Euro TourMichael van Gerwen has won his first game at the German Darts Grand Prix with an impressive performance. Mighty Mikewho had a bye in the first round and only came into action for the first time in Munich today, was just too strong for Englishman Chris Dobey (6-5) after a high-quality and exciting match and thus qualified for the eighth finals.
Van Gerwen, three-time world champion and number three in the world, came against Dobey, 32nd in the world ranking, at a 1-3 and 3-5 deficit, but De Brabander turned the tide. Hollywood started throwing slightly fewer triples, while Van Gerwen maintained his strong play. He took the win with a 93 finish.
Mighty Mike finished the game with a strong average of 105.55, compared to 98.88 from Dobey. ,,That felt good, it was a wonderful game to play,” said Van Gerwen on social media. “I am confident again. Now on to the final day.” Tomorrow Van Gerwen will compete in the eighth finals against Englishman Rob Cross, a former world champion and number ten in the world.
Van Barneveld down
Raymond van Barneveld did not manage to get past the second round of the Euro Tour tournament. Barneyfive-time world champion and number 55 in the world, lost in Munich against Australian Damon Heta, 21st in the world ranking: 4-6.
Van Barneveld was unable to keep up with Heta scoring. The 54-year-old darts player from The Hague was soon 0-2 behind, tied the score again (2-2), but then lost two more legs in a row. That setback came Barney no more over. Through double eight ensured The Heat for the elimination of the five-time world champion.
With an average of 90.31 (compared to 99.73 of Heta), Van Barneveld did not reach yesterday’s level in the first round.
Dirk van Duijvenbode reached the eighth finals with great difficulty. Aubergenius was too strong for Boris Krcmar after an exciting game 6-5. In the fifth leg, Van Duijvenbode seemed to break his Croatian opponent with a handsome 112 finish, and he seemed on his way to an easy victory. But Krcmar immediately broke back by throwing out 106. In the following legs, Van Duijvenbode missed many doubles. Only in the eleventh and final leg did the Aubergenius to find the break again, good for a spot in tomorrow’s eighth finals.
Waiting there is none other than Wesley Plaisier, who defeated the great Premier League player Joe Cullen (6-4) with a stunt. The 32-year-old Dutchman threw a fine average of 93.2, while his English opponent only recorded 89.3. Plaisier already impressed in the first round by beating Jim Williams from Wales 6-3. He set an average of 104.05.
For Jeffrey de Zwaan, the tournament ended in the second round. In an exciting duel with the Englishman Luke Humphries, The Black Cobra a 4-2 lead away: 4-6. Berry van Peer was at the oche in the last game of the evening session. The 25-year-old darts player was 6-4 too strong for Swede Daniel Larsson in the first round, but was no match for vice world champion Michael Smith from England in the second round: 6-4.
Former world champion Gerwyn Price withdrew from the Euro Tour tournament in Munich. The Welshman is sick. For current world champion Peter Wright, the adventure also ended quickly. The Scot lost in the second round to Englishman Scott Waites, another former world champion: 5-6. snakebite just like Van Gerwen and Van Duijvenbode had a bye in the first round. The eighth finals up to and including the final of the German Darts Grand Prix will be played tomorrow.
Results second round
Afternoon
• Callan Rydz – Keegan Brown 3-6
• Rob Cross – Karel Sedlacek 6-3
† Dirk van Duijvenbode – Boris Krcmar 6-5
• Jose de Sousa – Madar’s Razma 4-6
• Joe Cullen – Wesley Plaisier 4-6
• Luke Humphries – Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-4
• Brendan Dolan – Martin Schindler 5-6
• Jonny Clayton – Dave Chisnall 6-2
Evening
• Dimitri Van den Bergh – Max Hopp 3-6
• Damon Heta – Raymond van Barneveld 6-4
• Gabriel Clemens – Martin Lukeman 3-6
• Gerwyn Price – Keane Barry (statement Price)
• Peter Wright – Scott Waites 5-6
† Michael van Gerwen – Chris Dobey 6-5
• Ryan Searle – Daniel Baggish 6-2
• Michael Smith – Berry van Peer 6-4
Program eighth finals
Keane Barry – Martin Lukeman
Martin Schindler – Ryan Searlea
Scott Waites – Damon Heta
Jonny Clayton – Max Hopp
Madar’s Razma – Keegan Brown
Michael van Gerwen – Rob Cross
Michael Smith – Luke Humphries
Wesley Plaisier † Dirk van Duijvenbode
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