CULLEN IS OUT! Number one seed Joe Cullen is eliminated in the first round as Willie O'Connor seals a 6-3 victory with a 12-darter! 📺Up next 👉Rob Cross v Martijn Kleermaker
The top seed is out at the European Championship with Joe Cullen heading out of the tournament in the opening round against William O'Connor.
Cullen fresh off his second European Tour triumph which allowed him the route to become top seed couldn't back that up as he fell to 'The Magpie' with only 20% on his doubles despite not scoring poorly with three 180's.
O'Connor though who is only in the tournament by virtue of a positive COVID test for Glen Durrant seized on his second chance with 40% on his doubles in a 6-3 win and he will now take his place in the second day in Oberhausen.
So is Nathan Aspinall but 'The Asp' was far from his best against Dutch debutant Maik Kuivenhoven but did enough to win through.
Aspinall claimed a 6-3 victory over Kuivenhoven who has producing some impressive displays so far this season including on the European Tour which got him his spot in this tournament.
But despite an average of only 86.6 and 24% on the doubles, it is the Premier League finalist who is through successfully to face James Wade.
Jamie Hughes (94.22) 6-5 (92.66) Dave Chisnall
Krzysztof Ratajski (99.76) 5-6 (95.19) Steve West
Mervyn King (86.66) 2-6 (91.83) Ian White
Jose de Sousa (96.56) 6-3 (87.65) Jeffrey de Zwaan
James Wade (92.42) 6-5 (93.02) Steve Lennon
Devon Petersen (95.29) 6-1 (87.69) Andy Hamilton
Michael Smith (89.29) 6-5 (91.34) Ross Smith
Danny Noppert (92.93) 0-6 (98.47) Dirk van Duijvenbode
Nathan Aspinall (86.68) 6-3 (82.21) Maik Kuivenhoven
Joe Cullen (86.05) 3-6 (88.17) William O'Connor
Rob Cross v Martijn Kleermaker
Jonny Clayton v Max Hopp
Michael van Gerwen v Darius Labanauskas
Gerwyn Price v Kim Huybrechts
Peter Wright v Gabriel Clemens
Mensur Suljovic v Daryl Gurney
CULLEN IS OUT! Number one seed Joe Cullen is eliminated in the first round as Willie O'Connor seals a 6-3 victory with a 12-darter! 📺Up next 👉Rob Cross v Martijn Kleermaker