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European Darts Trophy: Daryl Gurney one of five seeds to fall in second round
New World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney suffered a surprise defeat to Andy Boulton in the European Darts Trophy.
On a day when no fewer than five seeds crashed out of the second round in Gottingen, Boulton earned a 6-3 victory over the Ulsterman.
The Scotland based Englishman raced into a three leg lead to take control of the contest and ended with a 103.25 average - the highest of the tournament so far.
"That was my best performance ever on the stage," Boulton told pdctv.
"Daryl is such a good player and will be on a high after winning the World Grand Prix so I'm really pleased. I haven't always turned up on the European Tour and if you don't play your best you go home. I hope I can repeat it on Sunday."
Boulton will take on Vincent van der Voort in the last 16 after the Dutchman defeated number 12 seed Ian White in a last leg decider.
World number one Michael van Gerwen marked his return to action with a 6-3 victory against Austria's Zoran Lerchbacher.
New world No 2 Peter Wright, who has picked up five European Tour titles this year, survived a scare against Germany's Martin Schindler.
Host nation favourite Schindler fired in a 180 with his opening throw but Wright took the first leg and went on to open up a 4-2 lead to take control of the tie.
Schindler hit back with a 117 checkout to break the Scotsman but Wright, who has recently moved up to a career-high second in the PDC Order of Merit, won the next two legs to progress to round three.
"Martin is an amazing player for his age," said Wright, who faces Kim Huybrechts on Sunday.
"He scares me to death but he's great for German darts and he will be around for a long time, when I'm retired and watching on television.
"It has been hard work to get to number two but it is an aim I had and now I am there. It feels good and it is all down to my family and the team behind me."
Huybrechts won five of the last six legs to deny Nathan Aspinall a second major scalp of the weekend, after the former PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship runner-up had defeated James Wade in round one.
Former World Youth champion Keegan Brown claimed the most convincing win of day two as he thrashed 11th seed Benito van de Pas 6-0.
Jan Dekker made it 12 legs won out of 13 played in the event as he followed up Friday's whitewash over Christian Kist with a 6-1 success against 13th seed Mervyn King.
World Grand Prix runner-up Simon Whitlock claimed a 6-4 win against Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski, who missed four darts to force a deciding leg before the Australian landed double 10 to set up a meeting with Dekker on Sunday.
Rob Cross was taken all the way to an 11th leg in his win against Jamie Caven, but won the decider in 12 darts with a 116 checkout.
Stephen Bunting also showed his class to fend off Germany's Rene Eidams, who levelled up at four legs apiece before the former Lakeside Champion closed out a 6-4 success.
Jonny Clayton, who picked up his first PDC ProTour title on Wednesday, continued his fantastic form with a victory over fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price.
Jelle Klaasen claimed a comfortable victory as he defeated Chris Dobey 6-1, while Joe Cullen breezed past Steve West 6-2.
There were also victories for former European Tour winners Dave Chisnall, Michael Smith and Alan Norris.
Chisnall defeated James Wilson 6-4 despite a 156 finish from the Yorkshireman in the opening leg.
Smith, who is carrying a foot injury, battled through the pain barrier to beat Jermaine Wattimena 6-3.
Norris, who won last year's final European Tour event, hit five 180s in his 6-4 victory against James Richardson.
Saturday's results
Second round:
- Keegan Brown 6-0 Benito van de Pas
- Alan Norris 6-4 James Richardson
- Jonny Clayton 6-3 Gerwyn Price
- Michael Smith 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena
- Dave Chisnall 6-4 James Wilson
- Joe Cullen 6-2 Steve West
- Vincent van der Voort 6-5 Ian White
- Stephen Bunting 6-4 Rene Eidams
- Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
- Jelle Klaasen 6-1 Chris Dobey
- Rob Cross 6-5 Jamie Caven
- Peter Wright 6-4 Martin Schindler
- Simon Whitlock 6-4 Krzysztof Ratajski
- Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Zoran Lerchbacher
- Jan Dekker 6-1 Mervyn King
- Andy Boulton 6-3 Daryl Gurney