Michael van Gerwen was forced to dig deep and find some of his finishing to avoid a scare against Jamie Hughes about the World Grand Prixs opening night.
Having claimed his fourth title Van Gerwen is expecting to defend the name for the first time and despite being far from his very best he managed to find a way to conquer on debutant Hughes.
A from MvG gave a lead but Hughes struck in fashion settling in to his stride to him.
After Van Gerwen missed three darts for the opener, Hughes stepped in to leave the world looking in a second first-round exit in 3 years.
But when he had into the Dutchman found his a 108 end gave him the set and parity in the contest before punishing.
Together with his opponent continuing to fritter away his opportunities, Van Gerwen stepped up to pin 135 on the bullseye and move within one leg.
Next up is fellow Dutchman Jeffrey Zwaan, the Dutchman was too good for an out-of-sorts Steve Beaton who made his 16th look.
De Zwaan won five of those six legs to coast No 1, that he beat at a Matchplay thriller.
Anderson eases into second round
Gary Anderson kicked off his bid using a victory.
The Flying Scotsman using reached the final before he is keen to bring another new trophy and is looking to complete the season on a high having had the first months of this effort disrupted with a spine injury.
The Scot coasted to the very first set and despite facing a struggle at the instant he managed to shoot the chances that came his manner, trapping six of his 15 attempt at double compared with Brown who missed 15 darts to claim a leg.
Chris Dobey is likely when their World Championship showdown almost 12 months past is anything to go by, to offer a stiffer rest. Hollywood enjoyed a superb debut, rebounding back from losing the opening leg against Ricky Evans for a victory.
A game that saw both players begin in style never truly caught fire within an remarkable Dobey won five of the six legs to record a classy triumph and leaveQuick Ricky looking for a win in the Grand Prix.
Bully Boy following titanic tussle
Michael Smith hasnt been beyond the second round along with his attempt to acquire a first title survived a scare against Simon Whitlock.
Bully Boy, defeated in World Championship, Premier League and World Matchplay finals within the last 18 weeks, was staring down the barrel with a surprise depart contrary to the 2017 runner-up before edging a last leg shoot-out.
Smith trailed 2-1 in the second set before finding his best shape thanks to a finish that put the way with him into a level contest.
With Whitlock beginning to flounder, Smith was assisted by an ever better 155 to an early lead in the decider but The Wizard battled back and having seen Bully Boy overlook two darts for the match trapped double 10 to force the decider.
After winning a striking match against Joe Cullen, coming out of the edge of defeat to capture a win and a place in the last 16 smith friend and practice partner Ian White will offer the opposition.
If he reeled off five straight legs to stand on the edge of a surprise triumph cullen was walloped 10-0 by White at the World Matchplay this season but seemed to have made amends.
But having stopped the rust White maintained five to level the match at one set all and endure within a leg of victory himself.
However as White missed eight darts to seal the triumph to see Cullen miss darts himself to stay alive, there was time for play and Diamond finally caught of asking, in the time.
Wade survives Hendo evaluation
James Wade underlined his credentials as a rival for another title with a 2-1 success win to put his current Grand Prix conflicts behind him.
The 2007 and 2010 winner has dropped in the first round actually because beating Gary Anderson in the 2014 semi-final, he is without a win in the tournament however he came through a first rounder on opening night.
Without missing one dart at a dual against Hendo whod finished the predominate of MvG here two decades back, wade pinned a great 142 check-out on his solution to the group.
And the Scot served note of another surprise when he awakened Another group before Wade shut the competition with a third group which set a date with Mervyn King who made a battling display to beat out World Youth winner Dimitri Van den Bergh
Having missed a dart for the series, King allowed Van den Bergh to level at 2-2 and then pinch the guide with a 105 finish to follow his earlier 112.
King matched The Dreammakers 112 on his way to taking the next set and then saved his best for when the Belgian had been 2-0 ahead.
A 13-darter from 2012 King kept the match alive and then the decider in which The King prevailed was set up by a 133 end.
The Darts Show podcast group will take you behind the scenes using also a flavour of the action along with a lot of guests also are in Dublin for the week.
Wayne Mardle, Colin Lloyd and Mark Webster will likely be part of our coverage and you will have the ability to catch up with a recap of the nights actions and a look forward at what is to come.
Coverage of this World Grand Prix proceeds on Monday night from 7pm on Main Event & Sky Sports Action and operates throughout the week, right up until Saturdays final from the Citywest Hotel
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