Dirk van Duijvenbode scraps past Ryan Searle before Krzysztof Ratajski sees off out of sorts Jonny Clayton at the Masters

Dirk van Duijvenbode and Krzysztof Ratajski have become the first winners at the 2024 Masters following victories over Ryan Searle and Jonny Clayton respectively.

With Dirk van Duijvenbode's form still somewhat uncertain given his injury, Ryan Searle entered the tie as a heavy favourite. Despite not at his free-flowing best, van Duijvenbode kept scrapping however, punishing some lax finishing from Searle to make it 4-3, having been 2-0 down early.

Searle always looked like the player playing the better darts though, and managed to re-find some momentum to nudge back infront at 5-4. As the Englishman stalled towards the finish line however, Van Duijvenbode managed to emerge victorious in a deciding leg of double 4.

'Aubergenius' was joined in qualifying for the second round by Krzysztof Ratajski after the Polish number one saw off an out of sorts Jonny Clayton, 6-3.