Sunday 30 October 2016 11:47, UK
Michael van Gerwen produced some stunning darts in beating Gerwyn Price 10-2 to reach the Unibet European Championship quarter-finals in Hasselt.
Van Gerwen missed double 12 for nine-dart finish and averaged 105 in a superb display of scoring, mixing in a 10-dart finish and nine maximums as his Welsh opponent was summarily dismissed.
Victory earned Van Gerwen a clash with Dutch compatriot Jelle Klaasen in Sunday afternoon's quarter-finals, with Klaasen also impressing in a 10-4 win over Stephen Bunting.
"I played really well, especially for the first ten legs," said van Gerwen. "It's all about winning the game and I did enough today to win the game, and I'm feeling good.
"Tomorrow's going to be a long day with three games in the day but I'm ready for that and I'll be focusing on the quarter-final against Jelle. My record against him is really good but he's playing well."
Klaasen averaged over 101, and also hit nine 180s, but his work on the doubles was mixed as he wasted 25 of the 35 chances he created.
"I have to practice a little bit more on the doubles but I don't have to change that much, just be a little bit more consistent," said Klaasen. "I'm happy with the way I played and I'm playing well enough to win this, but it's all on the day.
"My confidence is there and I can look forward to the quarter-finals, and if I hit my doubles well I can beat everyone."
The evening quarter-finals were all fairly one-sided affairs, with Phil Taylor demolishing Joe Cullen 10-3 on the back of a 103.98 average and James Wade beating Germany's Max Hopp by the same score.
Things had been much different in the afternoon session where two of the games went down to a deciding 19th leg.
Mensur Suljovic continued his fine run of form by taking out Ian White 10-9 in a thrilling encounter, while James Wilson battled past Mervyn King, again in a decider.
Peter Wright also missed double 12 for nine-dart finish but secured his place in the last eight by defeating Cristo Reyes 10-7, becoming another player to better a 100 average, and Australian Kyle Anderson proved too strong for a struggling James Richardson as he progressed 10-4.
European Championship quarter-final draw:
J Wilson (Eng) v 4-J Wade (Eng)
1-M Van Gerwen (Ned) v 8-J Klaasen (Ned)
2-M Suljovic (Ger) v P Taylor (Eng)
K Anderson (Aus) v 3-P Wright (Sco)
