Simon Whitlock knocks Michael van Gerwen out of World Matchplay in style

The Australian faces Gary Anderson in the quarter-finals.

World number one Michael Van Gerwen crashed out of the PDC World Matchplay after a stunning performance from Simon Whitlock.

The Australian, seeded 16th in the behind-closed-doors tournament in Milton Keynes, produced one of the best displays of his career to thrash the two-time winner 11-4.

Van Gerwen was well below his best, converting just four of 24 double attempts, but Whitlock made him pay in style, racing into a 5-0 lead and never looking back.

The Wizard of Oz will now play Gary Anderson in the quarter-finals and will have an eye on the title as Van Gerwen follows fellow top four seeds Gerwyn Price and Rob Cross out of tournament.

“I don’t know what to say, I have been practising well, I have been playing well, it just goes to show what I can actually do,” he told Sky Sports.

“I have been playing online tournaments, I was very confident going into the match.

“At the moment, it is one of the best performances. Michael didn’t play his normal match, I know that, but I took full advantage of his poor form today.”

Anderson laid down his marker by beating James Wade.

The 2018 champion was too good for Wade in Milton Keynes and won 11-8.

Michael Smith is also in the last eight after he came from behind to beat Mensur Suljovic 14-12, but sixth seed Nathan Aspinall crashed out in the remaining first-round match.

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