European Darts Matchplay 2022 | Day One Preview and Order of Play
The 2022 European Darts Matchplay gets under way in Trier on Friday as the qualifiers face off in Round One.
The ninth of 13 PDC Euro Tour events this season features 45 players battling it out for £140,000 in prize money at the Trier Arena from July 1-3.
The top 16 players from the ProTour Order of Merit (as of April 30) are seeded and enter at the Second Round stage, while a series of qualifiers battle it out for the right to join them.
Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright and Michael Smith withdrew prior to the draw, meaning Chris Dobey, Stephen Bunting and Daryl Gurney were promoted into seeded places and three players were given First Round byes.
The afternoon session on Day One features six matches, including recent ProTour event winner and current Challenge Tour leader Scott Williams against Poland’s Radek Szaganski.
Williams is one of a clutch of players chasing down a place in the World Matchplay later this month and will be looking to set up a Second Round tie against Jonny Clayton.
Jermaine Wattimena, who knocked Clayton out of the recent Dutch Darts Masters on home soil, opens up against veteran Scotsman Ross Mongtomery – making his European Tour debut at the age of 59.
Cameron Menzies, former World Masters and WDF World Championship semi-finalist, takes on 23-year-old Dutchman Niels Zonneveld for the right to face Luke Humphries on Saturday.
Former BDO World Trophy winner James Wilson faces Swedish World Cup star Johan Engstrom for the right to meet European Champion Rob Cross in Round Two.
Jamie Hughes, the 2019 Czech Open champion, faces a tricky opener against Wesley Plaisier – quarter-finalist in the German Darts Grand Prix earlier this year.
Former top 16 star and Players Championship Finals semi-finalist Ian White opens up with a tie against former ProTour event winner Joe Murnan, with Premier League finalist Joe Cullen awaiting the winner.
The evening session kicks off with a tie between Martin Lukeman, runner-up in April’s German Darts Grand Prix, and Greek ace John Michael.
World Championship and World Matchplay quarter-finalist Callan Rydz faces off against Welshman Jon Worsley, with World Cup winner Damon Heta awaiting the winner in Round Two.
Madars Razma, who impressed during the recent World Cup for Latvia, starts out against Dragutin Horvat – one of two Host Nation qualifiers.
Lukas Wenig, who also came through the Host Nation qualifier, will take on former World Cup finalist Steve Lennon, while German number three Florian Hempel faces 2020 World Youth Champion Bradley Brooks.
UK Open champion Danny Noppert is tasked with a tough opener against 2021 World Cup finalist Rowby-John Rodriguez, while UK Open quarter-finalist and recent World Cup debutant Sebastian Bialecki faces former Euro Tour event winner Mervyn King – who is vying for a return to Blackpool later this month.
The action gets under way from 12pm BST, with First Round matches to be contested over the best of 11 legs.
WATCH DAY ONE OF THE EUROPEAN DARTS MATCHPLAY STREAMED LIVE HERE (18+)
European Darts Matchplay 2022 Day One Schedule
All times BST (Local time one hour ahead)
Friday July 1
First Round
Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm)
Johan Engstrom v James Wilson
Ross Montgomery v Jermaine Wattimena
Jamie Hughes v Wesley Plaisier
Radek Szaganski v Scott Williams
Niels Zonneveld v Cameron Menzies
Joe Murnan v Ian White
Evening Session (6pm-10pm)
Martin Lukeman v John Michael
Sebastian Bialecki v Mervyn King
Callan Rydz v Jon Worsley
Madars Razma v Dragutin Horvat
Lukas Wenig v Steve Lennon
Danny Noppert v Rowby-John Rodriguez
Florian Hempel v Bradley Brooks
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