Simon Whitlock and Luke Humphries are the final players through to the second round at 2022 Masters in Milton Keynes and will await Peter Wright and Michael van Gerwen tomorrow.
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Whitlock made good on his late call up to dispatch Dirk van Duijvenbode with a 100.3 average and 55% on the doubles. Always a player to seize the opportunity, he did so in a 6-2 win.
He had a superb start hitting a 100 checkout to head into the lead and break throw. A clean kill 98 checkout for Whitlock saw him continue with a consolidation of that break.
He missed 112 for yet another break and Van Duijvenbode got his first darts at double only to block himself but he snuck it into the corner of double 16.
‘The Wizard’ was back though for an 80 checkout on double 10 to go 3-1 up. Another quality leg for a 14-darter saw Whitlock go 4-1 up with a break as he was throwing to go one away.
He produced an epic 127 checkout on the bull and Van Duijvenbode out of desperation looked for a spark and found one with a 112 checkout.
But this provided just a consolation as Whitlock pinned double 20 to move through to a tie with Wright.
While for Humphries, it was a clinical win over Devon Petersen who continued his poor run of form with a 6-1 defeat, which saw a 92 average, two 180's and 42% on the checkouts from the Newbury ace.
Humphries missed multiple darts in the opening leg to hold but Petersen couldn’t capitalise and ‘Cool Hand Luke’ held. He missed a 132 checkout doing the hard work with two bulls but missing double 16, he returned for eight though to break and go 2-0 up.
A 50 checkout consolidated that as Humphries went half way there. He hit the first maximum of the match but wasn’t on a finish and Petersen claimed his first leg to hold.
It was another 180 for Humphries as he made it nine darts to 41 which he sealed on double 16 to hold and go 4-1 up.
A 177 leave saw Humphries down to 129 but Petersen grazed the wire for an 87 checkout on the bull. The former missed double nine to break but Petersen missed double eight and Humphries returned for double four.
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Humphries gave Petersen a potential chance but smashed in a 110 checkout to claim victory and set up a clash with Van Gerwen.
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𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗜𝗧!
Simon Whitlock breezes his way through to a second round clash with the World Champion, closing out a dominant 6-2 success over Dirk van Duijvenbode!