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European Darts Championship 2023 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play

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European Darts Championship 2023 | Day Four Preview and Order of Play

Peter Wright powers past Michael Smith at the European Championship as Price and Van Gerwen prevail

Jamie Shaw in European Championship 28 Oct 2023

Wright sees off a struggling Smith (Photo by Jonas Hunold/PDC)

Peter Wright continued his resurgent form by thrashing Michael Smith 10-4 to reach the Quarter-Finals of the European Championship in Dortmund on Saturday.

Wright continued his bid for a second European Championship crown with a crushing victory over a struggling Smith – who staged a late rally but could not avert an early exit.

Smith, runner-up in Dortmund 12 months ago, was left shell-shocked as a merciless Wright punished his opponent’s doubling woes to storm into a 8-0 lead.

The world number one threatened an unlikely fightback with a run of four straight legs, though Wright regained his poise with legs of 14 and 13 darts to cap off a fine performance.

“I didn’t feel comfortable at all,” revealed Wright, who landed finishes of 107, 117 and 155.

“Michael isn’t the World Champion and world number one for nothing, but he didn’t bring his game at all, and I just did enough.

“I’m still in the tournament and I can only improve, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow now.”

Michael van Gerwen produced an imperious performance to end the hopes of German sensation Ricardo Pietreczko and move through to Sunday’s Quarter-Finals.

Four-time European Champion Van Gerwen averaged 104 to defeat a spirited Pietreczko with a blistering mid-game burst catapulting the Dutchman to a high quality 10-7 victory.

Pietreczko stunned Van Gerwen on his way to lifting the German Championship title earlier this month, and made a dream start to Saturday’s repeat fixture, raising the roof at the Westfalenhalle with a magnificent 167 checkout in the opening leg.

The 29-year-old led 3-2, but Van Gerwen responded with a brutal five-leg barrage to seize the initiative with a ten-darter and a 140 checkout in the process.

Pietreczko, roared on by a partisan crowd, reduced the deficit to 7-6, only for Van Gerwen to follow up a 145 checkout in leg 14 with a clinical 110 finish to seal the deal.

“It wasn’t easy,” admitted Van Gerwen. “After the first break I came back like a new Michael van Gerwen. I had a couple of good finishes and I scored really well, but I think there is more in the tank.

“I feel good, I feel comfortable, so I need to make sure I do this for the rest of the tournament.”

Masters champion Dobey defied a late onslaught from Stephen Bunting to clinch a dramatic 10-8 success, despite the St Helens ace landing 11 maximums.

Dobey conjured up a magical 170 checkout on his way to a commanding 7-2 lead, before fending off a valiant fightback from his opponent to seal a place in a third consecutive televised ranking Quarter-Final.

Gerwyn Price powered through to the Last Eight with a 10-5 victory over Nathan Aspinall, winning the last five legs without reply to dump out the World Matchplay champion.

There was nothing to separate the pair after ten legs, but a blistering late burst from the Welshman – featuring back-to-back 11-darters – saw him triumph with a 102 average and seven 180s.

“I’m definitely happy with the way I played towards the end of that game,” reflected Price, who will now take on 2022 UK Open champion Danny Noppert.

“Nathan is a great player. Even when he’s not at his best he keeps pushing you, but towards the end of the game I produced some good darts.

“If I can perform like that tomorrow then I will be difficult to beat, and if I get better round by round, then that trophy will be coming to Wales!”

Noppert reeled off five straight legs to seal a 10-7 success against two-time European Champion Rob Cross as he moved through to a third consecutive European Championship Quarter-Final.

The Dutch number two, who averaged 106 in his opening round whitewash of Andrew Gilding, produced a hat-trick of 15-dart legs and a 12-dart break in the closing stages to complete the turnaround.

Elsewhere, World Grand Prix champion Luke Humphries maintained his bid for back-to-back major titles by disposing of Krzysztof Ratajski 10-5.

Ratajski, who claimed his first win on the European Championship stage at the sixth attempt on Friday, opened his account with a 118 checkout and led 5-4.

However, Humphries came roaring back with a sequence of six straight legs to prevail with a 96 average, four 180s and a 42 per cent success rate on the outer ring.

“I was incredibly frustrated throughout that game,” admitted Humphries – who meets 2018 champion James Wade in Sunday’s Quarter-Finals.

“I think Krzysztof played well, but I was really pumped up after the second break, because I felt I should have been 7-3 up, but I didn’t let it affect me.

“I think this is something new in my game now. When I’m not playing at my best, I’ve got that mental strength to come out and not let it impact me, and I’m really proud of how I played in those last six legs.”

Wade, aided by superb 144 and 160 checkouts in the opening exchanges, demolished an out-of-sorts Jose de Sousa 10-1 to secure a place in his first PDC major Quarter-Final in more than 18 months.

Dutch youngster Gian van Veen claimed a hard-fought 10-6 win over Daryl Gurney to set up a mouth-watering showdown against his compatriot Van Gerwen.

Despite making a subdued start, World Youth finalist Van Veen found his range in the latter stages, firing in five 180s and producing two ton-plus finishes to progress to a maiden major Quarter-Final.

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European Darts Championship 2023 – Day Three Results

Saturday October 28

Second Round

Afternoon Session
Chris Dobey 10-8 Stephen Bunting
Rob Cross 7-10 Danny Noppert
Gerwyn Price 10-5 Nathan Aspinall
Michael Smith 4-10 Peter Wright

Evening Session
Gian van Veen 10-6 Daryl Gurney
James Wade 10-1 Jose de Sousa
Luke Humphries 10-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Ricardo Pietreczko

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Peter Wright powers past Michael Smith at the European Championship as Price and Van Gerwen prevail

European Darts Championship 2023 – Day Three Results

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