German Darts Open 2018: Peter Wright crashes out as Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall impress

Darts

Sun April 15, 2018 · 7y ago

Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall turned on the style with whitewash wins in the German Darts Open on Saturday, as Peter Wright crashed out to home favourite Max Hopp.

World champion Cross denied World Youth champion Dimitri Van den Bergh a dart at a double during his brutal 6-0 second round victory in Saarbrucken.

Cross broke throw immediately and took out 107 in leg three, before legs of 14, 13 and 13 darts completed victory with an average of 103.66.

The world number three now plays Darren Webster and said: "I feel really fresh, I feel ready. The darts are going well and I'm going to play well this weekend."

Webster earlier averaged an impressive 103.38 in his fine 6-2 win over Steve West.

Webster opened with an 11-darter and also took out 114 as he opened up a five-leg cushion, with West responding with a 106 finish and a 14-darter only to see the Norwich ace check out 91 for victory.

Wright had enjoyed one of his five European Tour successes in Saarbrucken last year, but saw the former World Youth Champion come from 4-2 down to seal the win with four straight legs.

Hopp's victory continues his run of form after reaching the quarter-finals of the German Darts Grand Prix recently, as he denied Wright an appearance in a third straight European Tour final.

Ian White began his bid to claim a second ranking title of the year with a 6-3 win over Cameron Menzies, who paid for 13 missed doubles as the Stoke ace progressed.

Gerwyn Price averaged almost 95 as his strong response to being eliminated from the Unibet Premier League continued, with the Welshman sealing a 6-4 winner over Kirk Shepherd.

Jelle Klaasen won his all-Dutch tie with European Tour debutant Maik Kuivenhoven 6-1, with the newcomer sharing the opening two legs before the former Lakeside Champion took five in a row for victory.

Alan Tabern reached the final day for a second successive European Tour event, defeating 16th seed Steve Beaton 6-2 with another strong performance, averaging 94 and hitting 6/13 doubles.

Dave Chisnall produced the performance of the tournament so far with a stunning 108 average to beat Jose Justicia 6-0, limiting the Spanish ace to just two darts at a double.

Chisnall announced his intentions with the first of four 180s in a 12-darter to open the game, hit an 11-darter in leg five and sealed a big win with a 13-dart finish.

Michael Smith's challenge to win his fifth European Tour title began with a 6-4 win over Steve Lennon, although the Irish youngster caused some nervy moments for the former World Youth champion.

Smith opened up leads of 3-0 and 4-1 before Lennon hit back to level with legs of 15, 12 and 13 which included checkouts of 116 and 130, but the St Helens ace took the next two for victory.

James Wade saw his bid to reach a third successive European Tour semi-final ended by Mervyn King, who took a 6-3 win from their second round tie.

King had lost to Wade in the European Darts Open last month, but took command early on in this contest by breaking in the opening leg and then holding in 14 darts.

Wade finished 73 and 96 as he remained in touch at 3-2 and 4-2, but King took back-to-back legs to seal his third round spot.

Daryl Gurney ended the hopes of Germany's Rene Eidams with a comprehensive 6-1 victory against the qualifier, with the World Grand Prix champion hitting 6/10 doubles and a 116 finish.

Benito van de Pas produced a stirring comeback from 4-0 down as he survived seven missed match darts from Paul Nicholson before claiming a 6-5 victory from their clash.

Nicholson included legs of 12 and 14 darts as he pulled clear in the early stages, only for the Dutchman to claw his way back into the contest.

Nicholson missed three match darts in leg nine and a further two in leg ten, before another pair of agonising misses allowed the 2017 German Darts Open finalist back in on double eight to complete a remarkable recovery.

Michael van Gerwen opened his bid to win a third successive 2018 European Tour event with a 6-1 defeat of fellow Dutchman Danny Noppert.

Noppert shared the opening two legs, but a 164 checkout from Van Gerwen in leg three followed by a 13-darter to create a 3-1 scoreline proved crucial as the world number one pulled clear.

Van Gerwen finished six doubles from ten attempts but admitted: "My scoring wasn't there and it didn't feel right tonight for me, and I don't know why.

"I'm not really happy at all. My confidence and my feeling was good but I was too relaxed and Danny didn't put pressure on me.

"I've got to get back on the practice board. I want to perform and I know can do better tomorrow."

Joe Cullen survived a deciding leg against emerging youngster Luke Humphries as he progressed to the last 16, hitting one 11-darter and four 14-dart legs during the contest.

Mensur Suljovic overcame Jermaine Wattimena 6-2, with the Austrian always in control after taking a 3-0 lead before adding an 11-darter on his way to the win.