2023 German Darts Grand Prix Day 2 roundup – Price and Smith setup last 16 clash

Gerwyn Price started his bid for a third European Tour title with a thrashing of Raymond van Barneveld, while reigning champion Luke Humphries also impressed at the Interwetten German Darts Grand Prix.

Price and Humphries were among the big winners on Day Two of the year’s fourth European Tour event on Easter Sunday in Munich, as six seeds crashed out during an action-packed day at the Zenith Kulturhalle.

Price, who had just won the European Darts Open and the International Darts Open, produced another ton-topping average in his 6-2 victory over Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld.

The first four legs of the competition were shared, but Price upped the ante in the latter stages, reeling off four consecutive legs to set up a third-round match against World Champion Michael Smith.

Smith overcame three missed match darts in his deciding-leg match against Sheffield-based teacher Adam Warner before clinching his place with a nerveless 116 combination on tops.

Humphries won his first European Tour event after missing the previous two due to illness, averaging 99 in his 6-2 victory over Jeffrey de Zwaan.

Humphries drew first blood with a two-dart 98 outshot, kicking off a classy performance that included a pair of 11-darters from the top seed.

Seeds Fall on Sunday

The biggest upset of the day was Lee Evans’ 6-1 victory over world number two Peter Wright in round three.

Wright returned to form in the Cazoo Premier League on Thursday, but he was knocked back by Evans, who won six straight legs to book a match against Joe Cullen on Monday.

Cullen was overcome with emotion after defeating Ross Smith in a last-leg thriller, defying the European Champion’s ton-plus average and six 180s to secure his spot on Finals Day.

Andrew Gilding advanced to the last 16 with a 6-1 demolition of Jonny Clayton, averaging nearly 103 and converting all six of his doubles attempts.

Gilding, who won with a spectacular 160 finish, will face fourth seed Dave Chisnall in round three after the St Helens star came back from 4-2 down to defeat Host Nation Qualifier Dragutin Horvat.

The quartet of German representatives in Munich had a disappointing day, with Martin Schindler, Gabriel Clemens, and Liam Maendl-Lawrance joining Horvat in withdrawing from the tournament.

Schindler, who reached the Riesa semi-finals last weekend, was defeated 6-1 by Jim Williams, who produced a magical 167 checkout en route to a comprehensive victory.

Clemens was defeated 6-3 by second seed Damon Heta, who landed a pair of ton-plus finishes to set up an intriguing match against Masters champion Chris Dobey.

The Bedlington thrower set the tone for the evening’s action with a brilliant 121 finish on the bull, defeating Premier League rival Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-2.

Meanwhile, Maendl-Lawrance was defeated by Danny Noppert for the second week in a row, as the former UK Open champion prevailed in a tense last-leg tie.

The Dutchman will now face his countryman Dirk van Duijvenbode, who landed seven 180s and a stunning 148 checkout in a 6-3 win over Callan Rydz.

Nathan Aspinall took advantage of Cameron Menzies’ poor performance to advance to Monday’s third round, winning 6-3 with an average of 96 and four maximums.

Earlier in the day, Berry van Peer advanced to the last 16 of a European Tour event for the first time, defeating Josh Rock 6-3 in a masterful display of finishing.

Van Peer will face Keane Barry in the last eight after the Irish youngster defied a ton-plus average from third seed Rob Cross to win his first match against the 2018 World Champion.

Meanwhile, Jose de Sousa kept his perfect record against Steve Beaton, winning five straight legs after falling behind 2-1 in a battle of former European Tour winners.

Price, Humphries, and Smith will be among the stars in last 16 action on Monday afternoon, before the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final take place in a flurry of action at the Zenith Kulturhalle in the evening.

2023 Interwetten German Darts Grand Prix

Sunday April 9

Second Round

Afternoon Session

Berry van Peer 6-3 Josh Rock

Dave Chisnall 6-4 Dragutin Horvat

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Callan Rydz

Keane Barry 6-3 Rob Cross

Andrew Gilding 6-1 Jonny Clayton

Joe Cullen 6-5 Ross Smith

Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Cameron Menzies

Jose de Sousa 6-2 Steve Beaton

 

Evening Session

Chris Dobey 6-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Danny Noppert 6-5 Liam Maendl-Lawrance

Michael Smith 6-5 Adam Warner

Gerwyn Price 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld

Damon Heta 6-3 Gabriel Clemens

Lee Evans 6-1 Peter Wright

Jim Williams 6-1 Martin Schindler

Luke Humphries 6-2 Jeffrey de Zwaan

 

Monday April 10

Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)

Third Round

Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price

Keane Barry v Berry van Peer

Dirk van Duijvenbode v Danny Noppert

Damon Heta v Chris Dobey

Nathan Aspinall v Jim Williams

Dave Chisnall v Andrew Gilding

Lee Evans v Joe Cullen

Luke Humphries v Jose de Sousa

 

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Final

 

Monday’s games played in Draw Bracket order