Michael van Gerwen's World Series of Darts Finals campaign ended in a first-round defeat on home soil as Daryl Gurney came from 5-3 down to win 6-5 in Amsterdam. Gurney was a late call-up to face the defending champion after Lourence Ilagan couldn't play, and he silenced the Dutch crowd to send MVG heading to the World Grand Prix next week without a major win behind him this time.
It was a seesaw battle. Gurney took an early 3-0 lead, highlighted by a superb 170 checkout. Van Gerwen responded, going 3-2 down on double 16 after Gurney missed 95, then broke through and held for 3-3. MVG broke again on double 20 for 4-3 and held on the same target, looking likely to get over the line. But Gurney held on double eight, broke after MVG missed match darts, and pinned his favourite double 16 to seal a famous win.
Luke Humphries was in business mode, averaging close to 100 in seeing off Jermaine Wattimena. Wattimena led early with double six for 2-1, but Humphries broke with a brilliant 132 to lead 3-2 and held on 58 for 4-2. Wattimena held on double 20, but Humphries missed 170 to hit 25 for 5-3, then despite missing match darts, returned to hit double eight on his throw to avoid a decider. Humphries averaged 98.43 to Wattimena's 92.61, with nine 100+ thrown to Wattimena's eight, 12 140+ to nine, two 180s to three, a highest checkout of 132 to 160, one checkout 100+ to none, and a checkout percentage of 25 (5/20) to 22.22 (2/9).
Stephen Bunting faced Josh Rock in a battle of Premier League stars, and it was an early exit for 'The Bullet' despite a 101 average in defeat. Rock hit a 102 average with five 180s in a 6-5 victory. Bunting led 2-1 breaking throw with 180s in most legs, and held with a 76 checkout to hit the front. But with a 142 en route, Rock stayed on his coat-tails. It went to a decider with Rock hitting double eight, then 80 to break, and he threw for it, hitting 72 to seal the win with Bunting sitting on 136.
Ross Smith won 6-3 over Kevin Doets, averaging nearly 103, though he hit no 180s. He broke early at 3-1, pinning double 16, then claimed 84 for 4-1. Doets stopped the rot, but Smith hit a 100 checkout to lead 5-2 and snatched it on double 20 for 6-3. Dirk van Duijvenbode came back from 3-0 and 4-1 down against Viktor Tingstrom to win 6-4. Karel Sedlacek dismissed Ben Robb 6-4 in a high-quality match. Ryan Searle saw off Rob Cross with ease, averaging 97 with four 180s to win 6-2. Gian van Veen stormed past Chris Dobey 6-2, averaging 93 to Dobey's 81. He led 1-0 with a 101 checkout, consolidated on double 16, held for 3-1 on double eight and 4-2 on double 10, broke on 60 for 5-2, and sealed it on double 16.
