International Darts Open: Joe Cullen averages 113.77 while Mensur Suljovic and Peter Wright also reach round three
Joe Cullen thrashed Richie Corner 6-1 with a stunning average of 113.77 on day two of the International Darts Open, while defending champion Mensur Suljovic and bookies' favourite Peter Wright also breezed into round three.
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The 'Rockstar' has enjoyed an impressive season so far having won two Players Championship titles in April and July but he'll be setting his sights on reaching a first European Tour final this weekend.
Cullen, 28, rattled in four 180s during his emphatic victory against Corner, who converted his only attempt at a double in the match for a 120 checkout.
The 11th seed from Bradford fired two ton plus checkouts of his own, with a 147 moving him into a 4-1 lead before rounding off the match in style by taking out 116 on double 18.
This performance, in which he hit six of his 11 attempts at doubles, will see his pre-tournament odds of 25/1 significantly cut but he faces a tough test on Sunday against Alan Norris, who recorded an average of 105.06 in a 6-1 victory over former World Youth champion Max Hopp.
Defending champion and second seed Suljovic, who was tipped up at 9/1 by our darts expert Chris Hammer, headed to Riesa on the back of claiming his first major televised title at the Champions League of Darts last weekend but there were few signs of mental fatigue as he claimed an impressive 6-3 win over William O'Connor, averaging 102.32.
The Austrian will next meet 15th seed Gerwyn Price after the Welsh star overcame Steve Lennon 6-4 with an average of just over 99.
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Sky Bet's tournament favourite Wright didn't need to be anywhere near his best to defeat Chris Quantock 6-2 although his finishing is a worry having missed 15 of his 21 attempts at doubles.
UK Open champion Snakebite is chasing his 10th PDC title of the season - but first since the start of July - and his route to the final appears to have been made easier after five seeded players from the top half of the draw crashed out.
During the afternoon session, his next opponent Ronny Huybrechts shocked Cristo Reyes 6-4 before Benito van de Pas lost 6-2 against Peter Jacques.
But bigger threats to Wright followed during the evening session, with Daryl Gurney succumbing to European Tour debutant and former runner-up in Sweden's Strongest Man competition - Dennis Nilsson - in a deciding leg prior to Michael Smith's surprise exit at the hands of Ron Meulenkamp.
Rob Cross was highly fancied to go far this weekend following his superb run to the German Darts Grand Prix a fortnight ago but he too bowed out, losing 6-4 to rising star Josh Payne despite managing 170 checkout.
In Saturday's other second-round games, Kim Huybrechts, tipped up at 25/1 by our Chris Hammer, averaged just under 100 in a 6-1 triumph over Christian Kist and he'll next meet Ian White, who brushed aside Keegan Brown 6-3.
Dave Chisnall averaged a shade over 100 and hit seven 180s during a 6-4 victory over Darren Webster while Jelle Klaasen beat Brendan Dolan 6-4, Mervyn King eased to a 6-2 win over John Michael and Simon Whitlock won his all-Australian battle with Kyle Anderson.
International Darts Open: Saturday results & Sunday schedule
Saturday September 23
Second Round
Afternoon Session
- Gerwyn Price 6-4 Steve Lennon
- Ian White 6-3 Keegan Brown
- Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Brendan Dolan
- Mervyn King 6-2 John Michael
- Kim Huybrechts 6-1 Christian Kist
- Cristo Reyes 4-6 Ronny Huybrechts
- Benito van de Pas 2-6 Peter Jacques
- Joe Cullen 6-1 Richie Corner
Evening Session
- Dave Chisnall 6-4 Darren Webster
- Daryl Gurney 5-6 Dennis Nilsson
- Michael Smith 3-6 Ron Meulenkamp
- Peter Wright 6-2 Chris Quantock
- Rob Cross 4-6 Josh Payne
- Mensur Suljovic 6-3 William O'Connor
- Alan Norris 6-1 Max Hopp
- Simon Whitlock 6-4 Kyle Anderson
Sunday September 24
Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm BST)
Third Round
- Peter Wright v Ronny Huybrechts
- Klaasen/Dolan v Peter Jacques
- Dennis Nilsson v Dave Chisnall
- Ron Meulenkamp v Josh Payne
- Mensur Suljovic v Gerwyn Price
- Kim Huybrechts v Ian White
- Alan Norris v Joe Cullen
- Simon Whitlock v Mervyn King
Evening Session (6pm-10pm BST)
- Quarter-Finals
- Semi-Finals
- Final