a second time, landing double nine with his third dart as he opens up a three-leg lead.
3-5 - van der Voort hits back with a break of throw of his own as he finishes 60 on tops for the second time.
4-5 - Anderson sees his chance to win the leg go begging with double 13 before bursting his score on his return, allowing van der Voort in on tops to reduce the gap to one leg.
4-6 - Anderson fires in his second maximum before landing double four to edge two legs clear once more.
4-7 - van der Voort lands a 180, but misses a dart at tops as Anderson returns on double ten to regain his three-leg lead with a break of throw.
4-8 - Double five sees Anderson pull clear of the Dutchman.
4-9 - Anderson misses the bull to finish 164, but van der Voort is unable to land double 18 and nine, allowing the Australian back in on double eight to move a leg away from victory.
4-10 - Anderson lands another 180 before hitting double top to claim a fifth successive leg as he completes victory to move into the second round.

Match Stats

Vincent van der Voort	4-10	Kyle Anderson
18	100+	17
5	140+	11
0	170+	0
2	180	3
89.99	Average	92.34
72	High Finish	76
1	Breaks of Throw	4
4/9 - 44%	Checkout %	10/24 - 42%

Robert Thornton v Josh Payne
1-0 - Thornton finishes 52 on tops to make a confident start with a break of throw against the debutant.
2-0 - The Scot lands a 180 and doubles his lead on double four, although Payne misses two darts to level.
2-1 - Thornton fires in a 180, but Payne takes out 70 to get off the mark.
3-1 - Double top sees Thornton win his third leg, maintaining a ton-plus average to start the game.
3-2 - Payne hits his first 180 before landing double six to cut the gap.
4-2 - Thornton finishes 61 on double four to regain his two-leg lead.
4-3 - Payne takes out 99 on double ten to hit back.
4-4 - Thornton misses five darts at doubles, and Payne levels the game by finishing 84 on double 11 for a break of throw.
4-5 - Payne moves ahead for the first time with a confident 118 checkout.
5-5 - Payne misses his chance to claim another break of throw, and Thornton steps in to finish 68 on tops to level.
6-5 - Thornton opens with two 180s, and though he is unable to complete a nine-darter, double ten secures a break of throw as he regains the lead.
7-5 - The Scot powers in two more maximums in the space of three throws before double ten for a 12-darter moves him two legs clear.
7-6 - Double nine sees Payne hit back once more.
8-6 - Payne misses darts to level the contest across two visits as double 18 and nine prove elusive, and Thornton capitalises on tops.
8-7 - The Kent youngster finishes 68 on double four to respond well as he regains his range on the doubles.
9-7 - Thornton takes out 87 on double 18 to move a leg away from his first-ever World Matchplay win.
10-7 - Thornton finishes double 18 to claim victory in Blackpool for the first time in seven attempts.

Match Stats

Robert Thornton	10-7	Josh Payne
27	100+	26
7	140+	10
0	170+	0
6	180	1
91.19	Average	85.87
87	High Finish	118
3	Breaks of Throw	1
10/26 - 38%	Checkout %	7/20 - 35%

Michael van Gerwen v Jamie Caven
1-0 - van Gerwen opens with 140 and 174 before finishing double ten for a 13-darter to claim the first leg.
2-0 - Caven misses four darts at double seven to level, and van Gerwen returns on double two to break throw and move two legs up.
3-0 - van Gerwen finishes 76 to claim a third successive leg.
4-0 - Caven leaves 40, but sees van Gerwen take out 108 on tops to claim another break of throw with a killer blow.
5-0 - The reigning champion lands two 180s in three visits before finishing 61 for an 11-darter, moving five legs clear with a 107 average.
6-0 - van Gerwen hits a 180 and double nine to break throw once again.
7-0 - van Gerwen's 171 score is followed by a 174 from Caven, who is left waiting on 36 as the Dutchman takes out double eight to win a seventh straight leg.
8-0 - van Gerwen finishes 60 on tops to continue his amazing charge.
9-0 - The reigning champion opens the leg with 140 and 180, meaning that a maximum from Caven comes too late to prevent van Gerwen taking out double 16 for a 13-darter.
10-0 - van Gerwen completes a brilliant whitewash by finishing 80 on tops, ending with a 105.85 average.

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen	10-0	Jamie Caven
11	100+	10
6	140+	1
2	170+	1
4	180	1
105.85	Average	79.98
108	High Finish	-
5	Breaks of Throw	0
10/20 - 50%	Checkout %	0/4 - 0%

Dave Chisnall v Benito van de Pas
0-1 - Chisnall lands a 180, but two missed doubles allow van de Pas in on double five to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Chisnall scores 137, 180 and 134 before finishing double top for a superb 11-darter to level.
2-1 - van de Pas' misses are punished as Chisnall takes out 60 on double ten to break throw.
3-1 - Chisnall fires in two 180s to van de Pas' one in the leg before taking out double five to move two legs up.
4-1 - van de Pas is off-target on double 16 for a 134 finish, and Chisnall takes out a key 115 checkout on double 19 for another break.
4-2 - Tops sees van de Pas reply with a break of throw.
4-3 - Another tops finish sees van de Pas pull back to trail by one leg.
5-3 - van de Pas misses double 14 for a 105 finish to level, and Chisnall takes out 82 on the bull to regain breathing space.
5-4 - van de Pas takes out a 115 finish of his own, ending on double 18, to respond.
6-4 - Chisnall fires in a fifth 180 before double ten sees him win a sixth leg.
6-5 - Double four for van de Pas cuts the gap to one leg.
7-5 - Chisnall lands double 18 to regain his cushion.
7-6 - Chisnall misses a single 17 to leave tops, and van de Pas capitalises by hitting double top.
7-7 - van de Pas levels with a sensational 135 finish, hitting outer bull, treble 20 and the bullseye.
8-7 - Chisnall regains the edge by finishing 68 on double 16.
9-7 - van de Pas misses three darts to level, and Chisnall follows an earlier 180 with tops to move a leg away from the win.
10-7 - Chisnall initially misses the bull to finish 126, but van de Pas misses double 18 and the number nine seed returns to seal the win.

Match Stats