Brendan Dolan and Michael van Gerwen (Picture: PDC)

Darts results: Brendan Dolan stuns Michael van Gerwen in the first round of the World Matchplay in Blackpool

By Sporting Life

Darts

Mon July 17, 2023 · 1y ago

Brendan Dolan caused one of the biggest upsets in World Matchplay history by knocking out defending champion Michael van Gerwen in the opening round.

Dolan headed to the Winter Gardens as a 200/1 no hoper to lift the Phil Taylor Trophy and he was also priced at 100/1 just to come through his quarter of the draw.

While he's still a big outsider to achieve either feat, the History Maker will now believe anything is possible after taking the scalp of the three-time Blackpool king with a 10-7 victory.

Van Gerwen had been suffering the effects of dental surgery in recent weeks and will undergo another operation soon but that's to take nothing away from Dolan, especially considering the Dutchman won the Poland Darts Masters title a little over a week ago.

Dolan stormed into early 3-0 and 5-2 leads and didn't allow a lacklustre van Gerwen a dart at a double in any of the legs he won during these early stages of the match.

MVG finally got going by winning the next three legs, which included a stunning 137 checkout in the 10th, but the Northern Irishman refused to wilt as he opened up a 9-6 advantage before finishing the job with surprising ease.

“To beat Michael van Gerwen on a big stage, I’m over the moon,” said the Northern Irishman, celebrating his first win at the World Matchplay since 2016.

“Michael was unbelievable in Poland last weekend. I know he’s suffering after his operation and he’s trying to recover, and it wasn’t the Michael we have come to expect tonight.

“Obviously the highlight of my career was the nine-darter and beating James Wade in the World Grand Prix semi-finals, but this win is definitely right up there.”

World number one Michael Smith cruised through to the second round, but was far from his best as he beat Steve Beaton 10-2.

Smith hit the bull for a huge 161-finish on his way to a 4-1 lead and opened up an 8-2 advantage with the help of two more 100-plus checkouts before comfortably seeing the match out.

"I didn't miss a thing in practice, but I came up here and I didn't produce," conceded Smith, who was left frustrated by his performance, despite the result.

"I think I tried too hard tonight instead of relaxing. There's a lot of room for improvement, but I'm still in the tournament and I'll take the win.

"I won ugly, and that's something I wasn't able to do a couple of years ago. I know the game is there, and hopefully I can produce it on Tuesday night."

Elsewhere, Luke Humphries produced the performance of the tournament so far in his 10-2 demolition of Jose de Sousa, averaging almost 102 to see off the former Grand Slam champion.

Humphries recorded just four treble-less visits in the entire contest, landing six 180s and converting 42% of his attempts at double to set up a mouth-watering last 16 tie against Dirk van Duijvenbode.

“I felt really good up there,” said Humphries, who has scooped a fifth European Tour title and a second Players Championship crown over the last fortnight.

“I came here last year and I didn’t perform, so I wanted to prove a point tonight. I wanted to show I can do it on the big TV stage, not just the European Tour.

“I’ve been playing great darts for the last two or three years, and I think all my career needs now is a major title. What better place to do it than here? It would be an amazing feeling.”

Nathan Aspinall will renew his rivalry with Danny Noppert in the last 16 on Tuesday, after the pair came through bruising encounters against Krzysztof Ratajski and Martin Schindler respectively.

Aspinall fired in eight 180s in his 10-7 win over 2021 semi-finalist Ratajski, producing a monstrous 151 checkout to move 7-4 ahead, before sealing his progress with a superb 12-dart leg.

“I know what Krzysztof can do. We always have fantastic games,” reflected Aspinall, a back-to-back quarter-finalist at the World Matchplay.

“The crowd were amazing. Every time I come to Blackpool I get so much support. I absolutely love playing here, and I’m so happy I won for them.

“I’m really happy with my game. I feel like I’m on cloud nine, and when Nathan is happy, he’s pretty good at this game!”

Afternoon session

During the afternoon session, Chris Dobey ended his winless run at the Winter Gardens with a gripping 10-8 victory over 2007 champion James Wade.

Following a run of three consecutive first round exits in Blackpool, Masters champion Dobey fired in eight 180s to fend off a typically tenacious Wade, who trailed 6-1 at one stage.

Dobey surrendered an 8-2 lead against Rob Cross at the same stage 12 months ago, and despite another dream start, he saw his lead evaporate as Wade won four of the next five legs in 14, 11, 13 and 12 darts.

The Bedlington star regained his poise to move 9-6 ahead with a sublime 141 checkout, before defying three missed match darts across two legs to triumph with a two-dart 80 combination.

“I’m relieved. There were so many thoughts going through my head when I missed those match darts,” admitted Dobey, who had lost his previous three matches at the World Matchplay.

“You cannot afford to give James Wade chances like that. He always punishes you, but I managed to keep my nerve at the end, so I’m delighted with that.”

Dirk van Duijvenbode won through a thrilling tie-break against Kim Huybrechts, surviving two match darts to condemn the Belgian to his eighth first round exit in nine World Matchplay appearances.

Huybrechts sent the contest into overtime after Van Duijvenbode missed double 14 for a 142 clincher, and the Belgian then seized the initiative with a 108 combination in leg 19.

However, Huybrechts then spurned two darts at double 16 for an 11-9 success, and after pinning tops to stay alive, Van Duijvenbode then conjured up legs of 11 and 13 darts to complete the turnaround.

Elsewhere, Damon Heta celebrated his first win on the famous Winter Gardens stage, courtesy of a resounding 10-5 success against highly-fancied debutant Josh Rock.

Australian number one Heta sported a baggy green cap and his cricket bat for his Ashes-inspired walk-on, and it was Rock who was bowled over by an impressive display from the former World Cup winner.

Heta stormed into an 8-3 lead with a run of five consecutive legs, and he defied skin-saving 125 and 112 combinations from World Youth Champion Rock to seal his progress.

In the afternoon’s opener, 2022 semi-finalist Danny Noppert survived a late scare to see off Martin Schindler in a gruelling first round encounter.

Noppert – aided by 115, 76, 82 and 81 finishes – led 8-4 before Schindler reduced the arrears with a run of three straight legs, although a nerveless 112 on tops in leg 16 helped Noppert to a 10-8 victory.

World Matchplay: Sunday results & Monday schedule

Sunday July 16
Afternoon Session (1300 BST)
First Round (best of 19 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

Danny Noppert 10-8 Martin Schindler
Dirk van Duijvenbode 12-10 Kim Huybrechts
Damon Heta 10-5 Josh Rock
James Wade 8-10 Chris Dobey

Evening Session (1930 BST)
First Round (best of 19 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

Nathan Aspinall 10-7 Krzysztof Ratajski
Luke Humphries 10-2 Jose de Sousa
Michael van Gerwen 7-10 Brendan Dolan
Michael Smith 10-2 Steve Beaton

Monday July 17 (1900 BST)
First Round (best of 19 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Ross Smith
Ryan Searle v Raymond van Barneveld
Peter Wright v Andrew Gilding
Jonny Clayton v Gabriel Clemens

Darts results: Brendan Dolan stuns Michael van Gerwen in the first round of the World Matchplay in Blackpool

Afternoon session

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