World Matchplay Darts: Michael van Gerwen to face Simon Whitlock in the second round in Blackpool

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Michael van Gerwen looked in ominous form as he stormed into the last 16 of the World Matchplay with an emphatic 10-4 victory over Stephen Bunting in Blackpool.    

Bidding for a hat-trick of titles at the Winter Gardens, MVG won the opening seven legs on his way to a dominant display and is now an 8/15 shot with Sky Bet to retain his title.

Van Gerwen, winner of 12 titles already this season, won the first session in no time at all 5-0 and even had time to sign a few autographs at the interval.

Bunting hit a maximum at the start of game six, but ‘Mighty Mike’ responded in kind and when Bunting had three darts at double and missed, the world champion finished clinically.

It was soon 7-0, but Bunting finally avoided a whitewash with a double-two finish.

The Merseysider added a second game with a 102 checkout but by then Van Gerwen led 8-2 and the despite some sloppy play in the latter stages, which gifted Bunting a couple of legs, the inevitable victory was soon completed in emphatic fashion with a 160 check out.

The Dutchman will now face Simon Whitlock in the second round after the Aussie produced a brilliant display against Kyle Anderson.

"It was a bit too easy," Van Gerwen admitted after the match. "Stephen wasn't confident and didn't really play his game to be fair; he missed doubles and I played alright in the first two sessions.

"After that I was a bit sloppy but I still won the game and I did the right things at the right moment. I can look forward to the next round against Simon Whitlock now and I'm sure I'm going to play better.

"Simon's playing well and had a couple of great wins earlier in the year with a couple of ProTour wins, but I'm the favourite and I hope I can also do the business."

The Wizard brushed aside Aussie rival Anderson 10-5 in the opening match of the night to see his odds of winning the tournament slashed from 250/1 to 125/1.

"I really enjoyed that," said Whitlock. "Kyle came back at me as I knew he would and he played really well, but my double tops were amazing.

"I've been playing well lately and working hard. I fractured my wrist eight weeks ago and it set me back a bit, but it's good now and my confidence is great. I can't wait for the second round."

Whitlock made a flying start and raced into a 4-1 lead, averaging over 100 in the opening five games before the break.

Anderson reduced the deficit with a brilliant 10-dart leg but the former world No 4 hit back immediately to regain a three-game cushion.

He quickly extended that lead to five with some clinical finishing on the doubles, including a 119 checkout to win the ninth game.

Whitlock had hardly missed a chance on his way to a 7-2 lead, but then suddenly missed six throws at double as Anderson closed the gap to 7-5.

But Whitlock regained his composure to make it 8-5 and then took the following leg after a brilliant 170.

Anderson fired a maximum in the 15th frame but Whitlock wrapped things up with a 68 game shot, finishing the match with a double 16.

Adrian Lewis marked his return to the Oche with a 10-7 victory against Steve Beaton and is into 33/1 with Sky Bet (from 50/1) to lift the trophy.   

In his first match back following surgery, Lewis secured his place in the last 16 where he will face Rob Cross.  

Both players struggled to find their form in the opening exchanges and were level at 5-5 at the end of the second session.

But Lewis, who averaged 95, took the match by the scruff of the neck in the decisive third session and never looked back, finishing the match with a double 12.

"It's a massive win for me because I love this tournament," said Lewis. "It's my favourite event but this year I've got no expectations and it's the first time I've ever come into an event feeling like this.

"Now it's about getting my belief back and making sure I'm more comfortable during the game. I can't dictate the pace and that's something I like to do but I got through the game and I'm happy.

"It was a good battle and at five-all I was quite worried because Steve was scoring well and I found it hard to break him. I couldn't have asked for any more with my finishing under pressure, but my scoring could be better.

"I've not had much practice for the last two weeks - the recovery time is usually six to ten weeks - and that probably showed a bit tonight because I was a bit patchy. I've got a couple of days now until the second round and I can prepare for that now."

Cross reached the second round with a 10-7 victory over world No 12 Ian White as another seed crashed out.

The 26-year-old said: "I struggled to settle early on and missed a few doubles which could have made it easier for me but I'm happy to get the win. I still believed and it came together in the end.

"It's amazing for me, I've never experienced anything like it before. I'm learning all the time and it's special to play the best players in the world, but I believe I've got the game in me to beat anyone."

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Monday's World Matchplay results

First Round (best of 19 legs)
Simon Whitlock (16) 10-5 Kyle Anderson
Adrian Lewis (4) 10-7 Steve Beaton
Michael van Gerwen (1) 10-4 Stephen Bunting
Ian White (13) 7-10 Rob Cross 

* Each game must be won by two clear legs, with up to a maximum of five additional legs being played before the sixth additional leg is sudden-death