MICHAEL VAN GERWEN 3-1 COLIN OSBORNE

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN condemned Colin Osborne to his second first round exit at the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship in the space of three years, with an impressive 3-1 triumph in their Alexandra Palace contest.

The 22-year-old has shown signs of the form which shot him to prominence five years ago during an impressive 12 months, and will now play Mervyn King for a spot in the last 16 of the competition on December 28.

Van Gerwen made a confident start to the match by breaking Osborne's throw to take the first leg and then doubled his lead with a clinical 108 finish.

Osborne won the third by hitting double top with his third dart and then took the fourth on double eight after the Dutch youngster was guilty of missing four darts at double 13 for the set.

Osborne held the advantage of throw in the deciding leg, but van Gerwen produced the more consistent scoring and took out 71 in two-darts to claim the first set.

Derby's Osborne secured a break of throw at the start of the second with a 64 finish, but van Gerwen hit back immediately by taking the second with a 12-darter which featured his second 180 of the game.

Osborne, who reached the final of the UK Open in 2009, hit double eight to win the third leg only to see the Dutchman level in style by finishing a fabulous 135 checkout.

The deciding leg saw van Gerwen miss two darts at double top, but Osborne was unable to set up a double in allowing the Dutch ace to step up and hit the bed at the fourth time of asking to extend his advantage.

Osborne made a good start to the third set by breaking throw with an 84 finish on the bullseye and then took the second against the throw with a 13-dart finish.

Osborne continued his good form of the previous two legs to leave 36 after 12 darts thrown in the third, and the Derby-based thrower landed double 18 to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

Van Gerwen was handed a let-off for seven missed doubles at the start of the fourth set, with Osborne unable to step in on tops to allow the Dutchman back to post double eight for the opening leg.

Van Gerwen broke Osborne's by landing double 10 in the second and the victory was completed in the third as he hit double top to end an impressive performance.

"I'm very pleased to win tonight as Colin is an experienced player and very tough to play against," said van Gerwen, the winner of the PDC Unicorn Youth Tour Order of Merit in 2011.

"I felt I played well at the Grand Slam in Wolverhampton last month and I would really love to build on that in the World Championship."

Osborne said: "I'm disappointed but the defeat will make me stronger, and I'll be back next year and ready to go again.

"I felt good going on stage and have been playing well, but up there I was pulling my darts and it's frustrating. Michael hit the scores when he needed to and full credit to him.

"I've slipped out of the top 16 and the first goal is to get back in there next year. I believe I'm a top-ten player and I'm more than capable, and hopefully in the next 12 months I can establish myself again."