Michael van Gerwen convincingly reached the quarterfinals of the World Matchplay on Tuesday. De Brabander was 11-5 too strong for Englishman Joe Cullen in the last sixteen in Blackpool.
Van Gerwen got off to a great start in his match, leading 4-1 through two breaks. Cullen reduced his deficit to one leg, but then the Dutchman took distance again (8-4).
Van Gerwen did not relinquish that lead. The three-time world champion, who threw an average of 97.12 per three darts, decided the match with a dart in the double eight.
Van Gerwen will face Nathan Aspinall in the quarterfinals. The Englishman defeated his compatriot James Wade 11-9.
For the app users: tap on the tweet to see Michael van Gerwen’s decisive arrows.
Van Gerwen plays first tournament in less than a month
Van Gerwen plays his first tournament in less than a month in Blackpool. He underwent surgery on his throwing arm in June. Ten days later, the number four in the world made his comeback at the Dutch Darts Masters, where he was immediately eliminated. He then withdrew from the European Darts Matchplay.
33-year-old Van Gerwen won the World Matchplay in 2015 and 2016. Last year he lost in the semifinals to the later winner Peter Wright.
In addition to Van Gerwen, two Dutchmen are participating in the World Matchplay with Dirk van Duijvenbode and Danny Noppert. They will play in the eighth finals on Wednesday. Van Duijvenbode will face Michael Smith and Noppert will face Daryl Gurney.