A review of opening night at the William Hill World Darts Championship as Kim Huybrechts and Luke Humphries reached the second round.
Michael van Gerwen hit a timely 170 checkout as he survived a real scare against Jelle Klaasen in his opening match at the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace.
The three-time world champion, who is bidding to defend the title for the first time in his career, found the big fish out of absolutely nowhere after a poor start to the match.
1⃣7⃣0⃣🎣 Just when everyone thought Michael van Gerwen was in danger of becoming the first defending champion to lose on opening night since 2008...pic.twitter.com/1uP6SkOriM
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) December 13, 2019
His Dutch rival, fresh from beating Kevin Burness earlier in the night, was threatening a huge upset at the time after he'd come from 2-0 down to take the opening set thanks to a 116 finish in the decider.
Klaasen then found himself 2-1 up in the second and suddenly MVG was in grave danger of becoming the first defending champion since John Part in 2008 to lose on opening night.
He came roaring back to force a fifth leg, which he won with the big fish, before another stunning checkout of 130 on the bullseye helped him take the third set.
130 FINISH!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 13, 2019
A first 180 for Van Gerwen tees up a fantastic 130 finish on the bull! pic.twitter.com/SR94DnbfV7
Van Gerwen, who averaged 96.37 and pinned 10 of his 24 double attempts, then sealed his victory with yet another bull finish as he took out 88 for a 12-darter.
VAN GERWEN SURVIVES A SCARE!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 13, 2019
Michael van Gerwen secures his place in the third round after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Jelle Klaasen! pic.twitter.com/mbwQlBL1SO
He told www.pdc.tv: "I think I played a poor game, it wasn't there tonight. I was trying really hard, probably too hard but I'm through and that's all that matters.
"I've been working really hard to play well in this tournament so for me to perform like this is hard for me to take.
"But even when you're not playing well you have to hit the big shots at the right time and I managed to do that tonight."
Kim Huybrechts came through a hard-fought encounter with Geert Nentjes that will be remembered for it's three-figure checkouts to book his place in the second round at the Alexandra Palace.
The Belgian veteran, competing in his ninth World Championship, was in danger of a surprise early exit when he trailed 2-1 in sets but he finally burst into life by winning six of the next eight legs.
💯 Kim Huybrechts beat Geert Nentjes in a match that featured SIX ton-plus checkouts!
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) December 13, 2019
1⃣6⃣4⃣ This one from the Hurricane was the best of the bunch...pic.twitter.com/mpdgz1jdE2
Huybrechts had earlier come from 2-0 down to take the opening set, in which he fired in a 153 checkout to trump the Dutch youngster's earlier effort of 109 but that was just a sign of more to come.
EVEN BIGGER FROM HUYBRECHTS! He takes out a 153 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Mj7o7jcANW
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 13, 2019
Development Tour star Nentjes, who suffered from stage fright on his debut 12 months ago when losing 3-0 to Nathan Aspinall with an average of less than 80, was looking far more comfortable on his second Ally Pally appearance and a finish from 111 helped him into another 2-0 lead.
The 21-year-old almost blew it as four missed set darts allowed Huybrechts to level but he edged the decider before a checkout of 100 helped him on his way to taking the third set 2-1.
Huybrechts responded in style with finishes of 72 and 164 in the fourth, which he won 3-1, and a checkout of 112 paved the way for him to seal victory, albeit with a nervy conclusion.
He will meet Rob Cross on Saturday night.
WINNER!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 13, 2019
Kim Huybrechts holds his nerve in the final set to defeat Geert Nentjes 3-2 and secure his place in the second round!
UP NEXT 📺 Luke Humphries v Devon Petersen pic.twitter.com/0HTOfT3Sxb
Devon Petersen has danced his final steps at this year's World Championship after crashing out to an inspired Luke Humphries on opening night.
In a clash between two of last year's Ally Pally success stories, it's Cool Hand who can go on and potentially pen another thanks to this 3-1 victory in which he landed four 100+ checkouts in a superb display of high finishing.
160 FINISH!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 13, 2019
What a checkout from Humphries who takes out a huge 160 to go within one of the match! pic.twitter.com/MzyKwwE2iF
Humphries, the recently-crowned World Youth champion, started as he meant to go on by taking out 112 in the second leg of the match before holding his nerve on 84 in the decider to go 1-0 up.
112 FINISH!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 13, 2019
Not a bad way to get your first leg on the board! An instant break-back from Humphries who levels the opening set... pic.twitter.com/vQ41jGXUpK
There was drama at the end of the second set decider when Petersen, who was trying to finish 94, suffered a bounce out with his first dart at treble 18 but he made it with the second before tops saw him level the match
ONLY TWO DARTS NEEDED!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 13, 2019
Petersen has a dart bounce out the bull but makes no mistake in still taking out 94 to level this match at one set apiece! pic.twitter.com/egWpzkaXWv
Despite threatening a nine-darter after back-to-back 180s at the start of the third, Petersen would lose the opening leg and that would become 2-0 when Humphries yet again pinned a three figure checkout - this time 106.
The world number 60, who is now in danger of losing his Tour Card, fought back to force another deciding leg and then left himself tops but wouldn't get a shot at it as the Newbury man checked out from 105 to get his nose back in front.
105 FINISH!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 13, 2019
A third ton-plus finish for Humphries who takes the third set and he leads 2-1! pic.twitter.com/p74Xddy8hf
Although the African Warrior refused to lie down with a finish from 84 at the start of the fourth, Humphies rattled off three on the spin, including a showstopping 160, to set up a clash with Jermaine Wattimena on Saturday afternoon.
"That was a really hard game to win, Devon made life very difficult for me up there," said Humphries. "Devon was outscoring me but my doubles were good, and just like Michael van Gerwen I hit the doubles when I needed them most.
"I've got some good memories here from last year and there was a little bit of pressure on me because I don't want people to think last year was a one-off.
"I didn't score well tonight but I know that's a one-off for me and tomorrow we will see a much better performance from myself."
Jelle Klaasen got the PDC World Darts Championship off to a flying start as he came from a set down to defeat Kevin Burness in an entertaining first-round tie.
Neither player arrived at Alexandra Palace on the back of sparkling seasons, with one quarter-final appearance in 2019 between them, but it was the player who hadn't achieved any who made the best start.
Burness went 2-0 up in the opening set with a 14-darter and although Klaasen, who reached the semi-finals of 2016 edition, forced a deciding leg it was the Iron Man who edged it thanks to a finish from 82.
The former BDO world champion restored parity by taking the next 3-1, with help of 13 and 14 darters, while a show stopping checkout of 152 helped him run away with the third set by the same scoreline.
🎯👏 Jelle Klaasen gets the World Darts Championship off to a flying start!
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) December 13, 2019
💯👌 He hit a 100 checkout to win the match but the highlight was this 152...pic.twitter.com/97iVSY6PYM
Klaasen, who averaged 96.02 compared to his opponent's 92.41, raced through the fourth 3-1 and closed out the match with a finish from 100 that completed a 14-darter.
He hit 11 of his 21 attempts at doubles as Burness missed 10 of his 16 while both players hit a pair of maximums.
The 35-year-old will return to the oche later tonight to take on defending champion Michael van Gerwen in the second round.
Friday December 13
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
Saturday December 14
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
Evening Session (1900)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
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