2nd set, 4th leg: Merk continues to show no nerves, faces 32 remaining, while Wright hasn’t even reached the finish area yet. With his second throw to double 16, he not only checks the leg, but also the next set. Is this about to be a big sensation?
2nd set, 3rd leg: Neither professional has yet thrown a 180. It remains the same in this leg, in which Merk puts Wright under pressure again and has the chance for the next break with 40 remaining. And he promptly uses it again. Ripped off!
2nd set, 2nd leg: Merk remains surprisingly unnerved. Although he missed the 120 finish, he was there on Topps and secured the equalizer to make it 1-1 after legs.
2nd set, 1st leg: On average, Merk scored ten more points per shot in the first set than Wright (88.4 to 78.6). Can the man from Peine keep this level and his opponent at bay in the second round? Wright, who today has a purple mohawk, is in charge. He can’t check 101 yet and ends up narrowly missing the double 8. But Merk is not yet in the finishing area. The two-time world champion takes advantage of his second chance with 4 and double 2 with 8 remaining and takes his first leg in this match.
1st set, 3rd leg: Merk throws to take the first set. At 122 he is first in the finish area. And he checks them straight away with a high finish. That’s 1-0 after sets. He couldn’t have started this match better.
1st set, 2nd leg: Wright has 56 remaining, but he can’t check out. He throws up. However, Merk then fails on 71. But because the Scot can’t finish again, Merk is there and gets the break straight away with double 20. What a strong start!
1st set, 1st leg: Merk opens the match, has the throw and is immediately exposed to the first break opportunities. But Wright misses the 80 checkout. The German saves the first leg by checking out 48.
Before the start – The opponents briefly interject themselves, then the “Ally Pally” begins. Will the German outsider create a sensation against the former world champion?