Dutch Darts Championship news: Michael van Gerwen books spot in finals, Gerwyn Price bows out

Day 2 of the Jack's Dutch Darts Championship took place on Saturday, with players trying to book their spot in Sunday's final.

Michael van Gerwen made a bright start to the tournament with a dominant performance, as the 33-year-old eyes up the £25,000 prize on home turf.

Van Gerwen was one of six Dutch players looking to book a spot in Sunday's action, and the former world No.1 was pitted against his compatriot Jelle Klaasen on Saturday evening.

It was a fairly one-sided affair, with Van Gerwen storming into the lead and holding out to secure a 6-2 win. The Dutchman posted a superb 104.67 average en route to his triumph.

Shortly after Van Gerwen's success, Gerwyn Price took to the oche, with the Welshman pitted against 56-year-old Mervyn King. However, just days after Price missed out on the Premier League play-offs, his run in Zwolle was put to a quick end by King, who edged a dramatic tie 6-5.

In contrast, Joe Cullen did qualify for June's Premier League play-offs, but the 32-year-old didn't fare any better than Price on Saturday, with Simon Whitlock beating him 6-5.

The 25-year-old Ryan Meikle put on a dazzling show in the first clash of the evening session, sealing a 6-2 win over Rob Cross, while home favourite Dirk van Duijvenbode managed a 6-4 win over Mickey Mansell. Michael Smith stole the show with a 105.79 average late into the evening, as Bully Boy scored a 6-4 win over Dutch hero Danny Jansen to end the 27-year-old's title-winning dreams.

Saturday scores

Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Krzysztof Ratajski
Ryan Searle 6-3 Ross Smith
Damon Heta 6-3 Scott Waites
Boris Krcmar 6-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Daniel Larsson 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Callan Rydz 6-1 Brendan Dolan
Danny Noppert 6-5 Martin Schindler
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Jose De Sousa

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)

Ryan Meikle 6-2 Rob Cross
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Joe Cullen
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Mickey Mansell
Peter Wright 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Jelle Klaasen
Mervyn King 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Michael Smith 6-4 Danny Jansen
Chris Dobey v Ritchie Edhouse

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