DAVE Chisnall would be happy with as smooth a first-round win as his fellow St Helens thrower Michael Smith in the 2020 Betfred World Matchplay.

Chizzy is first on stage in tonight's first-round action at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes when he tackles Vincent van der Voort at 6pm.

Smith progressed to the last 16 when he defeated Welshman Jonny Clayton 10-3 on a night when there was a huge upset as reigning champion Rob Cross was dumped out by Germany's Gabriel Clemens.

Mensure Suljovic, a 12-10 victor over Jamie Hughes, will be Smith's next opponent in the second round.

2019 runner-up Smith impressed by finishing 63 percent of his doubles and averaging over 101 in his success against Clayton, who took out 126 on the bull in leg two to level but Smith reeled off checkouts of 103 and 126 as well as a string of 13-darters in seven successive legs to move 8-1 up.

The Welshman landed a 13-darter in back-to-back legs as he pulled back to 8-3, but Smith won the next two to seal a big win.

"I'm just glad to get the win because I want to go one better than last year," said Smith.

"This was a stepping stone and hopefully by Sunday I can be lifting the trophy."

He added: "Jonny let me off in the first session and he could have been ahead when it was 4-1 to me, but he missed doubles and I punished him.

"My finishing was good but I didn't think I played as well as the stats show – I felt I struggled and I wasn't as free-flowing as I can be. As long as my doubles go in, I know I can improve my scoring."

RESULTS:

First round, Sunday: Mensur Suljovic 12-10 Jamie Hughes, Glen Durrant 10-3 Jeffrey de Zwaan, Gabriel Clemens 10-8 Rob Cross, Peter Wright 10-8 Jose De Sousa, Michael Smith 10-3 Jonny Clayton.

Saturday: Simon Whitlock 10-4 Ryan Joyce, Krzysztof Ratajski 10-4 Jermaine Wattimena, James Wade 12-10 Keegan Brown, Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Brendan Dolan, Gary Anderson 10-5 Justin Pipe.

FIXTURES:

First round tonight, Monday, 6pm start: Dave Chisnall v Vincent van der Voort, Ian White v Joe Cullen, Daryl Gurney v Ricky Evans, Gerwyn Price v Danny Noppert, Adrian Lewis v Steve Beaton.