Price continues his love affair with Riesa to set up Aspinall last 16 blockbuster “I love playing in Riesa”

Gerwyn Price started his attempt for a record-extending fifth title at the Elten Safety Shoes International Darts Open with a win against Mike De Decker on Saturday, while Luke Humphries also won in Riesa.

The second round of the £175,000 event was held over two sessions at the WT Energiesysteme Arena, with Price defeating De Decker in a high-quality match.

The Welshman has won four of his eight European Tour titles in this event, but he had to overcome the World Grand Prix champion’s ton-plus average before winning 6-4.

“I love the German crowds, and I love playing in Riesa,” declared Price, who averaged almost 99 and wrapped up proceedings with a 119 checkout.

“When I get support like I do here, things happen for me, and hopefully I can become a five-time champion tomorrow!”

Price’s reward for defeating De Decker is an all-Premier League match against Nathan Aspinall, who began his quest for back-to-back European Tour titles with a 6-1 drubbing of Joe Cullen.

“I feel good. I feel confident,” insisted Aspinall, the winner of the European Darts Trophy in Gottingen last month.

“I’ve been saying all week that I’m going back-to-back [on the European Tour], and I’m really looking forward to playing Gezzy now.”

Price and Aspinall will be joined in the round of 16 by world number one Humphries, who defeated Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 to begin his campaign.

The 30-year-old overcame a slow start to beat the Dutchman, average 99, nailing five 180s, and converting six of his ten double tries to top off an impressive performance.

However, Josh Rock’s performance of the day was outstanding, as he averaged 107.61 to upset Gian van Veen 6-4, avenging his setback to the World Youth Champion in Gottingen a fortnight earlier.

Stephen Bunting was another standout performer on Saturday, averaging 104.91 in a 6-4 victory over Darius Labanauskas, following his Premier League exploits in Berlin on Thursday.

The Liverpudlian also hit a 170 checkout on his way to victory, and he will now face Cameron Menzies, who beat out James Wade in a game where both players averaged in the triple digits.

Menzies’ compatriot Peter Wright also won in a last-leg cliffhanger in Riesa, with the 2017 winner firing in a crucial 14-darter to defeat European winner Ritchie Edhouse.

Wessel Nijman defeated Chris Dobey in six of the last seven legs, advancing to a match against eighth seed Damon Heta, who defeated Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-2.

Ross Smith averaged more than a tonne and nailed five 180s to knock Ricardo Pietreczko in similarly emphatic fashion, while sixth Dave Chisnall swept off Luke Woodhouse in the final game of the afternoon session.

Raymond van Barneveld extended his impressive form with an emphatic 6-2 victory over fifth seed Jonny Clayton, and Karel Sedlacek will now face the five-time World Champion on Sunday afternoon.

Czech star Sedlacek defeated another Dutchman, Danny Noppert, to advance to the last 16, while former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding cruised over Richard Veenstra.

Dimitri Van den Bergh halted his eight-match winless streak on the European Tour with a 6-4 victory over French trailblazer Thibault Tricole, setting up a showdown with German number one Martin Schindler.

Reigning champion Schindler completes the last 16 line-up in Riesa, having received a bye through to Finals Day when his scheduled second round opponent Rob Cross withdrew from the event on Friday because of illness.

Price continues his love affair with Riesa to set up Aspinall last 16 blockbuster

2025 Elten Safety Shoes International Darts Open

Saturday April 5

Second Round

Afternoon Session

Cameron Menzies 6-5 James Wade

Karel Sedlacek 6-4 Danny Noppert

Ross Smith 6-2 Ricardo Pietreczko

Damon Heta 6-2 Mario Vandenbogaerde

Wessel Nijman 6-3 Chris Dobey

Stephen Bunting 6-4 Darius Labanauskas

Dave Chisnall 6-2 Luke Woodhouse

Evening Session

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Thibault Tricole

Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Jonny Clayton

Gerwyn Price 6-4 Mike De Decker

Luke Humphries 6-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Andrew Gilding 6-0 Richard Veenstra

Peter Wright 6-5 Ritchie Edhouse

Nathan Aspinall 6-1 Joe Cullen

Josh Rock 6-4 Gian van Veen

Martin Schindler Bye (Rob Cross withdrew after the event began)

Sunday April 6

Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)

Third Round

Luke Humphries v Ross Smith

Damon Heta v Wessel Nijman

Stephen Bunting v Cameron Menzies

Raymond van Barneveld v Karel Sedlacek

Andrew Gilding v Josh Rock

Gerwyn Price v Nathan Aspinall

Martin Schindler v Dimitri Van den Bergh

Dave Chisnall v Peter Wright

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)

Quarter-Finals

Humphries/R Smith v Heta/Nijman

Bunting/Menzies v Van Barneveld/Sedlacek

Gilding/Rock v Price/Aspinall

Schindler/Van den Bergh v Chisnall/Wright

Semi-Finals

Final