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888.com European Championship: Defending champion Adrian Lewis out in first round

WORLD GRAND PRIX.CITY WEST CONFERENCE CENTRE,DUBLIN,IRELAND.PIC;LAWRENCE LUSTIG .ROUND 2.ADRIAN LEWIS V KEVIN PAINTER.ADRIAN LEWIS IN ACTION
Image: Adrian Lewis was beaten in the first round by Jelle Klaasen in Germany

Defending champion Adrian Lewis was amongst the casualties as a host of seeds were knocked out of the 888.com European Championship in Germany on Friday.

Lewis – who beat Whitlock in last year’s final to claim the third major title of his career – was beaten 6-4 by Dutchman Jelle Klaasen after a below-par showing.

Klaasen led 2-0 following a bright start, only for Lewis to win four of the next five legs - including a 118 finish - to move himself 4-3 up.

The former Lakeside Champion, though, levelled with a 100 finish and took out double 18 to regain the edge, before hitting his third 180 of the game in leg ten to set up double 11 for the triumph.

"I'm happy that I won the game but I could have won it easier and had a few missed doubles," said Klaasen, who meets Jamie Caven in Saturday's second round. "Adrian didn't play that well and had a lot of loose darts.”

Caven booked his place in the last 16 with a 6-2 defeat of Austria's Mensur Suljovic earlier on Friday, finishing 145 and 120 on his way to the win.

Meanwhile, Whitlock was another of the eight seeded players to join Lewis in being knocked out, as he went down 6-4 to new-look Raymond van Barneveld - who wore glasses on stage for the first time.

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Van Barneveld had slumped to defeat against Mervyn King in the World Grand Prix earlier this month, but hit four 180s and some confident doubles as he pulled clear from three-all to take victory over the Australian.

Recent World Grand Prix runner-up James Wade saw his run of form ended by Belgian ace Ronny Huybrechts, who claimed a 6-4 win over the world number six.

Anderson sent packing

Scottish ace Gary Anderson completed the quartet of seeded stars to be knocked out in Friday's first round as he paid the price for missing three match darts in the deciding leg of his clash with Terry Jenkins.

The pair traded 180s  in a thrilling final leg but failed to hit double-top, allowing Jenkins in to land double ten with his third and final dart.

Jenkins will now play Robert Thornton in the second round, after the Scot hit four 180s in a 6-2 win over Austrian youngster Rowby-John Rodriguez.

World Champion Michael van Gerwen enjoyed a 6-3 win over Justin Pipe, which sets him up for a second round clash with Brendan Dolan, who averaged almost 105 in an impressive 6-2 win over against Michael Smith in their first round game.

Four-time European Champion Phil Taylor defeated Steve Beaton 6-2 and now meets Stephen Bunting, the reigning Lakeside Champion who averaged 102.68 in a 6-1 defeat of Andy Hamilton on his debut in the event.

Number four seed Peter Wright edged past Dutch debutant Benito van de Pas 6-5 and will now face Belgian ace Kim Huybrechts, who was another 11-leg winner as he overcame Dean Winstanley - who missed one dart at tops for victory in their deciding leg.

Mervyn King was the day's other 6-5 winner as he sneaked past Dutch debutant Christian Kist, who hit six 180s in defeat as the Englishman set up a second round meeting with Ronny Huybrechts.

German hopes in the tournament were ended on the opening day as Jyhan Artut went down 6-4 to Dave Chisnall, the number eight seed who now faces Ian White after the Stoke ace swept past Wes Newton 6-1.

Vincent van der Voort capitalised on missed doubles from Robert Wagner as he claimed a 6-2 win over the Norwegian in their first round clash, setting up an all-Dutch contest with van Barneveld.

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