Fallon Sherrock no match for Michael van Gerwen at Grand Slam of Darts

Sherrock, who qualified for the tournament by winning the PDC Women’s Series, struggled in the Group G clash, but did throw three 180s.

It was not enough to trouble Van Gerwen, who averaged 101.3 on his way to an emphatic victory on a night where defending champion Michael Smith won comfortable, while Peter Wright lost 5-1 to Stowe Buntz.

Smith had beat Nathan Aspinall in last year’s final to taste success at Aldersley Leisure Village and won 5-2 against Nathan Girvan in Group A.

James Wade, who made the final of the European Championship last month in Dortmund, went down 5-4 to Krzysztof Ratajski in the other group clash.

Jonny Clayton and Josh Rock claimed 5-2 victories over Berry van Peer and Chris Dobey respectively in Group B.

Elsewhere, world number four Luke Humphries beat veteran Steve Lennon by a 5-2 score and Gerwyn Price opened his account at the tournament with a 5-1 win over Nathan Rafferty in Group D.

European Championship winner Wright struggled to an opening-day loss in Group E to American Buntz, who averaged 102.28 and qualified after triumphing in the CDC Continental Cup.

While Sherrock failed to throw her best darts against Van Gerwen, 19-year-old Beau Greaves pushed 2022 runner-up Aspinall close in a 5-4 defeat in Group H.

Greaves nailed five maximums and was able to check-out 124, but Aspinall held his nerve to edge the nine-leg thriller.

READ MORE: 2023 Grand Slam of Darts: Tips, groups, schedule and prize money for the Sky Sports-televised event