Whitlock produces epic comeback with back-to-back bull finishes to defeat Schindler as Van Gerwen halts Henderson fightback

Michael van Gerwen and Simon Whitlock are the final players through to the Last 16 of the Austrian Darts Open with one surviving a comeback and the other delivering an epic one in Graz.

Van Gerwen fended off a late revival in his tie against John Henderson sealing a 6-4 win as the four-time and reigning Austrian Darts Open champion began his quest.

Van Gerwen went 5-1 up going one away with an 86 checkout but after Van Gerwen missed 72 for the match, Henderson seized the initiative to hold and then break to go 5-3 down.

It was more missed match darts as Van Gerwen missed 121 and also three more darts at double 20 and Henderson hit 75 to make it 5-4.

But in the end, the margin proved too big as Henderson missed 62 for a decider and Van Gerwen hit double 20 first time this time for victory.

While from that to the utterly sublime as Simon Whitlock did what Henderson could've done in seeing off Martin Schindler.

'The Wizard' too was 5-1 down but weaved some magic to snatch a deciding leg win with two utterly sublime bull finishes to seal it.

He hit 117 and 110 back to back with the latter in particular seeing Schindler waiting after throwing for the match in the decider to seal it and he took it away with a 98 average and 6/7 on the doubles.