European Championship Darts results: Michael van Gerwen hits 170 checkout and averages 110 in opening round

By Chris Hammer

09:30 · FRI October 26, 2018

Michael van Gerwen stormed into round two of the European Championship as he averaged 110 in a 6-2 victory over Paul Nicholson.

The world number one is bidding to win this major for a record fifth time in a row but he looked in early trouble when a resurgent Asset, who was competing in only his third TV major since the 2015 UK Open following his fine form on the European Tour, moved into an early 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of 12-dart legs including a 127 checkout on the bull.

MVG hit back with a pair of 180s at the start of the third leg and although he was unable to complete the nine-darter, he won it in 11 and followed that up with a 13-darter to level the scores.

In a crucial leg before the interval, Nicholson spurned six darts at a double to edge ahead before MVG pinned double one and from then there was only one winner as the Dutchman took the next three legs, including a 170 checkout in the seventh.

He finished with an average of 110.32 and hit five maximums while Nicholson can hold his head high with an average of 96.45 and four 180s.

🎯👏 What a match!

🎣🔥 MVG takes out this 170 checkout, hits five 180s and averages 110 - but only after Paul Nicholson gave him an early scare!pic.twitter.com/cXtIjLzXML
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) October 25, 2018

Van Gerwen is currently on an 11-match winning streak having emphatically answered questions over his dominance by romping to glory in the World Grand Prix and the last of this year's 13 European Tour events, which was also his 18th individual success of 2018.

MVG told www.pdc.tv: "Paul played really well and put in a good performance. He kept me under pressure, it’s only a short format and anything can happen but he missed a few darts to go 3-2 up and I took great advantage of that."

Peter Wright hit six of his eight darts at a double in a ruthless 6-0 victory over Jermaine Wattimena.

Snakebite, tipped to win his quarter of the draw which also includes MVG by our Chris Hammer, also averaged 101.33 in an impressive display despite hitting no 180s although he was aided by his opponent missing all six of his attempts at doubles.

He will next meet Simon Whitlock, who laid down a marker with a superb average of 101.16 as he brushed aside Steve Beaton 6-3.

The Aussie, whose only career TV title came at this event back in 2012, hit six of his eight attempts at doubles, including one at double four which finished off a match-clinching checkout of 128.

128 TO WIN IT!

Simon Whitlock with a magnificent finish to seal a 6-3 win over Steve Beaton and advance to the last 16 of the @unibet European Championship. pic.twitter.com/4YhgHUBTzD
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 25, 2018

World champion Rob Cross survived a scare against Danny Noppert as he came from 4-2 down to triumph 6-4.

It was an inconsistent display from Voltage as a poor start allowed the Dutchman to go 2-0 up with 17 and 15 dart legs before Cross quickly bounced back with 13 and 14 darters.

He went off the boil again and was in big trouble when Noppert made a 108 checkout to restore his two-leg lead but was unable to close out his first PDC win on live TV.

Cross upped his average to 97.17 thanks to his run of four straight legs and will be favourite to win his second-round clash with Richard North, who caused the first shock of the tournament as he sent fourth seed Ian White crashing out with a thumping 6-1 win.

Diamond has been playing some of the best darts of his career this year having won three PDC titles including a maiden European Tour triumph in September and many felt he could go deep here.

However, he averaged just under 89, failed to hit a single 180 and missed five of his six darts at doubles as North took full advantage.

North ended the match with an average of 93.22, hit two 180s and hit 37.5% of his doubles.

TAKE A BOW RICHARD NORTH!

North stuns fourth seed Ian White with an emphatic 6-1 victory. pic.twitter.com/fKfcFKiVCb
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 25, 2018

Michael Smith showed why he's also one of the dangerous players in this top section of the draw by averaging 100.76 in a 6-3 victory over Steve Lennon.

Bully Boy, who was this season's Premier League runner-up, fired three maximums, a high checkout of 105 and also nailed 43% of his doubles.

He will now meet Joe Cullen, who reeled off four legs on the spin to despatch Jelle Klaasen 6-2.

The Rockstar, tipped up at 7/1 to win his quarter of the draw by our Chris Hammer, made four 180s and averaged 94.76 but it would have been higher had it not been for early struggles on his doubles.

In the end he finished with a pretty solid checkout percentage of 40% while Klaasen missed 12 of his 14 attempts.

In the opening match of the night, Steve West beat his close friend Mervyn King thanks to a dramatic 106 checkout in the deciding leg.

Moments earlier the King just missed the bullseye for what would have been a match-winning 101 checkout and he was made to pay.

It was a high quality affair with the pair sharing nine 180s (West with five) while King was superior on his doubles hitting 50% compared to West's 33.33%.

WHAT A MATCH!

Steve West takes out a stunning 106 to beat Mervyn King 6-5 and become the first player through to the last 16 of the @Unibet European Championship! pic.twitter.com/sV9t3XkDAO
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 25, 2018