Nine-dart hero Michael van Gerwen impresses with victory; Luke Humphries bows out after leg-decider

Michael van Gerwen became the fourth Dutchman to qualify for the last sixteen at the Hungarian Darts Trophy. The 35-year-old Dutchman won 6-2 over Martin Lukeman on Saturday evening

Van Gerwen had a fabulous start to the match by throwing a nine-darter in the first leg. ‘Mighty Mike’ again entered the Hungarian capital Budapest with his new darts, which he has been using since this week. Van Gerwen started the match with two 180's and then threw the necessary 141 finish to complete the perfect leg.

Van Gerwen then ran out to a 4-1 lead with a 13-darter and a 157 finish. Lukeman took the sixth leg, before Van Gerwen decided the match with a 14-darter and a 157 finish.

Where Van Gerwen made no mistake, Luke Humphries stumbled over his first hurdle. The reigning world champion was beaten 6-5 by Gabriel Clemens, who therefore becomes Van Gerwen's next opponent.

A 72 finish and a 15-darter gave Clemens the lead after two legs and an 86 finish later made it 3-1. However, Humphries came back to 3-3 via a 14-darter and an 80 check-out, before ‘Cool Hand Luke’ took the lead with a 13-darter.

Humphries then missed four chances to double the lead to 5-3. Clemens made it 4-4 by hitting double 16. The German then broke the world number one with a 12-darter, but then missed his first three matchdarts in the 10th leg. Humphries, who had already put away his darts, was still alive and threw out 83 to force a final leg. In the last leg, however, Humphries was not out within five turns and Clemens secured the win with a 25 finish.

Rob Cross became the last player to qualify for the third round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy. The former world champion had a trouble-free night against Andrew Gilding, triumphing 6-1 to seal his place in the next round.