PDC World Championship - Match Report 3. Day
VAN GERWEN CRUISES PAST VILJANEN IN WILLIAM HILL WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN set the standard at the William Hill World Darts Championship as he eased through to the second round at London's Alexandra Palace.
The world number one made light work of Scandinavian qualifier Kim Viljanen and produced the highest quality performance of the tournament so far with a straight sets victory on Saturday.
The Dutch ace averaged almost 104, hit five 180s and dropped just one leg in an impressive opening display to back up his record 25 tournament wins during 2016.
"That's one down and five to go," said van Gerwen, who is bidding to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy for this first time since his maiden success three years ago. "I think I played okay and it was good to get through comfortably. I can relax now and look forward what feels like the real tournament. The first round is always very difficult so I'm pleased with what I've done here."
Finland's Viljanen had beaten Ross Snook by two sets to nil in their preliminary round match, but was unable to match the world number one.
Van Gerwen will take on Cristo Reyes in the last 32 after the Spanish star edged past Dimitri Van den Bergh in a high quality encounter.
Reyes dropped the first set but battled back to win 3-2 against the promising Belgian youngster, with his highlight being a spectacular 124 checkout on the bull.
"It was a difficult game," said Reyes, who hit over 60% of his double attempts, defying nine 180s from his opponent. "Dimitri played really well and I did everything to beat me but my finishing was fantastic and that got me through."
Number 16 seed Stephen Bunting was punished for missing seven match darts as Darren Webster sent him crashing out in a tie-break, hitting eight maximums in the process.
Last month's Players Championship semi-finalist Webster produced sensational finishes of 140, 147 and 157 as he progressed to the second round for the third consecutive year.
Terry Jenkins charged through to the second round by defeating Josh Payne in the earlier session on Saturday afternoon, when Andrew Gilding and Benito van de Pas also progressed.
Veteran star Jenkins, who is appearing in this 13th PDC World Championship, came from a set behind against Payne to book his place in the last 32.
Highlights for the 53-year-old included a brilliant 140 checkout as he saw off promising star Payne, who is 30 years younger than Jenkins.
"I played really well and maybe that's because I've relaxed a bit," said Jenkins, who is planning to wind down his playing commitments during 2017. "I'm only going to play in the TV events that I've qualified for. I can't keep doing it against these youngsters. If I do well here I'll be in even more events but I can focus on them and it might work in my favour."
Jenkins will take on Van de Pas in the second round after the 23-year-old saw off Malaysia's Tengku Shah, who won his preliminary round match against Masumi Chino of Japan but lost out to the number 15 seed.
Chino took the third set off the Dutchman, who has won three ranking titles in 2016, and gave a great account of his talents but Van de Pas proved to be too strong to suffer a shock defeat.
Gilding came out on top in the first sudden-death decider of this year's tournament as he came from two sets behind to beat Scotland's John Henderson, who missed a dart at the bullseye for victory.
Former UK Open semi-finalist Gilding hit eight 180s en route to victory as he moves through to face reigning champion Gary Anderson.