New-look Simon Whitlock began his bid to win a second Dutch Darts Masters title by wearing glasses on stage for the first time as he defeated Mike De Decker in Friday’s first round in Venray.
Australian ace Whitlock, who won the PDC European Tour event in the Netherlands in 2012, has responded to a slump in form which has seen him drop out of the world’s top 16 by trialling glasses.
The 46-year-old wore the glasses in competition for the first time in last weekend’s Coral UK Open Qualifiers in Wigan – reaching one semi-final – before taking to the stage in Venray, where he sealed a 6-2 defeat of De Decker with a 102 checkout.
Whitlock now takes on Ian White in Saturday’s second round, and described his decision to start wearing glasses as “potentially career changing”.
“The whole game has changed now and I can see the board so clearly – it’s going to take a little time to adjust but this is a positive start,” said Whitlock. “It’s amazing – a very big change.
“I needed them two years ago, maybe three years ago, but I’ve broken the ice now. I’m using them, I might look a bit weird but they’re working. It’s very hard changing something as big as this, very difficult to make that transition.”
Another former European Tour winner, Mervyn King, overcame old rival Ronnie Baxter 6-3 to set up a clash with World Champion Gary Anderson in a tasty second round fixture.
2013 Gibraltar Darts Trophy runner-up Jamie Lewis impressed with a clinical 6-0 whitewash of Germany’s Andree Welge, taking out a 146 checkout and averaging 98 as he set up a second round tie with Justin Pipe.
Stephen Bunting also enjoyed a whitewash win as he took out a 167 finish on his way past Greece’s John Michael, with the former Lakeside Champion now set to meet Peter Wright.
Mark Webster produced an eye-catching display to average almost 101 in a 6-2 defeat of Dutch qualifier Jermaine Wattimena, with the left-hander now set to play another home hope, Benito van de Pas.
Last year’s German Darts Masters finalist John Henderson set up a rematch with Michael van Gerwen in the second round as he edged past Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-5.
Van den Bergh landed a ten-darter as the game went all the way to a deciding leg, but the young Belgian missed four match darts to allow his rival in on tops for the win.
James Richardson marked his return to the stage, after winning back his Tour Card at Qualifying School last month, with a comeback from 3-0 down to defeat Austrian qualifier Zoran Lerchbacher 6-5.
Kevin Painter overcame Jamie Caven 6-5 in another tight first round contest as he progresses to play Dutch ace Jelle Klaasen.
South Africa’s Devon Petersen defied two 127 checkouts from Ricky Evans before taking out 87 to claim a 6-5 victory as he moves through to face Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts, who won last year’s final European Tour event.
Dutch qualifier Remco van Eijden also enjoyed victory in a deciding leg as he overcame Paul Milford to move through and face Adrian Lewis.
Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney will take on fellow countryman Brendan Dolan in the last 32, after he hit six 180s in another 11-leg clash before edging past Germany’s Jyhan Artut with a 98 average.
European Tour debutant Ritchie Edhouse – who joined the PDC circuit this year – reeled off five straight legs to come from 4-1 down and defeat Martin Schindler 6-4, and with Robert Thornton having withdrawn through illness he now receives a second round Bye.
Ryan Harrington – the son of former World Matchplay champion Rod – also enjoyed a winning European Tour debut as he defeated David Pallett 6-3, securing a tie with world number five James Wade.
Welsh duo Gerwyn Price and Kevin Thomas enjoyed 6-3 wins against Dutch duo Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jan Dekker respective as they moved through to play Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall on Saturday.
Rowby-John Rodriguez will take on his Austrian World Cup team-mate Mensur Suljovic in round two after the youngster hit back from 4-2 down to defeat Robbie Green 6-4 with an impressive four-leg burst.
Saturday’s second round sees the top 16 players come into the event alongside the first round winners, with the tournament concluding on Sunday across two sessions at the Evenementenhal.