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VAN GERWEN STORMS PAST ANDERSON AS LEWIS KO'S PRICE IN BLACKPOOL

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN raced into the BetVictor World Matchplay quarter-finals with an 11-3 win over Kyle Anderson at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Tuesday, as Adrian Lewis overcame Gerwyn Price to join Dave Chisnall and Peter Wright in the last eight.

Reigning champion van Gerwen had whitewashed Jamie Caven 10-0 in the first round on Saturday and was in equally ruthless mood against Australia's Anderson, who found himself 5-0 down as the Dutchman made an explosive start. A 160 checkout saw Anderson get off the mark and he also took out a 13-darter to pull back to 7-2, with van Gerwen finishing double 19 and 100 to edge away once more before completing a heavy win.

"I can do a lot better but I got the win and that's the most important thing, and it was a really confident win to go into the quarter-finals," said van Gerwen. "I know I'm going to need more because there are tough opponents ahead but I got the job done against a good player tonight. My form is coming and I have to concentrate on my next game."

Van Gerwen now meets Dave Chisnall in the quarter-finals on Thursday, after the St Helens ace won through to the last eight for a fourth successive year in Blackpool with an 11-2 romp against Scotland's Robert Thornton. Thornton had won his first-ever game at the World Matchplay in his seventh appearance when he defeated Josh Payne on Saturday, but never recovered from seeing Chisnall open up an early 7-1 lead, with a 132 bull finish the stand-out moment of some fine darts. Thornton took out 130 on the bull to respond briefly in leg nine, but Chisnall landed a 180 in the next, two double top finishes to move 10-2 up and double ten to complete a big win.

"It went well tonight and the week is looking good so far," said Chisnall. "Robert missed a few doubles for big checkouts and I took my doubles and punished him. The scoreline could have been closer but I played well enough to win the game and I think I deserved it. This is the second biggest competition on the calendar and I'm hoping to do well. I'm playing steady darts but I want to past the quarter-finals now and I'll be trying my hardest on Thursday."

2013 World Matchplay finalist Adrian Lewis claimed revenge over Gerwyn Price for last year's second round defeat to the Welshman as he took an 11-5 win. After a build-up which had seen the pair trade words on social media ahead of the game, it was Lewis who landed the early blow by taking a 3-0 lead. Price hit back to trail 3-2, but Lewis won four of the next five legs to move into a 7-3 lead before landing a 100 checkout as he held out to seal victory on double 16.

"The result was satisfying but I'm not happy with my performance and it wasn't a great game," said Lewis. "I finished quite well apart from one or two legs and I know my form is there. If Gerwyn had started firing straight away I'd have matched it or bettered it, and if I'm put under pressure I perform. I got the result and I'll get ready for the quarter-final now because Peter's a quality player but I will go up there and try to do a job."

Lewis now faces number five seed Peter Wright in the quarter-finals, with the Scot overcoming Ian White 11-6 with a dominant display. Wright opened the game with a 116 finish, broke throw in leg two and landed a 174 in the third before White took two of the next three to reduce the gap to 4-2. Wright finished 82 and 81, for an 11-darter, in a run of three successive legs as he pulled clear before punishing White further by moving into a 10-3 lead, and though the world number 12 responded with three successive legs it was not enough as a 108 checkout sealed the 2015 semi-finalist's place in the last eight.

"It wasn't my best game and I was battling myself," said Wright. "The heat on stage felt hotter than when we played outside in Dubai I think and my darts were kicking to the right when they went into the board. I was having to concentrate more on keeping my darts straight which maybe was a good thing because it took the pressure off playing Ian. Neither of us got going but I managed to get over the winning line and that's all that counts. If I want to win this I'll have to play better than that. If my darts go straight then it doesn't matter who's in the competition, Gary Anderson, Michael van Gerwen, whoever, they'd be in trouble."

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