Michael van Gerwen eliminated in first round for second consecutive day

Michael van Gerwen was again eliminated in the first round of a Players Championship tournament on Tuesday. In the opening round of Players Championship 10, Karel Sedlacek beat him, after 'Mighty Mike' had lost to Steve Beaton a day earlier.

Van Gerwen was broken in the third leg by Sedlacek, who managed to throw a beautiful 124 finish. The player from Vlijmen made up the deficit with a 12-darter and a 111 finish to take a 3-2 lead. A 12-darter later made it 4-3 for Van Gerwen.

Sedlacek levelled the score again with a 14-darter, after which Van Gerwen managed to get one leg away from victory with a 12-darter. In the 10th leg, he was neatly on double 4 after 12 arrows, but a 13-darter by Sedlacek prevented Van Gerwen from getting match darts already.

Those match darts did come in the deciding leg, but Van Gerwen failed to hit double 10 with two arrows. Sedlacek then managed to eliminate the 35-year-old Dutchman with a 45 finish.

Van Gerwen does not have much time to reflect on the two defeats suffered. On Thursday he is expected in Leeds for the fifteenth round of play in the Premier League Darts. There he will play an important match against Gerwyn Price in order not to lose his spot in the top four of the rankings.