Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen said he was “made to work really hard” by Japanese debutant Mitsuhiko Tatsunami for his first-round victory at the PDC World Championship.

The 36-year-old Dutchman, who was beaten in last year’s final by Luke Littler, was a set and two legs down to Tatsunami.

But the world number three turned that set around and comfortably moved into a 2-1 lead.

Van Gerwen then won a nervy fourth set which went the distance, with Tatsunami missing several chances to take the match into a deciding set.

“It was really difficult, I don’t know what happened,” Van Gerwen, who will face either William O’Connor or Krzysztof Kciuk next, said on stage. “My first dart was constantly underneath [the treble 20] or above.

“I was trying constantly and nothing really worked. I feel good but when you put yourself under pressure, it doesn’t make it any easier.

“His finishing was great, I wasn’t afraid of his scoring but when you score so badly and you don’t do what you are capable of, then you are going to annoy yourself and you have to deal with your own problems.

“I kept battling my own battle in this game. I shouldn’t put myself in that position.

“He’s not a bad player at all. He made me work really hard for that.”