Michael van Gerwen suffers back-to-back first round exits as he’s dumped out of Players Championship by World No 71

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN fell victim to a second straight first-round defeat as he was beaten by the world No 71 at the Players Championship.

The Dutchman, the former world champion, was beaten by Welshman Rhys Griffin in Leicester.

Michael van Gerwen has struggled for form since his freak injuryPA World No 71 Rhys Jones earned the biggest win of his career over MvG

In the first of the Leicester double-header, seven-time Players Championship winner Van Gerwen was dumped out in the opening round by a compatriot of his.