Michael van Gerwen started his quest for a fourth PDC World Championship name via routing Lewis Williamswith the Dutchman shedding only one leg en path to a commanding 3-0 win.
Van Gerwen needed to withdraw from closing 12 months’s match after being struck down via Covid-19 however he is likely one of the favorites to regain the Sid Waddell Trophy after claiming 4 primary titles in 2022.
He despatched a caution to his opponents at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday night time, averaging 101.84 as he put his overmatched Welsh opponent to the sword to cruise into the 3rd spherical. The 2014, 2017 and 2019 champion will tackle both Austria’s Mensur Suljovic or Belgium’s Mike De Decker subsequent Wednesday.
“It wasn’t perfect but I think I played quite well,” Van Gerwen instructed Sky Sports. “I needed to paintings exhausting for it, a efficiency like this does not come from not anything.
“It offers me numerous excitement to be again in this level, Ally Pally has a unique position in my center. To obtain such a fantastic reception from the gang way so much to me. I’m all the time looking to play darts on the absolute best degree I in all probability can. I do know what I’m in a position to.”
Dave Chisnall – who beat Van Gerwen en route to the semi-finals two years ago – previously defeated fellow Englishman Andrew Gilding 3-1 in a match where both players recorded seven 180s.
Mervyn Kinga quarter-finalist 12 months ago, withstood a fightback from Danny Baggishwho battled from 2–0 down to force a decider only to suffer a 3–2 defeat.
There have been additionally wins for Stephen Bunting, Gabriel Clemens, Josh Rock and Darius Labanauskas.