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| Photo from sportinglife.com |
Dave Chisnall mounted a huge comeback from 5-1 and 6-2 to beat Daryl Gurney in the tournament's opening match.
2016 Masters runner-up Chizzy looked as though he was heading for an early exit when Players Championship winner Gurney made a fast start with three breaks of throw and a superb 104 finish to lead 6-2.
The St Helens thrower managed to pull one back before breaking with a 94 finish - in the same leg that the Northern Irishman had missed four darts at double 16.
That proved to be the turning point as Chisnall kept up the momentum with three legs on the bounce including a 130 checkout to complete a 12-dart leg to go 7-6 in front.
Gurney showed spirit to win two more legs, before Chizzy saw out the match, winning it with a 101 checkout.
(8) Mensur Suljovic 10-1 (9) Simon Whitlock
Mensur Suljovic thrashed Simon Whitlock in their first round tie, with both players looking to atone for crashing out at the first hurdle in the World Championships in December.
Austrian Suljovic averaged 106 in a dominant performance and opened with a 12-darter before the Aussie levelled.
The Gentle surged clear with a pair of 13-darters and a clinical 81 finish, with the Wizard not able to produce any magic, as he averaged just 88 and earned five attempts a double.
Suljovic saw out the win, taking the next five legs - four of them in 14 darts or fewer, hitting four 180s and hitting 10 out of 17 darts at double.
Stephen Bunting 10-9 (13) Darren Webster
Understudy Stephen Bunting edged past Darren Webster in a last leg decider.
The Bullet was in for the injured Gary Anderson, who had pulled out at the last minute, and had hot-footed it from his home in the north west - where he was planning a weekend shopping trip in Ellesmere Port - down to Milton Keynes.
He averaged just 87 in an error-ridden contest, with a combined 62 darts missed at doubles - a tournament record.
There were rare moments of quality however, Bunting finished 90 for an 11-darter to move 5-3 up, and took out 86 on the bull to seal the win.
Bunting hit four 180s to the Demolition Man's two, whose average was also 87.
(1) Michael van Gerwen 10-5 (16) Jonny Clayton
Michael van Gerwen came through an attritional clash with Jonny Clayton as he looks to win a fifth Masters title.
The newly crowned three-time world champion missed 22 darts at double, and despite an impressive average of 99, it may cause concern as it's only the second time in 13 matches in this competition that he's been below 100.
Mighty Mike fired in eight 180s, including two back-to-back as he hit seven perfect darts in the second leg.
The Ferret averaged 90 and managed only two maximums was already 4-0 down by the time he got a leg on the board, but managed to stay in touch until 7-5, when van Gerwen won three on the spin including an 11 and 12 dart legs.
The win marks 17 matches unbeaten for van Gerwen since the move from Edinburgh to Milton Keynes for the Masters.
Format
First Round - Best of 19 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 21 legs
Final - Best of 21 legs
Saturday Order of Play
(7) Gerwyn Price (WAL) v (10) James Wade (ENG)
(2) Rob Cross (ENG) v (15) Joe Cullen (ENG)
(6) Michael Smith (ENG) v (11) Ian White (ENG)
(3) Peter Wright (SCO) v (14) Adrian Lewis (ENG)
Draw
Section One
(1) Michael van Gerwen (NED) 10-5
(8) Mensur Suljovic (AUT) 10-1
Stephen Bunting (ENG)* 10-9
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(1) Michael van Gerwen (NED) v (8) Mensur Suljovic (AUT)
(12) Dave Chisnall (ENG) v Stephen Bunting (ENG)
Section Two
(2) Rob Cross (ENG) v (15) Joe Cullen (ENG)
(7) Gerwyn Price (WAL) v (10) James Wade (ENG)
(6) Michael Smith (ENG) v (11) Ian White (ENG)
(3) Peter Wright (SCO) v (14) Adrian Lewis (ENG)
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*Stephen Bunting replaced Gary Anderson, who withdrew with a back injury
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