‘The Rockstar’ has to give up the first leg immediately, but fights back into the set. The Engelman is heading for a 1-0 lead in sets, but miscommunication between him and caller Russ Bray causes Cullen to leave six instead of sixteen. Cullen misses several arrows on the double and Van Gerwen takes advantage. A little later, the number one in the world forgets to enter the set. The Dutchman misses two darts on double eight. ‘The Rockstar’ is relieved and hits double ten.
A wonderful race at a good pace unfolds on the podium. Cullen seems to have a subscription to the triple. The Englishman gets a chance to break the Dutchman, but misses an 85 finish. Van Gerwen comes back to the oche and hits double sixteen.
The Englishman continues to score like a beast and puts Van Gerwen on fire. At a score of 2-2 in the set of the Dutchman, ‘MVG’ makes a mistake. The number one in the world is missing three arrows on the double. This time Cullen does not fail from 85 and he hits double fourteen: 3-1.
Back to the wall
The man from Vlijmen has his back to the wall; he may no longer return a set. Cullen scores slightly less well and the Dutchman is on top of it. Van Gerwen takes the set from Cullen and makes 3-2.
In the sixth set it is 2-2 after the first four legs. Van Gerwen can start the fifth leg, but has to see how Cullen can build for 90. ‘The Rockstar’ misses the bull’s eye, Van Gerwen hits tops: 3-3.
Van Gerwen again survives a matchdart in the deciding set. The Englishman again misses the bull’s eye and does not throw out 164. De Brabander forces a deciding leg and kicks off the decider with a 180’er. Cullen’s resistance is broken, the Englishman succumbs to the pressure and can no longer buy a triple. Van Gerwen uses his second match dart and secures a place in the quarterfinals.
