Michael van Gerwen won’t be within the last of the Gamers Championship finals for less than the third time since 2013.
The three-time world champion was thrashed 6-1 by Ian White within the first spherical on Friday night time.
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In a worrying setback for Mighty Mike, he watched on as his opponent averaged 102.69 and reeled in a 170 checkout on his solution to victory.
It’s the first time the seven-time winner has been knocked out within the opening spherical since 2011.
In the meantime, world quantity 59 White is into the second spherical for the primary time since 2020.
Diamond didn’t even qualify for the match two years in the past when Van Gerwen gained his most up-to-date title.
The 54-year-old will now face both Mike De Decker or Richard Veenstra within the final 32 on Saturday.
He might be hoping to take one other step to equalling his greatest efficiency at Minehead from 2019.
White reached the ultimate 4 earlier than shedding to eventual winner Van Gerwen within the semi-finals.
The Dutchman was not the one former world champion to be eradicated on day one, although.
Gerwyn Worth fell to a 6-4 defeat to Thibault Tricole regardless of a late fightback, while Peter Wright was nicely overwhelmed by Daryl Gurney.
Teenage sensation Luke Littler then whitewashed Rob Cross, dumping out the fourth world champion of the night time 6-0.
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The crushing loss for Van Gerwen comes simply over three weeks earlier than the PDC World Darts Championship.
He’ll head to Alexandra Palace because the third seed however has not gained the title since 2019.
White will even be within the draw after qualifying via the Professional Tour Order of Benefit.
His look would be the thirteenth of his profession, along with his greatest run seeing him make the quarter-finals in 2014.
The World Championship will get underway on December 15 and can run till the ultimate on January 3.