Snakebite Stuns Smith

Two Time PDC World Champion Peter Wright was amongst the 8 to confirm their Quarter Final places at the 2023 Machineseeker European Championship, defeating reigning World Champion Michael Smith 10-4 in Dortmund.

Peter Wright followed on from what was a fantastic First Round show of character against Gabriel Clemens, after he recovered from 4-1 legs down to beat the German Giant 6-5 on Thursday night.

Snakebite has had a phenomenal turn off form towards the back end of 2023 ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam and World Darts Championship, putting the defending World Champion completely against it after taking the opening 8 legs, with 2 separating him from victory.

The Red Dragon player included 3 ton plus checkouts in the 8-leg surge, hitting finishes of 117, 155 and 107 to take the 1st, 4th and 6th leg in Germany.

The 53-year-old has shown this amazing ability of reeling legs from his opponent, showcasing this at the 2021 World Matchplay as well as his 2 World Championship wins.

Bully Boy responded with a 4-leg surge of his own, but it wasn’t enough as Wright crucially broke the Smith throw in the 13th leg, before wrapping up a 10-4 win on double 16 with his first dart in hand, putting an end to a thrilling Last 16 clash on Saturday afternoon at the Westfalenhallen.

Wright moves through to face Masters Champion Chris Dobey in the Quarter Finals, after Hollywood clinched a 10-8 victory over Stephen Bunting including the big fish (170) and 6 180s in a contest that included 17 overall.

Michael van Gerwen also put in a phenomenal display to defeat recent German Darts Championship winner Ricardo Pietreczko 10-7. The Dutchman averaged 104.12, included 8 180s and 3 ton plus checkouts at the Westfalenhallen.

Gerwyn Price continued his push for a maiden European Championship title, beating World Matchplay Champion Nathan Aspinall 10-5 including 7 180s and a 102.27 average to set up a Quarter Final with Danny Noppert.

The Freeze responded from his 106+ average in the First Round, defeating 2 Time Champion Rob Cross 10-7 as he books his place in a third consecutive European Championship Quarter Final.

Gian van Veen continued what has been a dream European Championship debut in Germany, with the emerging Dutch talent including 5 180s and 2 ton plus checkouts, to defeat Daryl Gurney 10-6 in the opening Last 16 match of Saturday’s evening session.

The 21-year-old sets up an all-Dutch Quarter Final with Michael van Gerwen on Sunday afternoon in Dortmund.

World Grand Prix Champion Luke Humphries marched through to the Quarter Finals with a 10-5 victory over German Darts Open Champion Krzysztof Ratajski, with Cool Hand Luke once more recording a checkout rate of over 40% including a 101 finish to break in the 14th leg.

The tournament number 2 seed will face James Wade in the Quarter Finals, after the Machine rolled back the years to inflict a heavy 10-1 defeat on Jose de Sousa, including finishes off 160 and 144.

The Quarter Finals of the 2023 European Championship starts from midday live on ITV and Viaplay with Peter Wright continuing his quest for a second title in the event, against Chris Dobey who is appearing in a 2nd European Championship Quarter Final.

2023 MachineSeeker European Championship:

Day 3 Results

Last 16:

Chris Dobey (32) 10-8 Stephen Bunting (17)
Danny Noppert (12) 10-7 Rob Cross (5)
Gerwyn Price (4) 10-5 Nathan Aspinall (13)
Peter Wright (9) 10-4 Michael Smith (8)
Gian van Veen (27) 10-6 Daryl Gurney (22)
James Wade (26) 10-1 Jose de Sousa (23)
Luke Humphries (2) 10-5 Krzysztof Ratajski (15)
Michael van Gerwen (3) 10-7 Ricardo Pietreczko (14)

Day 4 Afternoon Session Order of Play:

Quarter Finals:

Chris Dobey (32) v Peter Wright (9)
Gerwyn Price (4) v Danny Noppert (12)
Luke Humphries (2) v James Wade (26)
Michael van Gerwen (3) v Gian van Veen (27)

—–Ends—–

Images: Jonas Hunold / PDC Europe

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