TAB Auckland Darts Masters Day One Ⅰ

The PDC World Series of Darts event kicked off with over 4,000 fans watching the eight first round games at the Trusts Arena, which included a trio of New Zealanders in action against some of the sport's biggest names.

Domestic number one Rob Szabo came up against the world number one Michael van Gerwen, and despite a plucky performance from the Wellington-based builder, he went down 6-3.

Van Gerwen's 92 to win the opening leg was cancelled out by Szabo's double nine, before the Dutchman strung together brilliant legs of 14, 11 and 12 darts to sweep into a 4-1 cushion.

Szabo landed a 180 and tops as he took the sixth leg, with van Gerwen hitting a 131 finish to move 5-2 up and to the brink of victory.

The world number one also landed two 180s in a leg for the second time in the game in the next leg, but double ten kept Szabo in the game before van Gerwen stepped in to eventually claim his quarter-final spot on double five.

"Of the qualifiers I think Rob was the best player and I had to perform well," said van Gerwen.

"I remember he made it difficult for Phil in the World Championship and that was in my mind, and Rob did well in a few moments but he had too many loose darts in this game."

The three-time Dubai Darts Masters champion added: "I'm trying to win this tournament. The last two World Series events didn't go as well for me but I'm really looking forward to putting on a fantastic performance here in New Zealand."

Szabo will compete in the World Championship in London in December, and admitted: "It's not the result I wanted because I always thought that if I could play my top game I'd have a shot.

"I got into the match at the end but he threw well and I enjoyed the battle."

Another Wellington ace, Craig Caldwell, suffered a 6-0 whitewash to a clinical Phil Taylor, who averaged 104.86 and hit six doubles from eight attempts in his 13-minute triumph.

Taylor kicked off the game with scores of 140 and 180, but actually only won the opening leg - with a 68 finish - after Caldwell had wired the bulls-eye for a 161 checkout.

He added another 180 in leg two, which he won by taking out 63, and then landed double 16 in successive legs to lead 4-0.

A 108 checkout saw Taylor move five legs clear, with Caldwell then wiring double 16 to finish 104 in the next as the 16-time World Champion fired in tops to complete a ruthless win.

"The 6-0 score line looks like a thrashing but it wasn't," said Taylor. "My finishing was good tonight.

"Craig had to win a tournament just to qualify to get here, which is a great achievement. He's a good player but he just lacks that little bit of experience on TV and he's getting that now, and I think he's going to improve.

"The first leg was the turning point because if he'd hit that bulls-eye it could have been a different game. He'd have been 1-0 up and confident, so that 68 finish was the key shot for me.

"I'm really determined to win this tournament and it's a great start for me."

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