It was a breeze for Gary Anderson and James Wade as the Unicorn duo won convincingly on the opening night of the Shanghai Darts Masters.

Anderson was again in irresistible form as he hunts back-to-back World Series titles. He averaged 108.65 in whitewashing Chinese qualifier Wei Hong Li, while Wade didn't drop a leg either in beating China's Xiao Chen Zong.

Gary took just 12 minutes to get the job done and set up a quarter-finals against Raymond van Barneveld. 

"I was watching the others and knew I had to match them. They are very committed to the sport over here. In a few years time I am convinced China will be producing champions. I enjoyed it, I really did. I will aim to improve and I will have to!" the Scot said. 

He started with a 12 darter, including 301 in six darts to win the leg.....180 followed by a 121 finish on the bull. That set the tone. Six superb legs, that average of nearly 109, 6/9 on the doubles and three 180s.

Wade's win wasn't as spectacular. A 90 average but it was clinical and after the 19-year-old Zong missed two darts to level the match at one apiece, the Unicorn man ran away with it to book a quarter-final against Peter Wright. 

He reached the final here last year and remains confident he can go one step further this time around. 

Wright averaged 106 in his 6-0 win over Japan's Haruki Muramatsu, while defending Shanghai champion Michael van Gerwen hit a 170 finish and averaged nearly 113 in his whitewash of China's Hai Long Chen. 

Shanghai Darts Masters - 1st Round results:

Gerwyn Price 6-2 Royden Lam
Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 Cheng An Liu
James Wade 6-0 Xiao Chen Zong
Phil Taylor 6-1 Hyun Chul Park
Dave Chisnall 6-1 Paul Lim
Peter Wright 6-0 Haruki Muramatsu 
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Hai Long Chen
Gary Anderson 6-0 Wei Hong Li

Q/Finals (best of 15 legs):

Gerwyn Price v Dave Chisnall
Peter Wright v James Wade
Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld
Michael van Gerwen v Phil Taylor

Story from STUART PYKE at the Shanghai Darts Masters


Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC