Anderson delivers masterclass to storm into second round of World Matchplay

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-gerwen-michael/SU4UkKsm/"]Michael van Gerwen[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wade-james/MRrXjBAB/"]James Wade[/a] also progressed on day two in Blackpool, where the opening round continued with eight matches.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anderson-gary/MyKZZS6r/"]Anderson[/a] averaged 109.96 in a 10-2 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joyce-ryan/tYs5VMm6/"]Joyce[/a], the eighth-highest average ever recorded in the World Matchplay.[/b][/p][p]The Scottish number one was in complete control throughout, rounding off his display with successive 144 and 141 finishes.[/p][embed guid="d5c4fe9e-cc22-4230-a616-343644d1dc71" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2078844891673542955?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"You get those days sometimes where you can throw with your eyes shut and hit everything and today was one of those days,"[/b] Anderson said.[/p][p][b]"I've missed a lot of tournaments this year. I play when I can, and I came here not knowing what to expect.[/b][/p][p][b]"The next game will be a completely different game, so we'll see what happens."[/b][/p][p]His reward is a second-round meeting with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/clayton-jonny/tx0y2xRD/"]Jonny Clayton[/a], who beat Australia's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/heta-damon/GYfQQCI6/"]Damon Heta[/a] 10-7.[/p][p]Clayton looked set for a comfortable victory after moving 8-3 ahead before Heta threatened a comeback. The Welshman eventually sealed the win with a 144 checkout.[/p][image alt="Clayton celebrates" id="0b33feff-862e-4066-98a8-ae1f3a08077e" credit-line="Taylor Lanning / PDC" guid="d25c85d6-b886-40fe-bd4b-ddf023e64eab" original-width="2000" original-height="1525" /][p][b]"I loved every second of that,"[/b] Clayton said.[/p][p][b]"This is the best venue in darts, and I'm a proud man to be standing here with a win to my name.[/b][/p][p][b]"Gary Anderson was my hero in darts. I think it's going to be a battle of the old boys, but I hope it's going to be a belter."[/b][/p][p]Van Gerwen also came from behind to reach the last 16, recovering from 4-1 down to defeat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gilding-andrew/x2eT5hRq/"]Andrew Gilding[/a] 10-6.[/p][p]The Dutchman narrowly missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish in the sixth leg before taking control of the contest, winning nine of the final 11 legs to book a meeting with compatriot [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-duijvenbode-dirk/fVUrttSI/"]Dirk van Duijvenbode[/a].[/p][image alt="Van Gerwen reacts" id="344611a3-5852-4556-bbcf-cb50b22001d2" credit-line="Chris Sargeant / ProSportsImages / DPPI via AFP" guid="1e014e91-58bf-4a83-b1d4-6df49485a726" original-width="1400" original-height="1150" /][p][b]"It was a strange game,"[/b] Van Gerwen said.[/p][p][b]"I think I had some really good patches and some really poor patches, but when you win the game, that's the most important thing.[/b][/p][p][b]"This was a good win for myself. There is still a lot more in the tank, and I hope I can show that later in the tournament."[/b][/p][p]Van Duijvenbode survived four match darts to edge past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dobey-chris/dWj1FjDn/"]Chris Dobey[/a] in a deciding tie-break, despite the Englishman hitting 13 maximums.[/p][p]It completed an impressive day for the Dutch contingent, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-veen-gian/jgT1AT29/"]Gian van Veen[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nijman-wessel/xCX137Ee/"]Wessel Nijman[/a] also advancing.[/p][p]Van Veen overcame [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ratajski-krzysztof/jNZjSeIT/"]Krzysztof Ratajski[/a] in a ruthless display that featured two 144 checkouts and a 160 finish, converting 67% of his double attempts.[/p][p]Nijman, who has won eight ranking titles this year, averaged just under 99 in a comfortable win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chisnall-dave/vRDFv29c/"]Dave Chisnall[/a].[/p][p]The pair of Dutch winners will now meet in the second round on Wednesday.[/p][p]Elsewhere, 2007 champion Wade began his 21st consecutive World Matchplay campaign with a 10-7 triumph over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wattimena-jermaine/0hcDtau6/"]Jermaine Wattimena[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/searle-ryan/UFF3Eh5C/"]Ryan Searle[/a] also progressed after beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-connor-william/pSbuZfV4/"]William O'Connor[/a] 10-7, landing 56% of his doubles to overcome the Irish number one.[/p][p]Wade and Searle will now meet for a place in the quarter-finals.[/p][p]The opening round concludes on Monday evening, with defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/humphries-luke/n34VOAWo/"]Luke Humphries[/a] beginning his campaign against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/menzies-cameron/2NUpDqVt/"]Cameron Menzies[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cross-rob/zs8lbtNH/"]Rob Cross[/a] facing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/noppert-danny/YmMfGEz0/"]Danny Noppert[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/price-gerwyn/8dDDoW0B/"]Gerwyn Price[/a] taking on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/schindler-martin/pWemrnqQ/"]Martin Schindler[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-ross/l8mIsYNm/"]Ross Smith[/a] meeting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doets-kevin/I14LCcyQ/"]Kevin Doets[/a].[/p][h2]Sunday's results[/h2][p]Dirk van Duijvenbode 13-11 Chris Dobey[/p][p]Gary Anderson 10-2 Ryan Joyce[/p][p]Michael van Gerwen 10-6 Andrew Gilding[/p][p]Jonny Clayton 10-7 Damon Heta[/p][p]Ryan Searle 10-6 William O’Connor[/p][p]James Wade 10-7 Jermaine Wattimena[/p][p]Gian van Veen 10-6 Krzysztof Ratajski[/p][p]Wessel Nijman 10-5 Dave Chisnall[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/darts/world/world-matchplay/"]Follow the World Matchplay with Flashscore![/a][/h2]