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Wright denies Menzies as Van Barneveld whitewashes Gurney at the Czech Darts Open

Jamie Shaw in European Tour 18 Oct 2024

Peter Wright celebrates (Photo by PDC Europe)

Peter Wright launched the defence of his Czech Darts Open title with a 6-5 victory over Cameron Menzies on Friday, as Raymond van Barneveld whitewashed Daryl Gurney.

The opening day of the season’s final European Tour event saw 16 first round matches take place at PVA EXPO, with the race for European Championship qualification dominating the narrative.

Wright, also the reigning European Champion, will be among the 32 players battling it out for glory in Dortmund next week, and he made a winning start on his return to Prague.

The two-time World Champion fended off a late rally from Menzies to triumph in a decider, establishing 2-0, 4-2 and 5-3 leads before sealing the deal with a 14-dart break of throw.

“Cammy has beaten me the last two times we’ve played on the European Tour,” said Wright, after ending his compatriot’s hopes of a European Championship debut.

“He’s a fantastic player and I knew it was going to be a tough game, but the crowd helped me here today. It was a pleasure to play in front of them.”

Meanwhile, Van Barneveld enjoyed a contrastingly serene passage into the Second Round following a 6-0 rout of a struggling Gurney.

The five-time World Champion landed three 180s and converted six of his eight attempts at doubles, averaging 98 in an accomplished display.

Newly crowned World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker enjoy a successful return to the big stage just five days on from his sensational triumph in Leicester.

The Belgian star averaged 104 and pinned six of his eight double attempts in a 6-1 demolition of Brett Claydon.

De Decker is now assured of his place at the European Championship alongside world number two Michael Smith, who defied a sluggish display to see off an out of sorts Kevin Doets 6-3.

Nathan Aspinall also moved one step closer to qualification after reeling off six consecutive legs to dispatch Host Nation Qualifier Michal Smejda 6-1, wrapping up proceedings with a 114 checkout.

Czech debutant Pavel Drtil stole the headlines on home soil in the afternoon session, causing a seismic shock with a 6-4 success against former Masters champion Joe Cullen.

James Wade averaged 105.6 and converted 75 per cent of his attempts at doubles on his way to a 6-1 rout of debutant Daniel Markovsky.

In-form Ritchie Edhouse landed four 180s as he swept aside Jiri Brejcha 6-2 with a 97.2 average.

UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh will be a high-profile absentee in Dortmund later this month after succumbing 6-2 to a clinical Jonny Clayton.

Madars Razma, Callan Rydz and Brendan Dolan also saw their hopes of European Championship qualification crushed during a dramatic afternoon session.

Razma was beaten 6-3 by Polish ace Krzysztof Ratajski, while Rydz slipped to a fifth straight defeat against Martin Lukeman.

Dolan, a former European Championship semi-finalist, suffered a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Gabriel Clemens, as the 41-year-old confirmed his place in next week’s major.

Luke Woodhouse coasted to a whitewash win over Finland’s Marko Kantele, while Jermaine Wattimena converted a stunning 141 checkout to wrap up a deciding-leg victory over Patrik Kovacs, defying a 170 checkout from the Hungarian earlier in the tie.

Niels Zonneveld reeled off five straight legs to defeat Robert Owen 6-2, while Alan Soutar punished a desolate display from Florian Hempel to prevail by the same scoreline.

Czech Darts Open 2024 Day One Results

Friday October 18

First Round

Afternoon Session
Robert Owen 2-6 Niels Zonneveld
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Patrik Kovacs
Ritchie Edhouse 6-2 Jiri Brejcha
Florian Hempel 2-6 Alan Soutar
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Madars Razma
Brendan Dolan 1-6 Gabriel Clemens
Martin Lukeman 6-4 Callan Rydz
Joe Cullen 4-6 Pavel Drtil

Evening Session
Luke Woodhouse 6-0 Marko Kantele
James Wade 6-1 Daniel Markovsky
Mike De Decker 6-1 Brett Claydon
Michal Smejda 1-6 Nathan Aspinall
Dimitri Van den Bergh 2-6 Jonny Clayton
Daryl Gurney 0-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Cameron Menzies 5-6 Peter Wright
Kevin Doets 3-6 Michael Smith

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Wright denies Menzies as Van Barneveld whitewashes Gurney at the Czech Darts Open

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