Michael Van Gerwen WHITEWASHED on an embarrassing night for the 6 time champion – 2024 World Grand Prix Day Two Recap
Michael Van Gerwen WHITEWASHED on an embarrassing night for the 6 time champion – 2024 World Grand Prix Day Two Recap
Clinical from Chizzy
Night 2 kicked off with a repeat of a Round 2 clash at the 2024 World Championship with Dave Chisnall taking on debutant Cameron Menzies. The Scotsman has been in red hot form on the Pro Tour this year but failed to emulate that standard onto the big stage in his first ever World Grand Prix game.
It was Chisnall who inflicted the first whitewash of this years tournament on Menzies who was given very little opportunities throughout the encounter.
Vintage Van Den Bergh
Luke Woodhouse was one of only 5 players in the field to have not won a PDC senior title coming into the Grand Prix and he had a reigning major champion in Dimitri Van Den Bergh in his way.
The match was explosive with Woody taking the opening set 3-1 after the Belgian missed seven darts to win the pivotal 4th leg, the fireworks kept on coming in the second set with a 104 set winning average from the 2024 UK Open Champion to ensure the game went the distance.
The game flipped on a magnificent 132 checkout from Van den Bergh on the bullseye to break the Woodhouse throw in the opening leg of the final set and he built on that to cap off a much needed win after an up and down year on the tour, posing a very strong 97 average.
Heartbreak for Heta
Damon Heta had never won at the World Grand Prix in any of his previous appearances but he would have fancied his chances to change that after taking the first 2 legs against Mike De Decker. However, De Decker had other ideas, finishes of 38, 150 and 116 meant that it was the Belgian Number 2 who nicked the first set in impressive fashion.
The former World Cup Champion turned it back on to go within a leg of the match, however, the Aussie made amess of a match winning opportunity and De Decker capitalised to win the match in the leg after and book his spot in the Last 16.
Walking in a Wadey Wonderland
Next up was the 2 time World Grand Prix Champion James Wade, who was playing in his 20th consecutive edition. Peter Wright was in his way and it was Snakebite who got the opening set on the board. Wright was incapable of continuing his winning ways as it was ‘The Machine’ who got over the line 2-1 after a horror show on the doubles late on for the Scotsman.
Noppert Pays The Price
Gerwyn Price was provisionally ranked as Wales’ Number 2 going into his opening game of the tournament so was looking to get some much needed ranking money. It was a great start for the former champion as he was gifted the first set after Danny Noppert almost capitulated at the back end of the first set.
A tense tussle ensued with Price averaging just 80 when Noppert levelled it up in sets with a brilliant bullseye on 84. It seemed like the momentum had shifted in ‘The Freeze’s favour in the final set, missing D20 to win the match but resilience from Price meant that he finally had the rub of the green on the big stage, despite a miscount.
Rolling Back The Years
Michael Smith and Gary Anderson met in Round 1 of a ranking major for the second consecutive time, with ‘Bully Boy’ getting the better of ‘The Flying Scotsman’ in Blackpool at the Matchplay.
A close game was expected and a close game was what happened with the match going the distance in the final set. More missed match darts for the losers on Night 2 saw Gary Anderson get revenge over the World Number 2 after he missed two for the win.
Story Of The Tournament
Michael Van Gerwen was coming into this tournament in very good form with a recent Players Championship and Euro Tour win to his name and with favourite Luke Littler dumped out already, MvG would have fancied his chances at winning in Leicester.
What took place was absolutely staggering, Daryl Gurney won 6 straight legs to whitewash the 6 time champion in the stand out result of the 2024 World Grand Prix so far.
Disaster for Dobey
Dobey sensationally won the first set with a 160 checkout, he looked in command in the second set but almost out of nowhere, Joe Cullen burst into life and took it all the way. He maintained his strong scoring but it was ‘Hollywood’ who handed it to him on a plate with an abysmal ‘doubling in’ performance in almost every leg. A much needed win for Joe Cullen.
2024 World Grand Prix
Last 32
Day 2, 8th October
Dave Chisnall 2-0 Cameron Menzies
Luke Woodhouse 1-2 Dimitri Van Den Bergh
Mike De Decker 2-1 Damon Heta
Peter Wright 1-2 James Wade
Gerwyn Price 2-1 Danny Noppert
Michael Smith 1-2 Gary Anderson
Michael Van Gerwen 0-2 Daryl Gurney
Chris Dobey 1-2 Joe Cullen