Dimitri Van den Bergh perfect at Grand Slam

Van den Bergh landed the fourth perfect leg seen at the tournament, and the first since 2015, to net a £25,000 bonus in his first knockout phase game in the event.

The World Youth Champion, who led for most of the contest, went within a leg of victory with the nine-darter before regaining his composure to seal one of the biggest wins of his career.

“I still don’t know what happened, it’s unbelievable,” said Van den Bergh, a World Championship quarter-finalist.

“Watching the nine-darter back it feels surreal to see myself hitting it on stage, I can’t believe it’s me doing it!

“I’m over the moon to hit my first perfect leg on such a magnificent stage and I also have to thank the crowd because they helped me hit the double 12.

“I haven’t played my best game yet either so maybe this is the tournament where everything will fall for me, and I’ve got to keep believing in myself and prepare for my next game.”

Gerwyn Price reached his eighth TV quarter-final of the year with a 10-5 victory over Josh Payne at the Aldersley Leisure Village.

With the match finely poised at 5-5, Group F winner Price reeled off the final five legs to reach the last eight for the first time.

But world champion Rob Cross was eliminated 10-7 at the hands of Mensur Suljovic.

The second round continues tonight with the remaining four matches, including the mouth-watering tie between reigning champion Michael van Gerwen and Premier League finalist Michael Smith.

Two-time World Champion Gary Anderson plays Dutchman Wesley Harms, in-form James Wade meets Michael Unterbuchner and Wales’ Jonny Clayton takes on emerging Polish star Krzysztof Ratajski.