Price ends fairytale run of 16-year-old Banks, Van den Bergh eases past Clemens as Littler averages 101 but defeated by Gawlas at UK Open

Gerwyn Price is through his opener at the 2023 UK Open in a 10-3 win over the impressive 16-year-old Thomas Banks to open Main Stage proceedings on Friday evening.

Price led at one point 5-0 averaging 115 but Banks found a way to get a few legs and push Price in parts but in the end, it was a 103 average, seven 180's and 47.6% on the doubles for 'The Iceman'.

Beginning with a 14-darter and including a best of an 11-darter, Price was averaging 115 and giving Banks no opportunity in the first part of the match going halfway towards the finish at the first interval 5-0.

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But on return, Banks missed 170 and his one chance for a leg was snuffed by Price who hit double five for 6-0 but the JDC Super 16 finalist finally got a leg on the board at 6-1 down breaking throw with an 84 checkout. He consolidated from there on double five to make it 6-2.

That huge lead was soon eroded as Banks made it 6-3 hitting double 20 with Price not proving as clinical. He finally added another leg closer to the finish at 7-3 to stop the Banks run.

A run that was fully ended as Price eased to victory with a 71 and 70 checkout back-to-back.

Dimitri van den Bergh also prevailed with relative ease as he saw off Gabriel Clemens in the first match on Stage Two. He sealed it with a 99 average 10-5 hitting six 180's and 47.6% on the doubles.

Joining those players from the multi-board room was Adam Gawlas who was utterly superb on the outer ring with Luke Littler averaging 101 and having darts for a decider having to produce darts out of his skin to live with the Czech ace at times.

'Flawlas' in the end got over the line 10-8 as both 16-year-olds end their run while Jeffrey de Zwaan, Joe Cullen, Kevin Doets and Chris Dobey are all through with Martin Lukeman and Ryan Searle the two to fall in the latter ties.

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