What was the standout performance from the first round?

Michael van Gerwen was the standout for his clinical scoring and finishing, though Van Veen's emergence as a composed, high-scoring underdog was the tournament's most intriguing storyline.

Should I expect these winners to go deep in the tournament?

MVG is the safest pick to go deep given his form; Wade and Anderson have the experience to make late runs, while Van Veen has the momentum to cause upsets but remains the longshot.

Matchplay Night: MVG Dominant, Wade Steady, Anderson Gritty and Van Veen the Dark Horse

The opening night of the World Matchplay delivered exactly the mix of inevitability and surprise that defines the PDC's great knockout nights. James Wade, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Van Veen all negotiated their first-round assignments, advancing to the next stage with performances that revealed both form and fissures.

Michael van Gerwen was clinical — heavy scoring and ruthless finishes that underline why he is always the man to beat when he finds rhythm. Wade strolled through with methodical scoring and timely checkouts; his game is less flamboyant but terrifyingly effective when he controls the tempo.

Gary Anderson showed flashes of the old magic, grinding out legs on doubles and surviving a few scares that would have flattened a lesser competitor. Van Veen emerged as the night's most intriguing name: high scoring, composed in the clutch, and suddenly a legitimate dark horse whose run will concern several top seeds.

Look at the board and back MVG for a deep run, but do not dismiss the veterans — Wade and Anderson keep tournaments honest — and keep an eye on Van Veen as a low-odds live bet in the coming rounds. The Guru's counsel: respect history, follow form, and allocate a small flier to momentum — tournaments turn on nights like this, and I expect at least one of these four to reach the semis.