Michael van Gerwen stunned by Nathan Rafferty in last 32 of Players Championship 19

Michael van Gerwen did not make it past the third round at the nineteenth Players Championship tournament of the season on Thursday. 'Mighty Mike' had to face Nathan Rafferty in the last 32.

Van Gerwen took a 2-1 lead early in the match via a 14-darter and a 13-darter, and then managed to turn a 2-3 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Rafferty then evened the score again with a 98 finish, and then took advantage of the fact that Van Gerwen was not out in six visits. The Northern Irishman broke the Dutchman with a 17-darter, and then also threw a 17-darter in his own leg to set the final score at 6-4.

Elsewhere, the likes of Dimitri van den Bergh, Mensur Suljovic, James Wade. Chris Dobey, Daryl Gurney, Stephen Bunting and Gabriel Clemens are also still in the fight.

A total of 125,000 pounds in prize money is distributed at each Players Championship tournament. The winner of the event will receive a check for 15,000 pounds.

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6 | 3 Dave Chisnall

Mensur Suljovic 6 | 4 Dom Taylor

James Wade 6 | 5 Martin Schindler

Chris Dobey 6 | 3 Luke Woodhouse

Matthew Dennant 6 | 5 Boris Krcmar

Daryl Gurney 6 | 4 Wessel Nijman

Danny Noppert 6 | 2 Stephen Burton

Martijn Dragt 6 | 4 Mervyn King

Ross Smith 6 | 5 Christian Kist

Martin Lukeman 6 | 4 Lukas Wenig

Stephen Bunting 6 | 5 Wesley Plaisier

Cameron Menzies 6 | 2 Gian van Veen

Gabriel Clemens 6 | 5 Alan Soutar

Thibault Tricole 6 | 1 Nick Kenny

Jeffrey Sparidaans 6 | 4 Mario Vandenbogaerde

Nathan Rafferty 6 | 4 Michael van Gerwen

Dimitri Van den Bergh - | - Mensur Suljovic

James Wade - | - Chris Dobey

Matthew Dennant - | - Daryl Gurney

Danny Noppert - | - Martijn Dragt

Ross Smith - | - Martin Lukeman

Stephen Bunting - | - Cameron Menzies

Gabriel Clemens - | - Thibault Tricole

Jeffrey Sparidaans - | - Nathan Rafferty