Chris Dobey ends drought against Michael van Gerwen at the European Championship as Rodriguez stuns Price
Chris Dobey recorded his first win over Michael van Gerwen in a last-leg thriller at the European Championship in Dortmund on Friday, as Rowby-John Rodriguez sent Gerwyn Price packing.
A dramatic Day Two of the £500,000 event saw the world’s top three in action at the Westfalenhalle, although Van Gerwen and Price crashed out on an extraordinary evening as six of the eight winners registered ton-plus averages.
Dobey produced a sensational display of scoring to end an 11-match losing streak against Van Gerwen, surviving four match darts from the Dutchman in the process.
Dobey, who landed fifteen 140s and four 180s, appeared to have squandered a golden opportunity after relinquishing a 4-2 lead, with Van Gerwen conjuring up a spectacular 160 checkout to move 5-4 ahead.
However, the World Grand Prix champion spurned four match darts in a dramatic penultimate leg and Dobey capitalised, firing in back-to-back 180s and taking out 84 in the decider to seal a memorable win.
“I’m over the moon. I was starting to think about it mid-game, but to get over the line is a great feeling,” said Dobey.
“I’m so happy to beat Michael for the first time. I still class him as the best player in the world, and hopefully I can get many more wins over him now.”
Rodriguez was also overcome by emotion following his 6-4 success against Price, having endured a turbulent year which has seen his young daughter hospitalised for three heart operations.
The Austrian has come of age on the oche in 2022, and continued his fine form by producing a nerveless display to dump out Price and set up a show-down against world number one Peter Wright on Saturday night.
Price landed a majestic ten-darter to lead, but following a run of six consecutive holds, Rodriguez struck the first blow, courtesy of a brilliant double-double 92 finish to move 4-3 in front.
The former World Cup runner-up held throw to move a leg away from victory, before defying a 98 skin-saver from the Welshman to seal the deal with a 100 checkout in leg ten.
“I’m so proud of myself – it’s been a tough few weeks for me,” reflected Rodriguez, who was making his first European Championship appearance since 2015.
“I am shaking. I can’t believe what I’ve done – I’ve beaten the world number two. It’s amazing.
“I have so much respect for Gezzy. He didn’t perform at his best today, but I am so happy.”
World Champion Wright avoided the same fate as his main rivals, after kicking off his title bid with a resounding 6-2 success against Ryan Meikle.
The 2020 European Champion produced a series of clinical combination finishes to overcome the spirited debutant, taking out 94, 98 and 101 to advance with a 103 average.
“Ryan is a very dangerous player. I thought I played poorly, but I’m very happy with a 103 average,” admitted Wright, who will retain his world number one status if he reaches the Semi-Finals this weekend.
“I won this title two years ago so I’m defending lots of prize money, but it’s a really difficult tournament because every player is in form, as you’ve seen by the big averages.”
Elsewhere, German duo Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler were denied on home soil, succumbing to Jonny Clayton and Jose De Sousa in high-quality encounters.
Clayton, semi-finalist 12 months ago, defied late double trouble to dump out German number one Clemens in the evening’s finale, averaging 97 and converting six of his 13 attempts at double to progress.
Meanwhile, De Sousa produced an imperious display to dispatch Schindler 6-1; averaging 105, landing three 180s and taking out a 140 combination to book a second round tie against Dobey.
Dave Chisnall produced the performance of the first round in Friday’s opener, averaging 107 to record another whitewash win over his St Helens counterpart Stephen Bunting.
Chisnall, who also thrashed Bunting 6-0 in their last televised clash at The Masters in January, landed a 121 finish and an 11-darter to breeze through.
Dimitri Van den Bergh also produced a ton-topping average to register his first win at the European Championship, sweeping aside Daryl Gurney 6-2 in a battle of former TV title winners.
The opening five legs went with throw, but a superb 11-dart break in leg six catapulted Van den Bergh to victory, with the Belgian winning four straight legs to prevail with a 101 average.
Van den Bergh’s reward is a second round showdown against Ross Smith – who reeled off four consecutive legs from 4-2 adrift to dump out sixth seed Joe Cullen with a 101 average.
Cullen converted a spectacular 154 finish in establishing a 4-2 lead, but Smith – who drew first blood with a 130 checkout – responded with legs of 12, 11, 14 and 16 darts to prevail with a 75% success rate on the outer ring.
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European Championship 2022 Day Two Results
Friday October 28
First Round
Dave Chisnall 6-0 Stephen Bunting
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-2 Daryl Gurney
Joe Cullen 4-6 Ross Smith
Jose de Sousa 6-1 Martin Schindler
Peter Wright 6-2 Ryan Meikle
Gerwyn Price 4-6 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Chris Dobey
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Gabriel Clemens
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