Suljovic and Sedlacek enjoy whitewash wins as Lukeman turns on the style at the German Darts Championship
Mensur Suljovic and Karel Sedlacek secured whitewash wins on Day Two of the 2022 German Darts Championship, while Martin Lukeman continued his landmark run in Hildesheim.
Saturday’s Second Round action saw five of the top 16 seeds bow out of the season’s second European Tour event at Halle 39, though the top ten safely progressed.
World number 76 Lukeman, making only his second European Tour appearance, produced one of the performances of his career so far to edge out Damon Heta in a last-leg thriller.
Heta had battled back from 5-2 down to force a decider, only to miss a big number on a combination finish to allow Lukeman to wrap up a 6-5 success with an average of 104 to the Australian’s 108.8.
Lukeman will now face Michael van Gerwen in Sunday’s Last 16 after the 32-time Euro Tour event winner saw off Spain’s Jose Justicia 6-3 with a 104 average of his own to get his campaign under way in style.
Meanwhile, Suljovic, who came into the event unseeded but received a bye into the Second Round, began with a 6-0 rout of an out of sorts Callan Rydz – who averaged just 73.6 on a night to forget.
Rydz’ fellow Bedlington thrower Chris Dobey also endured a disastrous night on the oche as he went down 6-0 to Czech star Karel Sedlacek – who backed up Friday’s win over Adrian Lewis to reach the Last 16 as a non Tour Card holder.
World number one Peter Wright reeled off five consecutive legs as he battled back from 4-1 down to defeat home favourite Martin Schindler with the aid of a 156 checkout.
Devon Petersen rallied back from 4-0 down against Michael Smith but saw his title defence brought to an end as the UK Open finalist closed out a 6-4 victory.
Premier League champion Jonny Clayton coasted into the Third Round courtesy of a 6-2 win over two-time Lakeside Champion Scott Waites, while Dave Chisnall held his nerve to edge out German number one Gabriel Clemens in a deciding leg.
Top seed Jose de Sousa produced inspired finishes of 90 and 115 in the final two legs to complete a narrow 6-5 win over Kim Huybrechts.
Rob Cross averaged 99.6 in a commanding 6-2 win over Martijn Kleermaker as he set up a Third Round meeting with Dirk van Duijvenbode – who overcame Darius Labanauskas with five 180s to his name.
World number 16 Ryan Searle recovered from 4-2 down to defeat Vincent van der Voort 6-4 and confirm a clash with Dimitri van den Bergh – who safely saw off Alan Soutar 6-4 with a 95.3 average.
A battle of two former Euro Tour event winners saw Krzysztof Ratajski dispatch Jamie Hughes 6-3, while 2019 German Championship winner Daryl Gurney continued his love affair with the Hildesheim venue by knocking out 12th seed Luke Humphries 6-4 with a 96 average.
Premier League star Joe Cullen returned to winning ways as he defeated 2019 runner-up Ricky Evans 6-3 with a 102 average, four 180s and a high checkout of 156.
Sunday sees the Last 16 ties take place in the afternoon session, before the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Final and final in the evening.
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German Darts Championship 2022 – Day Two Results
Saturday March 12
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Jamie Hughes
Rob Cross 6-2 Martijn Kleermaker
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Darius Labanauskas
Damon Heta 5-6 Martin Lukeman
Ryan Searle 6-4 Vincent van der Voort
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Alan Soutar
Luke Humphries 4-6 Daryl Gurney
Joe Cullen 6-3 Ricky Evans
Evening Session
Jose de Sousa 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Michael Smith 6-4 Devon Petersen
Gabriel Clemens 5-6 Dave Chisnall
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Jose Justicia
Peter Wright 6-4 Martin Schindler
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Scott Waites
Callan Rydz 0-6 Mensur Suljovic
Chris Dobey 0-6 Karel Sedlacek
