Michael van Gerwen’s title defence on the World Sequence of Darts Finals got here to an finish within the first spherical after he was overwhelmed 6-5 by Daryl Gurney.
Van Gerwen missed six match darts at 5-4 up earlier than being taken to a deciding leg which Northern Eire’s Gurney managed regardless of boos and whistles from the Amsterdam crowd.
It’s simply the second time Van Gerwen has misplaced his first match on the occasion as his troublesome 2026 season continued.
“It was actually laborious work. I can not bear in mind the final time I received on a serious stage,” stated Gurney, who has largely struggled to carry out on the massive stage in recent times exterior of the World Cup of Darts.
“I put my darts away tice as a result of Michael had six [match] darts. In all honesty, I used to be very fortunate to even go 5-5 and I had the throw I used to be like ‘please I would like trebles’.”
Gurney earned a late call-up to the World Sequence of Darts Finals after visa points brought about Philippines gamers Alexis Toylo and Lourence Ilagan to withdraw.
Netherlands’ Maik Kuivenhoven and Gurney have been the highest-ranked gamers on the reserve record, so changed the Philippines duo.
Daryl Gurney silenced the gang in Amsterdam (Credit score: PDC/Kelly Deckers)
Gurney raced right into a 3-0 lead as Van Gerwen didn’t even get a dart at double however the match swung rapidly because the three-time world champion received the following 5 legs and regarded heading in the right direction for victory.
Nevertheless, Gurney stopped the rot to make it 5-4 then capitalised on Van Gerwen’s half a dozen missed match darts to interrupt throw and held his nerve to e book a spot within the second spherical in opposition to Ross Smith, who beat Kevin Doets 6-3 earlier.
Humphries battles by as Rock beats Bunting
Additionally on Thursday, Luke Humphries battled previous Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 in one other dramatic contest.
The opening 4 legs have been shared earlier than Humphries broke with a spectacular 132 checkout (bullseye, bullseye, double 16).
Nevertheless, at 5-3 up, Humphries missed eight match darts however managed to recover from the road, after lacking three extra match darts within the subsequent leg, to arrange a gathering with Dirk van Duijvenbode in Saturday afternoon’s second spherical. Van Duijvenbode had earlier fought again from 4-1 right down to beat Sweden’s Viktor Tingstrom 6-4.
Luke Humphries needed to battle laborious to beat Jermaine Wattimena (Credit score: PDC/Kelly Deckers)
Josh Rock additionally made a comeback to defeat Stephen Bunting 6-5 by profitable the final three legs after the latter missed match darts.
Rock will play Ryan Searle, who cruised previous Rob Cross 6-2, whereas Gian van Veen beat Chris Dobey 6-2 and Karel Sedlacek noticed off Ben Robb 6-4 within the different matches.
On Friday, the primary spherical will conclude with Luke Littler, Gerwyn Value, Jonny Clayton, James Wade and Nathan Aspinall amongst these in motion.
Littler has received each main title this 12 months and can look to proceed his outstanding document by profitable the World Sequence of Darts Finals for a second time.
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Laura Turner and Chris Murphy talk about whether or not or not Littler is at the moment the most effective sportsperson on this planet
2026 World Sequence of Darts Finals – Thursday’s outcomes
Thursday September 17
Spherical One x8
Viktor Tingstrom 4-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Rob Cross 2-6 Ryan Searle
Karel Sedlacek 6-4 Ben Robb
Kevin Doets 3-6 Ross Smith
Stephen Bunting 5-6 Josh Rock
Luke Humphries 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Daryl Gurney
Gian van Veen 6-2 Chris Dobey
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