Luke Humphries stayed on course for a second World Grand Prix triumph in Leicester after a hard-fought 2-0 first-round win over Dave Chisnall.
Bidding to avoid an upset after Monday night’s shock defeat for Luke Littler against Luke Woodhouse, world number two Humphries was rarely at his best at the Mattioli Arena.
But he edged the opening set against two-time runner-up Chisnall, who then missed his checkout on 10 to level it up at 2-2 in the second and Humphries closed out the match.
European champion Gian van Veen staved off a second-set fightback by fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode to win 2-0 and notch his first World Grand Prix victory.
World number three Van Veen swept to a 3-0 first-set win and led 2-0 in the second before Van Duijvenbode levelled it up at 2-2 and then let his opponent off the hook by missing double 16 to take the set.
Niels Zonneveld sealed a 2-1 win against Northern Ireland’s world number seven Josh Rock, with superb final-set finishes of 103, 116, and 133, while Gary Anderson won five straight legs to complete a 2-1 comeback win against Australian Damon Heta.
Two-time former champion James Wade also fought back after losing the opening set to beat Joe Cullen 2-1, while Jermaine Wattimena, Ryan Searle and Stephen Bunting also won.
