Defending
World Grand Prix champion,
Jonny Clayton kicked off his title defence by recovering from a set down to see off Dirk van Duijvenbode 2-1.
Clayton pounced after Van Duijvenbode seemingly had the crowd on his back and 'The Ferret' sealed it in the end to deny the 2020 finalist.
Clayton missed darts for a hold and Van Duijvenbode hit double 20 to go 1-0 up and followed it up on double 10 to hold and go one away.
Van Duijvenbode missed bull for a 128 checkout for the set as well as three darts for a whitewash set and Clayton saved his skin on double four. A 156 checkout saw Van Duijvenbode seal it though in the following leg.
Both held to begin the second set but Clayton hit 130 to go 2-1 up and one away and sealed it on double 18. A 180 was pinned by Van Duijvenbode but he missed a chance to break and Clayton returned to hold.
The crowd were getting on Van Duijvenbode’s back and Clayton broke on double 17 to go one away at 2-0. Double 10 was hit by ‘The Titan’ and he broke to send it all the way.
Clayton missed 105 for the match and Van Duijvenbode missed double 18 for a 111 and ‘The Ferret’ sealed it.
While for
Peter Wright, he denied a late revival from Kim Huybrechts to seal a straight sets win over 'The Hurricane'. This was with a 94 average and 55% on the doubles.
Wright hit double 20 to seal and opening hold and hit double four to go 2-0 up. But Huybrechts hit 70 to break back.
Huybrechts missed double 18 for 2-2 and Wright sealed the set on double nine. A 180 was hit by Huybrechts but he missed darts to hold and Wright picked his pocket on double 20 to go 1-0 up.
An 82 checkout saw Wright go to the brink at 2-0 up. He missed two darts at 76 for the match and Huybrechts hit 128 to hold and followed it up with a 101 checkout to make it 2-2.
A 147 checkout was missed on double 18 for the match for Wright but Huybrechts missed 107 to keep it alive and Wright hit double nine to seal it.