Michael van Gerwen is out of the Grand Slam of Darts after struggling a shock defeat on an evening filled with upsets in Wolverhampton.
The Dutchman misplaced 5-4 to English darts star Ryan Joyce on Tuesday night time, with the latter progressing out of Group G on the expense of his opponent.
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In consequence, ‘Mighty Mike’ has been knocked out within the group stage of the match for the primary time in 14 years.
The final time this occurred was within the 2010 version of the competitors.
Van Gerwen has gained the match thrice, with the treble of victories coming in consecutive years – 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The Dutchman had twice fought again from two legs down.
Going into the ultimate leg, he gave the impression to be in management.
However after failing to take out 112, Joyce solely wanted 18 to drag off the victory.
“I am pleased to win clearly,” stated Joyce after the win. “That did not really feel like a battle, it felt like we have been each struggling a bit bit.
“I do not know, it is a humorous previous recreation, I feel each gamers have been nervous at sure instances.
“I felt like typically I may hit the treble 20, and typically I could not.
“So I am simply delighted go get by means of, it was a giant shock as a result of I actually did not play very properly.”
Elsewhere, different seeded participant and 2022 winner Michael Smith was thumped 5-0 by Mike De Decker.
Smith didn’t muster one try at a double all through the sport.
Each single earlier winner of the match has now been knocked out.
De Decker will face Luke Littler within the subsequent spherical.
The 17-year-old earlier noticed off Lourence Ilagan 5-3.
Ilagan didn’t capitalise on Littler nearly letting his 2-0 lead slip, however {the teenager} acquired the job performed ultimately in Wolverhampton.
Littler got here agonisingly near hitting a 9 darter to spherical off a dream group stage on his Grand Slam debut.
In the meantime, cult hero Stephen Bunting secured his place within the knockout stage with a 5-2 win over Northern Eire’s Josh Rock.