Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith started off strong at the European Championship in Dortmund. Van Gerwen, a four-time former winner, easily defeated Gabriel Clemens with a score of 6-1, while Smith, the second-ranked player in the world, dominated Dave Chisnall with a perfect 6-0 victory.
In other matches, Daryl Gurney triumphed over 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price with a score of 6-3, and Gary Anderson also won 6-3 against Stephen Bunting. Dirk van Duijvenbode, Ryan Searle, Luke Woodhouse, and Ritchie Edhouse were the other players who advanced to the second round from the opening night.
The upcoming matches in the tournament look promising as Van Gerwen is set to face Anderson in the second round, while Smith will be up against Edhouse. The competition is heating up as the top 32 ranked European players battle it out for a chance to win a share of the £600,000 prize fund, with the winner taking home £120,000.
Defending champion Peter Wright is scheduled to face Jermaine Wattimena, Luke Littler will be in action against Andrew Gilding, and world champion Luke Humphries is set to play Nathan Aspinall in the upcoming matches.
The European Championship is shaping up to be an exciting event filled with intense matches and fierce competition. Fans can expect to see top-notch performances from some of the best darts players in the world as they vie for the prestigious title and a substantial cash prize. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights as the tournament progresses.
