Michael van Gerwen has marked his return to action with a victory during his opener at Players Championship 18. It was his first official match since he lost the World Matchplay final against Luke Humphries in July.
A day later, Van Gerwen underwent dental surgery for the second consecutive year, forcing him to miss three Players Championship tournaments and two World Series tournaments. On his comeback against Evans, Van Gerwen reached an average of 101.28. In particular, ‘Mighty Mike's final hit was fine with an 11-darter and a 12-darter in the last two legs.
Follow Players Championship action via our LIVE SCORE!
Others through include Dave Chisnall who thrashed Connor Scutt 6-1, Chris Dobey averaging 104 in a high quality affair with Ricky Evans. Damon Heta is one of the only players to return after playing in Australia and New Zealand and he moved through 6-5.
Ross Smith is second seed and sealed a 6-4 win over Robert Grundy. Ryan Searle, Jonny Clayton and Stephen Bunting are also among the early winners.
Last 128
Martin Lukeman 6 | 3 Alan Soutar
Matt Campbell 6 | 5 Jurjen van der Velde
Dave Chisnall 6 | 1 Connor Scutt
Reece Colley 6 | 4 Wessel Nijman
Peter Wright 6 | 3 Graham Usher
Jim Williams 6 | 4 Tim Wolters
Raymond van Barneveld 6 | 3 Jamie Atkins
Owen Roelofs 6 | 3 Lee Cocks
James Wade 6 | 3 Franz Roetzsch
William O'Connor 6 | 0 William Borland
Martin Schindler 6 | 5 Steve Lennon
Mensur Suljovic 6 | 3 Simon Whitlock
Cameron Menzies 6 | 4 Jeffrey De Zwaan
Andy Boulton 6 | 4 Graham Hall
Chris Dobey 6 | 3 Ricky Evans
Madars Razma 6 | 3 Jeffrey Sparidaans
Gabriel Clemens 6 | 4 Joshua Richardson
Danny van Trijp 6 | 5 Jose De Sousa
Danny Noppert 6 | 2 Arron Monk
Florian Hempel 6 | 3 Stefan Bellmont
Ritchie Edhouse 6 | 5 Jeffrey De Graaf
Daniel Klose 6 | 3 Darren Beveridge
Maik Kuivenhoven 6 | 5 Daryl Gurney
Chris Landman 6 | 4 Michele Turetta
Rene Eidams 6 | 5 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Niels Zonneveld 6 | 0 Mervyn King
Damon Heta 6 | 5 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Keegan Brown 6 | 3 James Hurrell
Mickey Mansell 6 | 4 Brendan Dolan
Justin Hood 6 | 4 John Henderson
Christian Perez 6 | 2 Ricardo Pietreczko
Callum Goffin 6 | 1 Lukas Wenig
Richard Veenstra 6 | 2 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Karel Sedlacek 6 | 3 Dylan Slevin
Ross Smith 6 | 4 Robert Grundy
Dom Taylor 6 | 4 Adam Warner
Krzysztof Ratajski 6 | 3 Thibault Tricole
Mario Vandenbogaerde 6 | 0 Robbie Knops
Ryan Joyce 6 | 4 Richie Burnett
Ryan Meikle 6 | 5 Pascal Rupprecht
Andrew Gilding 6 | 0 Brett Claydon
Andy Baetens 6 | 3 Vincent van der Voort
Ryan Searle 6 | 2 Berry van Peer
Kai Gotthardt 6 | 5 Keane Barry
Luke Woodhouse 6 | 2 Jitse Van der Wal
Danny Lauby 6 | 4 Owen Bates
Wesley Plaisier 6 | 5 Gian van Veen
George Killington 6 | 1 Ian White
Jermaine Wattimena 6 | 3 Cam Crabtree
Christian Kist 6 | 5 Patrick Geeraets
Robert Owen 6 | 1 Josh Rock
Steve Beaton 6 | 2 Adam Gawlas
Mike De Decker 6 | 3 Nick Kenny
Stephen Burton 6 | 3 Nathan Rafferty
Jonny Clayton 6 | 4 Jelle Klaasen
Jamie Hughes 6 | 5 Benjamin Reus
Kevin Doets 6 | 3 Martijn Dragt
Scott Williams 6 | 2 Jules van Dongen
Stephen Bunting 6 | 3 Rhys Griffin
Adam Hunt 6 | 3 Josh Payne
Joe Cullen 6 | 4 Boris Krcmar
Matthew Dennant 6 | 1 Danny Jansen
Michael van Gerwen 6 | 2 Lee Evans
Kim Huybrechts 6 | 3 Geert Nentjes
Last 64
Martin Lukeman - | - Matt Campbell
Dave Chisnall - | - Reece Colley
Peter Wright - | - Jim Williams
Raymond van Barneveld - | - Owen Roelofs
James Wade - | - William O'Connor
Martin Schindler - | - Mensur Suljovic
Cameron Menzies - | - Andy Boulton
Chris Dobey - | - Madars Razma
Gabriel Clemens - | - Danny van Trijp
Danny Noppert - | - Florian Hempel
Ritchie Edhouse - | - Daniel Klose
Maik Kuivenhoven - | - Chris Landman
Niels Zonneveld - | - Rene Eidams
Damon Heta - | - Keegan Brown
Mickey Mansell - | - Justin Hood
Christian Perez - | - Callum Goffin
Richard Veenstra - | - Karel Sedlacek
Ross Smith - | - Dom Taylor
Krzysztof Ratajski - | - Mario Vandenbogaerde
Ryan Joyce - | - Ryan Meikle
Andrew Gilding - | - Andy Baetens
Ryan Searle - | - Kai Gotthardt
Luke Woodhouse - | - Danny Lauby
Wesley Plaisier - | - George Killington
Jermaine Wattimena - | - Christian Kist
Robert Owen - | - Steve Beaton
Mike De Decker - | - Stephen Burton
Jonny Clayton - | - Jamie Hughes
Kevin Doets - | - Scott Williams
Stephen Bunting - | - Adam Hunt
Joe Cullen - | - Matthew Dennant
Michael van Gerwen - | - Kim Huybrechts