Van Gerwen lays down marker with superb Williams win at PDC World Darts Championship: "They always fear me, I don't have to play well for them to fear me"

Proving just why he is the bookies' favourite to lift the Sid Waddell trophy on January 3rd, Michael van Gerwen sent a warning to all his potential rivals with a dominant 3-0 victory over Lewy Williams, dropping just a single leg in the process.

"I think it was definitely a good start," van Gerwen says post-match. "I was a little bit edgy, especially at the beginning of the game because you want to do well you don't want to lose focus but it's not always that easy." Averaging just under 102, the former three-time World Champion posted his 34th ton-plus average on the Ally Pally stage.

The 2nd set in particular was van Gerwen at his brilliant best, averaging a ridiculously good 125.25. "But that was only one set," he says with a wry smile. "The next game I should do it two sets, the game after three sets. You always have to keep improving yourself and keep believing in yourself, that's the only thing that matters."

After a year in which the Dutchman has won the Premier League, the World Matchplay, the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals, van Gerwen is as mentioned the pre-tournament favourite with bookmakers. When asked if his rivals would be worried after watching his win van Gerwen responded "they always fear me, I don't have to play well for them to fear me, people know what I'm capable of and if I keep performing like I did tonight then the rest will come automatically."

In round 3, the third seed will face off against the winner of Mensur Suljovic vs Mike de Decker and van Gerwen isn't getting ahead of himself just yet. "This is only the first game for me and it's only the second round of the World Championships, I need to make sure I keep doing this if I want to win this tournament."