UK Open - First Day
World's top five advance, four former champions eliminated on Day One
The world's top five players advanced to the fifth round, while four former champions crashed out on the Day One of the Cazoo UK Open.
The tournament's return to Butlin's Minehead Resort saw 126 matches played across eight stages on a typically frantic opening day at the annual festival of darts.
The opening four rounds took place across two sessions, with 158 players whittled down to 32.
Reigning champion James Wade was made to work hard in the opening game of his title defence, as he defied a 105.58 average from Steve Lennon to run out a 10-6 victor. Joining Wade in Saturday afternoon's fifth round are world number one Gerwyn Price, who eased past Krzysztof Ratajski 10-5, and 2017 champion Peter Wright, who got the better of Joe Cullen 10-6.
Three-time winner Michael van Gerwen claimed a 10-7 win over Gary Anderson, who joined Nathan Aspinall, Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld in the list of former champions to fall on Day One.
Aspinall missed four match darts in a deciding leg against Callan Rydz and Lewis squandered a 6-2 lead over Ryan Searle, both in round four, while Van Barneveld fluffed eight match darts against William Borland in round three.
Rob Cross also joined the list of high-profile casualties as he went down 10-7 to German number one Gabriel Clemens.
Former semi-finalist Jelle Klaasen and surprise package Graham Hall were the last two Rileys Qualifiers left standing, but were both eliminated in round four.
Polish youngster Sebastian Bialecki, who qualified via the Development Tour, is the last non-PDC Tour Card Holder remaining in the field and the only player remaining whose campaign began in round one.
Jose Justicia hit the 13th nine-darter in UK Open history, but the Spaniard lost his third round tie against Adam Gawlas.
One of the day's other eye-catching moments came courtesy of Ian White, who pinned a 170 checkout in the deciding leg of his clash with last year's runner-up Luke Humphries.
The draw for the fifth round was made live on the Main Stage at the conclusion of Friday night's action, with Van Gerwen pitted against in-form Australian Damon Heta. That game is pencilled in to take place on the Main Stage, along with Wright v Simon Whitlock, Price v Jamie Hughes and Searle v Dimitri van den Bergh. Meanwhile on Stage Two, Wade continues his title defence against Ron Meulenkamp and Jonny Clayton takes on Jose de Sousa in another of the stand-out fifth round ties.
At the conclusion of the fifth round, the draw will be made for the sixth round - which will take place on Saturday evening across two stages.