World champion Gerwyn Price (11/4 to win the Betfred Matchplay) made a huge statement at the Betfred World Matchplay as he thrashed Premier League winner Jonny Clayton 11-3 on Tuesday night.
Tuesday 20th Results:
Gerwyn Price 11-3 Jonny Clayton
Dimitri Van den Bergh 11-8 Dave Chisnall
Krzysztof Ratajski 11-5 Luke Humphries
Callan Rydz 11-8 Rob Cross
Wednesday 21st – Order of Play:
Michael Smith vs Jose De Sousa (19:00)
Gary Anderson vs Nathan Aspinall (20:00)
Michael van Gerwen vs Ian White (21:00)
Peter Wright vs Joe Cullen (22:00)
Welsh duo Price and Clayton put their friendship on the backburner at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, but the former was left smiling.
Price made a fast start in front of a passionate crowd, but Clayton managed to draw level at 3-3. However, Price reeled off eight legs without reply, and he says he was delighted with his performance.
He told the PDC: “I need to up my scoring game, and if I hit my doubles, then nobody beats me. If I can do that and be clinical, then I’ll win this tournament.
“I’m happy to win. Jonny is a great player and friend, and it’s nice to get one over on a Welsh companion. There’s no friends when you’re on stage, and you’re up there to do a job.”
Price’s reward will be a meeting with Dimitri Van den Bergh after the reigning champion beat Dave Chisnall 11-8. The Belgian fired home an incredible 14 180s and averaged 103.97 on his way to victory.
Tuesday’s opening game set the tempo for a thrilling night, with debutant Callan Rydz coming back from behind to beat Cross 11-7.
Rydz admitted he was in “dreamland”, and he will face Krzysztof Ratajski after he thumped Luke Humphries.
The second round concludes on Wednesday with former champions Michael Van Gerwen and Gary Anderson back in action.
They face Ian White and Nathan Aspinall (Anderson 10/11, Aspinall 10/11), respectively, while Grand Slam of Darts winner Jose de Sousa faces Michael Smith in the opening match of the night, while Wednesday’s play comes to a close after Peter Wright’s battle with Joe Cullen (Wright 1/2, Cullen 13/8).
Whenever you bet on Darts, Betfred.