''I'm going to smash them all!" - Confidence levels high for Michael van Gerwen after Rock demolition

Michael van Gerwen made a good start to the World Grand Prix on Tuesday night. The six-time World Grand Prix champion left Josh Rock completely defenseless, triumphing 2-0 in sets against the reigning world youth champion.

''To start off with a performance like this against a player of that calibre, it gives you confidence," Van Gerwen commented to the press after the match. "First round in this tournament is always tricky whoever you're going to draw, look how many good players have lost already."

Van Gerwen revealed in an interview prior to the tournament that it was important to start the match sharp because of the short format. To his satisfaction, 'Mighty Mike' saw that he succeeded in that mission.

''I started off with the nice 160, my doubles were top class. But you just need to win the game and that's the most important thing in the first round of the World Grand Prix."

The 34-year-old from Vlijmen had little to fear from his opponent Rock, who managed to throw only 73 average. ''We all know Josh, he come as a rocket but he still is a little patch now and it's not easy. I think he already can be proud of what he achieved," Van Gerwen said of his Northern Irish opponent.

In the next round, Van Gerwen will take on Chris Dobey, who took on Dimitri van den Bergh in the first round. 'Mighty Mike' has no doubt that he will once again be standing with the cup in his hands at the end of this week.

''I'm going to smash them all!" Van Gerwen said with a laugh. Then in a slightly more serious tone: ''Of course you never know what's going to happen. I'm not going to throw an opening percentage of 50 percent every match with a double-double percentage of 75 percent. I'm going to try to put in another good performance in the next game. That's going to be tough, but I know I can do it.''