Double Dutch in the World Grand Prix Darts

Reigning partypoker.com World Grand Prix champion Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld set up an all-Dutch second round clash in Dublin with victories over John Part and Stuart Kellett on Tuesday night.

The young Dutchman is now 4/11 with Coral to book a place in Friday’s quarter-finals with Barney, who beat MVG in the 2012 Grand Slam of Darts, 2/1.

World number two van Gerwen opened the defence of his title with a brilliant 2-0 win over two-time finalist John Part, averaging 104.47 in a fine display in his first round clash in the double-start event at the Citywest Hotel.

He hit two 12-dart legs in taking the first set without reply, and though Part moved 2-1 up in the second, the Dutch star posted a key double ten to level and sealed victory in style by hitting a 180 and a 171 in a 13-darter in the set’s deciding leg.

Van Barneveld was also a straight sets winner as he defeated Stuart Kellett, although the outcome of their game eventually hinged on the deciding leg of the first set.

The Dutch legend, who had won Sunday’s Players Championship in Dublin as an ideal warm-up for this event, then swept through the second set without reply, hitting two 180s in a 12-darter and finishes of 118 and 94 to move into the last 16.

World number three Adrian Lewis was a deciding-leg winner against Brendan Dolan in the night’s only game which went to sudden-death.

Lewis took the first set 3-1 before the 2011 finalist hit back to level by winning the second set in five legs – but Lewis crucially took the third set’s decider, hitting a key 177 in the process, as he progressed.

Lewis now meets Justin Pipe, who overcame Andy Smith in two sets in their first round game, edging a nervy opening set 3-2 before hitting a 160 finish as he raced through the second without reply.

Coral quote 2/7 for the Jackpot to march into the quarter-finals with Pipe 5/2 to upset the odds.

Andy Hamilton, the number six seed, produced the display of the night with a flawless display of finishing as he hit six doubles from as many attempts in his fine 2-0 win over Kim Huybrechts.