This time last weekend,
Michael van Gerwen was heading into the latter stages of his World Grand Prix triumph and he has continued his winning form by seeing off Steve Beaton to reach the Last 16 of the
Gibraltar Darts Trophy.
A high quality encounter between the pair, Van Gerwen produced a 106 average in the end with three 180's and 46.2% on the doubles compared to 102, four 180's and 75% on the doubles from Beaton in a 6-3 scoreline.
Early on, MVG surged into a 3-0 lead but Beaton held throw with a 97 checkout but couldn't find a break as Van Gerwen went 5-2 up with a 12-darter and a 130 checkout on the bull.
This was the story of the tie as Beaton followed with a 12-darter of his own in a 101 checkout but Van Gerwen finally held on double two after initially missing multiple match darts but Beaton wasn't down to a finish.
While last year,
Mensur Suljovic lost 8-0 to Gerwyn Price in the final of the Gibraltar Darts Trophy but the luck of the new shirt seems to be rubbing off on 'The Gentle' who sealed a 6-4 revenge win over 'The Iceman'.
It was another classy display from the Austrian who averaged 97.6 and will now face Dimitri van den Bergh or Gabriel Clemens tomorrow afternoon.
Price began his throw with a 110 checkout in a closely fought start and 'The Iceman' would have felt the impetus was heading his way with a 160 checkout to break but Suljovic returned for an 81 checkout for a 12-darter to make it 3-3.
Price responded again with a break but as did Suljovic after missed darts from Price to hold and finally the difference maker was finally holding at 5-4 with a 13-darter on double six before breaking one last time on his favourite double 14 to seal the winner after Price could not take out 156.