Mervyn King sends Van Gerwen packing while Steve Beaton ends Anderson's return from injury in fourth round
Saturday 2 March 2019 16:04, UK
World No 1 Michael van Gerwen and defending champion Gary Anderson crashed out of the UK Open on a first day that saw seven of the world's top 16 crash out.
The tournament dubbed 'the FA Cup of Darts', lived up to its billing as 159 players took to the stages around Butlins in Minehead and a dramatic day saw some of the sport's biggest names perish before the last 32 stage.
Van Gerwen, twice a champion of this event, was the headline casualty, losing 10-6 to 2014 semi-finalist Mervyn King and falling at his first hurdle for the second year in succession - coming just a day after his first defeat of the Premier League season to James Wade.
Beaten by Jeffrey de Zwaan last year, MVG found himself trailing 7-2 to King despite opening the game with a 170 checkout, before the world No 1 battled his way back to within two legs at 7-5.
A sensational 141 checkout from King put him within a leg of victory at 9-5, before a missed match dart for a 127 finish allowed Van Gerwen to take out 108 to keep himself in the contest.
However, the reprieve proved short-lived for Van Gerwen as King wrapped up his first victory over the Dutchman since the 2014 Masters semi-finals
"I fancied this right from the word go and it went my way tonight," said King.
"My performance wasn't fantastic, I didn't play to the best of my ability by a long stretch but I just played better than Michael and took my chances. The 141 was a pivotal moment - it stopped him in his tracks.
"If I play at my best I believe there isn't a player here who can beat me, but there are so many players here capable of wiping you off the board if you're not at your best."
The crowd didn't have long for another big-name exit as the evergreen Beaton ended Anderson's reign as champion with a 10-8 victory in a thrilling contest.
Anderson, who had been sidelined since the World Championship with a back injury, fired in a 180 with his first three darts back on the big stage, but quickly found himself embroiled in a battle with Beaton.
Scott Taylor was the only Rileys Qualifier to make it to the fourth round before going down to an agonising 10-9 loss to Mickey Mansell.
Three-time BDO world champion Glen Durrant, 2012 champion Robert Thornton and 2011 runner-up Wes Newton were among the players eliminated in the opening three rounds before the world's top 32 entered in the fourth round stage and the drama took off.
As well as Van Gerwen and Anderson, world No 3 Peter Wright and two-time world champion Adrian Lewis also fell in the fourth round, Snakebite losing a thrilling contest to Mensur Suljovic while Lewis was edged out by Wales' Jamie Lewis.
Raymond van Barnveld's final season as a PDC professional saw him suffer a fourth round exit, beaten 10-7 by Simon Stevenson.
The UK Open continues across the weekend with a unique open draw at the end of each stage and heading into Saturday the highest ranked player left in competition is world no 2 Rob Cross who eased past Darren Webster.
Also safety into the fifth round are James Wade, in-form Gerwyn Price, Daryl Gurney, Dave Chisnall and Michael Smith while Jamie Hughes impressed in his run, averaging 107.7 on the Main Stage to beat Diogo Portela, before knocking out Ian White to make the weekend's action.
The Premier League heads to the BHGE Arena in Aberdeen on Thursday, March 7. You can also stay up to date with all the action by following us @SkySportsDarts and get all the latest news, previews and interviews www.skysports.com/darts
