Dublin witnessed the opening day to the Grand Prix of Darts, as usual there was all the Darting thrills, spills and upsets that we all enjoy to watch. The Grand Prix incorporates an unusual format in the way that they play 501 with double to start, the first round is first to two sets with a player needing to win three legs to win the set. The players consist of the top 16 players with 12 Players Championship qualifiers along with 4 Irish qualifiers to make the 32 strong field.
The 'Pieman' Andy Smith opened the night against fellow Players Championship qualifier Jamie 'Jabba' Caven. Caven took the opening set and looked set to win the match but Smith equalised in the second set and took the third set 3-2 to progress into the next round.
The first big name player Terry 'The Bull' Jenkins faced a hard first round match against Dutch Players Championship qualifier Vincent Van Der Voort. Van Der Voort went 2-0 ahead in the first set only for Jenkins to recover and take the set. Van Der Voort had no response and soon lost the second set to see Jenkins through to Round 2.
Two up and coming players took to the oche in the shape of Steve Brown and Steve Farmer, Brown eventually won the game 2-1. Adrian Lewis made a hard job against Alan Tabern, Lewis took the first set after losing the first leg but then Tabern equalised. Lewis then romped past Tabern in the deciding set to set up a second round tie against Terry Jenkins.
The biggest game of the night saw Scot Gary Anderson take on The 'Rocket' Ronnie Baxter. Baxter won the first set and took a 2-0 lead in the second, however Anderson fought back to win 2-1 to put Baxter out at the first hurdle.
Defending Champion Phil Taylor whitewashed Brendan Dolan, Taylor won all six legs with considerable ease to set up a second round tie against Andy Smith. Kevin Painter just about held his nerve to see off Mark Dudbridge, Painter came through winning 2-1 with the match going into a third set decider.
The shock and final game of the night saw Mervyn King lose to Welshman Wayne Jones 2-1 after Mervyn King took the first set.
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