Michael Smith seals sixth European Tour title at the German Darts Grand Prix
Michael Smith secured his sixth European Tour title at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich on Easter Monday with an 8-5 win over Nathan Aspinall in the final.
Smith produced a stellar display at the Zenith Kulturhalle to defeat Aspinall in a repeat of November’s Grand Slam final and clinch his first ranking title since his World Championship success in January.
The St Helens star had survived three missed match darts in his opening round tie against Adam Warner on Sunday, producing a 116 checkout on tops to triumph in a last-leg decider.
He then kicked off Monday’s action with a sensational 6-2 success over Gerwyn Price, averaging almost 108 to end the Welshman’s hopes of lifting a third consecutive European Tour title.
The World Champion defied a resurgent Keane Barry to record a 6-4 victory in the Quarter-Finals, before surviving another match dart in a gripping Semi-Final show-down against Damon Heta.
This set up a mouth-watering tussle against Premier League rival Aspinall, and Smith seized the early initiative, racing into a 3-0 lead after the Stockport star squandered six darts at double in the opening leg.
Aspinall reduced the deficit with finishes of 74 and 108, but Smith restored his two-leg cushion with an 11-darter, before following up a sixth maximum with a 13-dart break to lead 5-2.
Smith maintained his three-leg advantage with a brilliant 130 finish on the bull in leg nine, moments after Aspinall had converted a 112 checkout in leg eight to cut the gap.
The former UK Open champion refused to relent and threatened an unlikely fightback after winning back-to-back legs to trail 6-5, only for Smith to reply in kind to scoop the £30,000 top prize.
“I think that first leg changed the match against Nathan,” admitted Smith, who averaged almost 103, hit eight 180s and converted 62 per cent of his attempts at doubles.
“It happens sometimes and you have to ride your luck. I had four match darts thrown against me this weekend and luckily enough I get my sixth European Tour title.
“This weekend just reminded me so much of Gibraltar when I was playing really badly. I wasn’t playing well but I kept managing to win.
“I feel bad for Nathan because he’s not won one of these [titles] yet. I know how to win these European Tours, and I knew I had to produce the right shots at the key times.
“I think I my brought my A-game twice in five games and now I’m the German Darts Grand Prix champion!”
Aspinall broke new ground in Munich, reaching his first European Tour final at the 42nd attempt, courtesy of wins over Jim Williams, Andrew Gilding and Joe Cullen on Monday.
The Stockport ace overcame Williams and UK Open champion Gilding in hard-fought contests, before clinching a fifth consecutive victory over Cullen with a 7-5 success in a dramatic Semi-Final.
“These are big, big tournaments. I’ve never made a final and I think I felt the nerves early on. Fair play to Michael, he capitalised,” reflected Aspinall.
“I don’t think either of us have played very well this weekend, but I thought that was a great game to be fair.
“Michael proved why he is the world number one and World Champion. He put in a fantastic performance in that final.
“These days are really tough but it was a new step in my career this weekend.
“I am going to take the positives and we go again on Thursday night in the Premier League. Hopefully I can use this positivity and have a good result in Brighton.”
Cullen, appearing in his 65th consecutive European Tour event, recorded 6-3 wins over Lee Evans and defending champion Luke Humphries before succumbing to Aspinall in the Last Four.
Elsewhere, Heta suffered last-leg heartbreak against Smith, but wins over Masters champion Chris Dobey and former UK Open champion Danny Noppert saw him feature in a first ranking Semi-Final of the season.
Top seed Humphries bowed out in the last eight alongside Gilding and Noppert on his return to action, with Irish youngster Keane Barry also progressing to his maiden European Tour Quarter-Final.
German Darts Grand Prix 2023 Day Three Results
Monday April 10
Third Round
Afternoon Session
Michael Smith 6-2 Gerwyn Price
Keane Barry 6-5 Berry van Peer
Dirk van Duijvenbode 2-6 Danny Noppert
Damon Heta 6-5 Chris Dobey
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Jim Williams
Dave Chisnall 5-6 Andrew Gilding
Lee Evans 3-6 Joe Cullen
Luke Humphries 6-2 Jose de Sousa
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Michael Smith 6-4 Keane Barry
Danny Noppert 3-6 Damon Heta
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Joe Cullen 6-3 Luke Humphries
Semi-Finals
Michael Smith 7-6 Damon Heta
Nathan Aspinall 7-5 Joe Cullen
Final
Michael Smith 8-5 Nathan Aspinall
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