World Series of Darts Finals Thursday Round-Up | Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen lead victors as Amsterdam stunned by Van Gerwen exit

It was a big opening night at the World Series of Darts Finals with mixed fortunes for the Dutch home heroes, with Michael van Gerwen heading home in the first round against Daryl Gurney, who was in fact a late call-up to face the defending champion.

Gurney was into the field, as Lourence Ilagan couldn't play, and so MVG got an infinitely harder draw against a former multiple major champion who, given he will miss the World Grand Prix, has a point to prove. He did that in Amsterdam in silencing the crowd.

He managed to come from 5-3 down to win in a decider 6-5, and now he moves on while MVG heads onto the World Grand Prix next week, not like last year, coming from a major win. Ironically, though, it was a seesaw game. Gurney took the lead very early in the piece, going 3-0 up, with a 170 checkout being a superb highlight. But back came MVG, who went 3-2 down on double 16 after Gurney missed 95, and he broke through and then held for 3-3.

He broke again on double 20 for 4-3 and then held again on the same target, and it looked for all the will in the world that MVG would manage to get over the line in the end. But how wrong was that assumption, as Gurney held on to a double eight, and then he broke after MVG missed match darts, and then he managed to pin his favourite double 16 to seal a famous win and take down the Dutch juggernaut on his home turf.

Albeit while not Dutch, the other big name in action tonight was, in fact, Luke Humphries, who was in business mode. He averaged close to 100 in seeing off Jermaine Wattimena, who is part of that group of Dutch players who continue to be spoilers and are potentially tricky ties for the big names.

Wattimena led early on, hitting double six for 2-1. But he was broken with a brilliant 132 from Humphries, seeing him hit the front at 3-2, and he held from there on 58 for 4-2 up. Wattimena held on double 20. But back came Humphries after missing 170 to hit 25 to go 5-3 up, and despite missing match darts, he returned to hit double eight on his throw to avoid a decider. Crisis averted and he is through.

One of the top ties on paper earlier saw Stephen Bunting face Josh Rock, and it was an early exit for 'The Bullet' in the battle of the Premier League stars, as despite losing, Bunting hit a 101 average in defeat.

Rock himself hit a 102 average with five 180s in securing a 6-5 victory. Bunting led a 2-1 breaking throw with 180's in most legs during the tie. He held the throw with a 76 checkout to hit the front. But with a 142 en route, Rock was always on his coat-tails. It went to a decider with Rock hitting double eight, then 80 to break, and he as a result threw for it. He hit 72 to seal the win and move through with Bunting sitting on 136.

Ross Smith heads into this week as one of the perhaps dark horses that maybe shouldn't be given that he has played superbly on the European Tour in particular as of late, and he won through 6-3 over Kevin Doets, averaging nearly 103, and he moves into the second round.

Ironically though, despite hitting such a massive average, he hit no 180s in what is usually a trademark of the Smudger playbook. He broke early at 3-1, pinning double 16 before then claiming 84 for 4-1 to consolidate. Doets stopped the rot, but with a 100 checkout, Smith was back at it and led 5-2. He snatched it from there on double 20 for 6-3.

Other victors included Dirk van Duijvenbode, who started the night with Viktor Tingstrom leading 3-0 and 4-1. But Van Duijvenbode came back to seal a 6-4 win.

Karel Sedlacek dismissed Ben Robb in a high-quality match, from both ending 6-4 to Evil Charlie. While Ryan Searle was in fine fettle as he saw off Rob Cross with ease, averaging 97 with four 180s to win 6-2.

But while Van Gerwen let the crowd down as such, Gian van Veen didn't storm past. Chris Dobey 6-2. He averaged 93 to just 81 from Dobey. He led 1-0 with a 101 checkout early and consolidated on double 16. He continued to hold going 3-1 up on double eight and then on double 10 for 4-2. He broke through again on 60 for 5-2 before then sealing the deal on double 16. So a mix of both upsets and players getting through comfortably on night one here.