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.
Results Players Championship 19
Last 32
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
Last 16
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