For the second week running, Michael van Gerwen will not be claiming success on the Euro Tour after he was beaten 6-1 rather convincingly by Martin Lukeman.
Mighty Mike only averaged less than ninety on the oche and was made to rue 13 missed darts at double, as the Watford born thrower closed out victory on double eight for the second time this weekend.
Smash also threw three maximums in Germany to delight the crowd and included a 110 checkout (the highest of the match) in the opening leg, to break the Dutchman’s throw. A huge win for the Englishman who has already reached a Final on the Euro Tour this year, as he prepares to face home favourite Martin Schindler in the Last 16.
Danny Noppert won a repeat of the UK Open Final despite averaging lower than opponent Michael Smith, with the Freeze claiming a 6-4 victory to reach the Third Round again on the European Circuit. Bully Boy threw seven 180s in comparison to the UK Open champion’s two, but it was the Dutchman’s Day in Stuttgart hitting an average of 102.46.
The 31-year-old found the highest checkout on the oche in the last leg of the match as double eleven rounded of a 124 checkout to advance to the third round, where his opponent will be Nathan Rafferty after he beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 with the youngster from Coalisland averaging 101.76 and finding four 180s.
Peter Wright finally put an end to his winning drought on the Euro Tour, after beating Johan Engstrom 6-2 in a routine victory for Snakebite, who included 42.86% on his doubles and a 121 out in the fifth leg to break the Sweet Ferret in the fifth leg and lead 3-2.
The reigning world champion will face confirmed league leader of the Premier League Jonny Clayton, in a real difficult match for the pair in what is the Third Round of the European Darts Grand Prix. The Welshman saw of Adrian Lewis 6-3 earlier on in the evening session and showed again his doubling capability like in London, checking out at 60%.
Joe Cullen who won in London on Thursday was dumped out early in Germany at the hands of Rowby-John Rodriguez in a 6-1 victory for the 28-year-old. Little John punished six missed doubles from the Rockstar who didn’t find a single three treble visit on the oche. The Austrian is through to face Winmau star Daryl Gurney, who beat Eddie Lovely 6-4 to reach the Last 16.
Luke Humphries won the all Red Dragon affair, beating Ryan Meikle in a last leg decider to advance once more to the last day. Cool Hand averaged 97.45 as he closed out victory on double sixteen with his last dart in the last leg. The Barber put up a real good fight on the German stage, finishing 100 in the seventh leg to break the World Number 16’s throw as he narrowly lost out.
The Newbury darting star will face Joe Murnan in the Third Round after he surprised Dimitri van den Bergh, winning a last leg decider 6-5 and including an impressive 148 out in the seventh leg to hold his throw. Despite being 4-2 down, the 38-year-old clawed his way back in the tie to take a 5-4 lead before finding tops with his first dart in the eleventh leg to make the last 16.
Brendan Dolan ended the chances of Danny Jansen adding a Euro Tour to his 2022 honours after winning 6-4 in the penultimate game of the afternoon session. The Dutchman has already won once on the Pro Tour but could not beat the History Maker in Stuttgart, who found a 96.08 average and a 124 check out in the seventh leg to find the first break in the match.
The Northern Irishman closed out victory on double 16 to finish 51 and set up a Quarter Final tie with Andrew Gilding who shocked last weeks Czech Open Semi Finalist Jose de Sousa, winning 6-5 earlier on in the afternoon.
Action gets underway at midday today with the Last 16 action starting in Stuttgart with Peter Wright and Jonny Clayton meeting in the highlight of the last 16 matches. The battle of the Martin’s will start the days action with Lukeman facing Schindler.
European Darts Grand Prix: Second Round Results
Damon Heta (8) 6-5 Micky Mansell
Joe Murnan 6-5 Dimitri van den Bergh (7)
Ryan Searle (9) 6-2 Adam Gawlas
Daryl Gurney (13) 6-4 Eddie Lovely
Andrew Gilding 6-5 Jose de Sousa (2)
Krzysztof Ratajski (12) 6-2 Kim Huybrechts
Brendan Dolan (15) 6-4 Danny Jansen
Rob Cross (5) 6-5 Jelle Klaasen
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-1 Joe Cullen (4)
Luke Humphries (10) 6-5 Ryan Meikle
Jonny Clayton (14) 6-3 Adrian Lewis
Martin Lukeman 6-1 Michael van Gerwen (1)
Martin Schindler (16) 6-2 Madars Razma
Peter Wright (3) 6-2 Johan Engstrom
Danny Noppert 6-4 Michael Smith (6)
Nathan Rafferty 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode (11)
European Darts Grand Prix: Third Round Order of Play
Martin Lukeman v Martin Schindler (16)
Damon Heta (8) v Ryan Searle (9)
Rowby-John Rodriguez v Daryl Gurney (13)
Rob Cross (5) v Krzysztof Ratajski (12)
Andrew Gilding v Brendan Dolan (15)
Joe Murnan v Luke Humphries (10)
Peter Wright (3) v Jonny Clayton (14)
Danny Noppert v Nathan Rafferty
—–ENDS—–
Words: Harry Masterson
Images: Kais Bodensieck/PDC Europe
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