Van den Bergh lights up Blackpool with nine-dart finish

World number nine Dimitri van den Bergh lit up day two of the the 2024 Betfred World Matchplay in Blackpool with a nine-dart finish as he booked his place in the second round.

The 30-year-old Belgian, who won the title in 2020, sent the Winter Gardens crowd into raptures in a stunning seventh leg against Martin Schindler, landing two maximums before taking out treble 20, treble 19 and double 12 to lead 4-3.

Schindler kept himself in contention with a 124 check-out which made it 6-5, but ultimately could not prevent Van den Bergh from taking the tie 10-6.

Brendan Dolan bowed out as Joe Cullen averaged over 100, thanks in part to a 130 finish in the penultimate leg.

World number six Rob Cross survived six match darts and four bullseye finishes against Dutch debutant Gian van Veen before edging to a 13-12 sudden-death victory as the evening session got underway with a classic.

Twice world champion Peter Wright fell at the first hurdle to Andrew Gilding, the 2021 winner slipping to a 4-1 deficit and missing five darts to level at 4-5 before eventually going down 10-5.

Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski cruised into the second round with a 10-2 rout of five-time quarter-finalist Dave Chisnall, racing into a 5-0 lead before closing it out in nervy fashion on double two.

In the afternoon session, Stephen Bunting and Ryan Joyce fought out a tooth and nail battle with Bunting, who checked out on 164 in the 17th leg after his opponent had levelled at 8-8 with a 167, eventually prevailing 12-10 after a tie-break

James Wade, the champion in 2007, also progressed with relative comfort after a 10-5 win over 2022 semi-finalist Danny Noppert with the Englishman in control throughout after taking a 3-0 lead.

Compatriot Ross Smith eased his way to a 10-4