Wright and Chisnall lose in World Matchplay first round

Former champion Peter Wright's torrid 2024 continued arsenic he mislaid to Andrew Gilding successful nan first information of nan World Matchplay successful Blackpool.

The two-time world champion struggled done nan Premier League, finishing bottommost of nan table, and his troubles continued arsenic he went down 10-5 to Gilding.

Wright, who won nan Matchplay successful 2021, went a break down early but recovered to get backmost connected propulsion astatine 4-4.

However, mediocre finishing saw him surgery again and Gilding, nan world number 20, pressed connected to manus Wright his first round-one exit astatine nan Matchplay since 2014.

Wright was not nan only high-profile subordinate to autumn astatine nan first hurdle arsenic seventh seed Dave Chisnall was thrashed 10-2 by Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski.

Ratajski raced into a 7-0 lead and proceeded to inflict Chisnall's heaviest conclusion astatine nan Matchplay.

The velocity of Ratajski's triumph besides delighted nan Blackpool crowd, pinch nan lucifer finishing successful clip for them to watch England play Spain successful nan Euro 2024 final.

Meanwhile, Rob Cross survived a awesome scare earlier beating Gian van Veen successful a final-leg shootout.

Dutchman Van Veen threw for nan lucifer 3 times and missed six lucifer darts earlier Cross came done to triumph 13-12 and beforehand to nan 2nd round.

Sixth seed Cross has only made it retired of nan first information doubly successful nan past 4 years and, contempt averaging 100.42, looked group for different early exit.

But 22-year-old Van Veen, connected his Matchplay debut, many times fto him disconnected nan hook and Cross produced a ascendant limb connected propulsion successful nan decider.

Former BDO world champion and Masters victor Stephen Bunting was besides made to activity earlier earning his spot successful nan adjacent round.

The Liverpudlian deed 7 180s but needed other legs earlier beating world number 35 Ryan Joyce 12-10.

There was nary specified play for 2007 champion James Wade arsenic he overcame Dutchman Danny Noppert, classed 12th successful nan world, 10-5.

There were a mixed 15 maximums arsenic Belgium's Dimitri van den Bergh hit Martin Schindler of Germany 10-6 - Van den Bergh besides had a nine-darter - while Ross Smith backed up his triumph astatine nan Players Championship pinch a 10-4 triumph complete Josh Rock.

Joe Cullen besides cruised into information 2 pinch a 10-4 triumph complete Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan.