PDC World Championship: Michael van Gerwen survives Joe Cullen's test in first round
Friday 19 December 2014 16:24, UK
Michael van Gerwen survived a scare in his first round match against Joe Cullen to beat him 3-1 on the opening night of the Word Darts Championship.
The defending champion started slowly and allowed Cullen to take a shock lead - but Van Gerwen grew into the game and eventually outlasted the underdog.
The Dutchman received a huge welcome at Alexandra Palace as he began his defence of the Sid Waddell trophy but Cullen stunned the raucous crowd into silence by taking the first leg with a bullseye checkout.
Van Gerwen responded with the next two legs but Cullen equalised and although the champion won the opening set it was clear he was in a tight battle.
Cullen twice took the lead in the second set but missed a shot that would have levelled the match. Van Gerwen, as he went 2-0 up, shook his head acknowledging the fight that Cullen was putting up.
A check out from 124 gave Cullen the third set despite Van Gerwen battling back from two legs down but the brilliant Dutchman would close matters in the next set.
A remarkable sequence of three consecutive 180s lit up Ally Pally and unleashed the trademark Van Gerwen roar - it also paved the way for the reigning champion to take the fourth set and the match.
He goes to sleep far too often in matches. You never see Phil Taylor look perplexed - he might look frustrated or annoyed. Michael has an ability that we don't see very often but he has to use it time and time again.
Goes to sleep
Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle said: "The thing is with world champions and champions in general is that they usually come up with something us mere mortals can't do - that is produce when they have to produce. That's what Michael did.
"He should be dominating players that average 93, that's no disrespect to Cullen. He should be averaging 100, rolling along, turning them over and making them look sub-standard because he is that good.
"He goes to sleep far too often in matches. You never see Phil Taylor look perplexed - he might look frustrated or annoyed. Michael has an ability that we don't see very often but he has to use it time and time again."
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