German Darts Championship results: Keegan Brown beats Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen was beaten 6-4 by Keegan Brown in the second round of the German Darts Championship.
Flawless Brown downs MVG
Michael van Gerwen was beaten 6-4 by Keegan Brown in the second round of the German Darts Championship.
Van Gerwen averaged 108.1 and hit half of his attempts at double, but that was nothing compared to Brown - who had six chances, and found the target with each one of them.
It was a stunning display of finish from the former world youth champion - one which confined van Gerwen to a surprise defeat and blew the tournament wide open.
Van Gerwen started with real intent, 13- and 12-dart legs on his own throw enough for a 2-1 lead, but Brown levelled once more with a 68 finish in the fourth.
After van Gerwen had held throw, Brown again produced a ruthless finish to take out 79 and make it 3-3, and following another 13-dart leg from hos opponent then took out 82 to hold his own throw in 12.
Then came the key leg, as Brown threw his third maximum before taking out 88 for an 11-dart finish and while under pressure early in the next, another brilliant finish, this time 92, ended the match.
Rob Cross also came up against an opponent in dangerous form on the doubles, but the former world champion had enough in hand to beat Ron Meulenkamp 6-4.
Cross's highest outshot was 40 as he scored heavily throughout the game, whereas his opponent fired in a 160 checkout as he kept on his tail, but class told in the end.
Daryl Gurney's 6-1 success against Andy Boulton was the product of his superior finish, while two 100-plus checkouts from Nathan Aspinall were not enough as he lost 6-4 to Joe Cullen, both players averaging three-figures.
Peter Wright won the first three legs of his clash with Andrew Gilding and maintained that advantage to win 6-3, Ricky Evans caused an upset to beat Mensur Suljovic 6-4, and Mervyn King did likewise to beat Dave Chisnall by the same scoreline.
The closest game on Saturday evening Stephen Bunting, who had trailed 4-2, beat Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-5.
White produces diamond display
Ian White got the better of Jamie Hughes 6-5 in the pick of Saturday afternoon's second-round ties at the German Darts Championship.
White took out 81 to win the deciding leg in 12 darts, ending a high-class encounter which would've been good enough for any stage, his beaten opponent averaging a mammoth 107.21.
Hughes threw six perfect darts to start the second leg, which he won in just 10, before a 91 checkout completing a 12-dart leg to hand him the lead.
Double 18 was again his port of call as Hughes went 3-1 ahead with a 13-dart leg, but White responded with a smart 100 checkout before back-to-back 12-dart legs put him ahead.
Hughes levelled before the following two legs were shared to force a decider, which White dominated having opened with a 140, added 100 and then a maximum, before tops ended a classic.
Also on Saturday afternoon, Darren Webster beat Luke Humphries 6-5 - but only after the latter had missed double 16 for the match.
James Wilson was similarly relieved to beat Mario Robbe 6-5, Robbe having missed bullseye for the upset before Wilson hit double one for a hard-fought win.
Gerwyn Price was ruthless in a 6-2 victory over Mark Dudbridge, needing only eight attempts at double, while a 140 finish was among the highlights for Jonny Clayton as he beat Simon Stevenson 6-2.
Adrian Lewis was sloppy at times but still had enough in the locker to see off Kevin Knopf 6-3, James Wade beat Boris Koltsov 6-1, and Jermaine Wattimena saw off Steffen Siepmann by the same scoreline.
Saturday's second-round results
Afternoon session
- Darren Webster 6-5 Luke Humphries
- Ian White 6-5 Jamie Hughes
- James Wade 6-1 Boris Koltsov
- Jonny Clayton 6-2 Simon Stevenson
- Adrian Lewis 6-3 Kevin Knopf
- Jermaine Wattimena 6-1 Steffen Siepmann
- Gerwyn Price 6-2 Mark Dudbridge
- James Wilson 6-5 Mario Robbe
Evening session (6.15pm GMT)
- Daryl Gurney 6-1 Andy Boulton
- Joe Cullen 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
- Rob Cross 6-4 Ron Meulenkamp
- Peter Wright 6-3 Andrew Gilding
- Stephen Bunting 6-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
- Mensur Suljovic 4-6 Ricky Evans
- Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Keegan Brown
- Dave Chisnall 3-6 Mervyn King
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