Michael van Gerwen survives scare to reach World Championship second round

Michael van Gerwen survived an almighty scare in the opening round of the World Championship.

The three-time champion battled past Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, with his 3-1 victory not telling the real story.

For 20 minutes the Japanese threatened arguably the greatest shock in the tournament’s history as he had the darts to go 2-0 up with a charismatic performance.

Van Gerwen, who has not lost in the first round at Ally Pally since 2011, looked like he had steadied the ship, but the 52-year-old Tatsunami rallied and had darts to send it to a deciding set.

But he could not find them and the Dutchman was able to breathe again.

It has been a disappointing year for Van Gerwen, with his form seriously affected by his personal life away from the oche as he went through a divorce earlier in the year.

Before the tournament he claimed he is the player favourite Luke Littler does not want to face, but he will need to significantly improve if he is going to go deep and challenge for a fourth world title.

“It was really difficult and I know what happened,” he said on stage. “When you put yourself under pressure it doesn’t make it any easier.

“I wasn’t afraid of his scoring, but when you don’t do what you are capable of then you annoy yourself and you have to deal with your own problems.

“I shouldn’t put myself in that position, he made me work really hard for that.”

Fallon Sherrock’s wait for another win at the World Championship goes on after she was beaten by Dave Chisnall.

Sherrock changed the landscape of the sport when she made it through to the third round five years ago, becoming the first woman to win at Alexandra Palace.

She opened up plenty of doors for herself and others, with a record five women in this year’s first round, as