World No 2 Peter Wright returned to winning ways on the 2023 European Tour, after beating Spaniard Jose Justicia 6-3 in the Second Round of the International Darts Open.
Snakebite went on to reach the Final 12 months ago, losing 8-4 to Gerwyn Price in the Final of the 2022 event in Riesa. The Red Dragon player remains on course for his 2nd International Darts Open crown, as he goes through to face compatriot Alan Soutar in the Last 16.
Defending Champion Price averaged 104.24 in beating European Championship winner Ross Smith 6-3 at the SASCHENArena.
The Iceman has only averaged under 100 in 1 of his 8 Euro Tour matches so far this year, which came in an 8-7 victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode in the Final of the European Darts Open last week.
The Welshman advances in Germany, going through to take on Belgian Mike de Decker in the Third Round, with the Real Deal advancing a 6-1 winner against reigning World Champion Michael Smith in the Second Round.
Michael van Gerwen claimed a last leg decider against Canadian Matt Campbell, including 6 180s and an average off 102.33 in a 6-5 win. The former 3-time World Champion will face Jose de Sousa in the Last 16, with the 2020 Grand Slam Champion whitewashing Lee Evans earlier on in Saturday’s Afternoon Session.
Elsewhere, recent Premier League winner Jonny Clayton recovered from 3-1 down to beat Belgium’s Brian Raman 6-4 in the Second Round. The Ferret will face a rematch with Dave Chisnall on Sunday, with the pair meeting in the Semi Finals of the Baltic Sea Darts Open earlier in the year.
Former UK Open champion Danny Noppert clinched a 6-5 victory against 18-year-old German youngster Liam Maendl-Lawrance in the opening match of the Second Round, with the Freeze through to face compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode in the Last 16.
The action continues tomorrow from midday with reigning Premier League and Matchplay champion Michael van Gerwen facing Jose de Sousa in the opening match of the 3rd Round at the 2023 International Darts Open.
2023 International Darts Open Results:
Danny Noppert 6-5 Liam Maendl-Lawrance
Damon Heta 6-3 Brendan Dolan
Jose de Sousa 6-0 Lee Evans
Rob Cross 6-3 Steve Lennon
Alan Soutar 6-2 Joe Cullen
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Andrew Gilding
Josh Rock 6-4 Florian Hempel
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Brian Raman
Nico Springer 6-1 Dimitri van den Bergh
Peter Wright 6-3 Jose Justicia
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Matt Campbell
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Ross Smith
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Gabriel Clemens
Martin Schindler 6-4 Ray van Barneveld
Mike de Decker 6-1 Michael Smith
2023 International Darts Open: Sunday Order of Play
3rd Round:
Michael van Gerwen v Jose de Sousa
Peter Wright v Alan Soutar
Dave Chisnall v Jonny Clayton
Nathan Aspinall v Martin Schindler
Damon Heta v Nico Springer
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Danny Noppert
Rob Cross v Josh Rock
Mike de Decker v Gerwyn Price
Images: PDC
