REIGNING partypoker.com World Grand Prix champion Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld set up an all-Dutch second round clash in Dublin with victories over John Part and Stuart Kellett on Tuesday night.
World number two van Gerwen opened the defence of his title with a brilliant 2-0 win over two-time finalist John Part, averaging 104.47 in a fine display in his first round clash in the double-start event at the Citywest Hotel.
He hit two 12-dart legs in taking the first set without reply, and though Part moved 2-1 up in the second, the Dutch star posted a key double ten to level and sealed victory in style by hitting a 180 and a 171 in a 13-darter in the set's deciding leg.
Van Barneveld was also a straight sets winner as he defeated Stuart Kellett, although the outcome of their game eventually hinged on the deciding leg of the first set.
The five-time World Champion had moved 2-0 up early on, only for Kellett to hit a 111 finish as he hit back to level - but he crucially missed one dart for the set at tops to allow van Barneveld to steal in on double 16.
The Dutch legend, who had won Sunday's Players Championship in Dublin as an ideal warm-up for this event, then swept through the second set without reply, hitting two 180s in a 12-darter and finishes of 118 and 94 to move into the last 16.
World number three Adrian Lewis was a deciding-leg winner against Brendan Dolan in the night's only game which went to sudden-death.
Lewis took the first set 3-1 before the 2011 finalist hit back to level by winning the second set in five legs - but Lewis crucially took the third set's decider, hitting a key 177 in the process, as he progressed.
Lewis now meets Justin Pipe, who overcame Andy Smith in two sets in their first round game, edging a nervy opening set 3-2 before hitting a 160 finish as he raced through the second without reply.
Andy Hamilton, the number six seed, produced a flawless display of finishing as he hit six doubles from as many attempts in his fine 2-0 win over Kim Huybrechts.
Hamilton took out 120, 118 and 96 in taking the first set 3-1, and then finished 96 and 132 to move 2-0 up in the second, with Huybrechts' double top only stemming the tide before the UK Open finalist hit the same bed to seal a clinical win.
Painter booked his second round spot by dropping only one leg in a convincing victory over Richie Burnett, who was a semi-finalist two years ago.
2012 World Grand Prix finalist Mervyn King was dumped out of the event with a straight sets loss to resurgent Wayne Jones, who only booked his place in the tournament with two recent ProTour semi-finals but completed a confidence-boosting win with a 130 checkout.
Jones' second round game will see him come up against number seven seed Dave Chisnall, a double ProTour winner last month, after the St Helens ace's three-set victory over Stoke's Ian White.
Wednesday sees the opening four games from the second round take place at the Citywest Hotel, headlined by ten-time World Grand Prix champion Phil Taylor's clash with Paul Nicholson.
Irish hero Connie Finnan, who knocked out Terry Jenkins on Monday, plays two-time winner James Wade, while number four seed Simon Whitlock takes on Ronnie Baxter and 2012 semi-finalist Wes Newton meets Gary Anderson, who had the first round's highest average.
partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Tuesday October 8
First Round
Wayne Jones 2-0 Mervyn King
Justin Pipe 2-0 Andy Smith
Kevin Painter 2-0 Richie Burnett
Dave Chisnall 2-1 Ian White
Andy Hamilton 2-0 Kim Huybrechts
Stuart Kellett 0-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Michael van Gerwen 2-0 John Part
Adrian Lewis 2-1 Brendan Dolan
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