Van Gerwen survives Barry scare, defending champion Cullen eases past Razma

Two of the top names involved in the reckoning got underway in their quest for the International Darts Open in Riesa with Michael van Gerwen surviving a scare against Keane Barry to begin his campaign.

Van Gerwen just had enough surviving a tough test from the young Irishman winning through 6-4 with a 102 average, 50% on the doubles and a high checkout of 160 en route.

Barry began the better of the two going 3-2 up as a shock potentially looked on the cards hitting a 112 checkout but he missed the bull for a 127 which was the turning point as Van Gerwen replied with a 160 checkout to make it 3-3.

From there, he hit a 110 checkout to go 4-3 up and at 5-4, Barry missed two darts to keep the tie alive and Van Gerwen hit double five last dart in hand to move through and not allow 'Dynamite' to send it to all the way.

While Joe Cullen also found his way into the second round after a 6-1 rout against an out of sorts Madars Razma who couldn't replicate his brilliance of the opening day.

The defending champion from 2020 produced a 96 average, two 180's and a high checkout of 125 despite only 6/22 on the doubles as 'The Rockstar' wasn't up to his recent standard but didn't need to be against only an 81 average from Razma.