Ross Montgomery stuns Jonny Clayton in Round Two of the European Darts Grand Prix
Ross Montgomery pulled off a shock Second Round scalp of Jonny Clayton at the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen on Saturday, as Luke Humphries began his title defence with a dramatic deciding-leg win.
Day Two of the season’s ninth European Tour event event saw 16 Second Round ties take place at the Glaspalast, with Montgomery one of six unseeded players to progress to the final day of action.
The veteran Scotsman dumped out Thursday’s Premier League semi-finalist with an impressive six from ten on the doubles to reach the Last 16 of a Euro Tour event for the first time.
Meanwhile, top seed Humphries defying a stirring fightback from Chris Dobey to kick off the defence of his title in dramatic fashion.
Humphries raced into a seemingly unassailable 5-1 lead before squandering eight match darts, but Dobey was unable to complete a famous comeback, spurning three match darts of his own in a gripping decider.
“I was in so much control, and I’m lucky I’m not walking off this stage absolutely devastated,” admitted Humphries, who must retain the title if he’s to represent England at next month’s World Cup of Darts.
“There’s a lot for me to play for this weekend. I’m here to get as much ranking money as I can, and if I can win this title, what comes with it is a bonus.
“There’s a long way to go. There are four games to win, but we all know how good I can be on Finals Day,” added the 28-year-old, who now takes on five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld.
Van Barneveld produced a superb showing to advance to the Last 16 of a European Tour event for the first time since 2019, courtesy of a whitewash win over UK Open champion Andrew Gilding.
Gerwyn Price made a winning return to action following his defeat in Thursday’s Premier League final, firing in five maximums en route to a comprehensive 6-2 defeat of Ricky Evans.
Martin Schindler will await the Welshman in Round Three after defying a late rally from his World Cup partner Gabriel Clemens to close out a 6-3 success.
Nathan Aspinall put Jose de Sousa to the sword with an imperious display of scoring, registering a first nine-dart average of 124 to celebrate a 6-3 victory over the former Grand Slam champion.
World Youth Champion Josh Rock kept his own World Cup of Darts aspirations alive in Sindelfingen, kicking off Saturday’s action with a whitewash win over a struggling Keegan Brown.
Rock – who must win this weekend’s title if he’s to represent Northern Ireland at next month’s showpiece – will now meet emerging Dutchman Gian van Veen for a place in the Quarter-Finals.
Van Veen dumped out his compatriot Danny Noppert to move through to the Last 16 of a European Tour event for the first time, producing a magical 170 checkout en route to a landmark 6-4 victory.
Last year’s runner-up Rob Cross will play the veteran Scot for a spot in the Last Eight, after averaging 97 in dispatching Martijn Kleermaker 6-2.
Dave Chisnall began his bid for a third European Tour title of 2023 with a 6-2 win over German youngster Pascal Rupprecht, following up a fifth 180 with a brilliant 136 checkout to wrap up victory in style.
Chisnall will lock horns with Krzysztof Ratajski on Sunday afternoon, after Poland’s premier player produced a trio of ton-plus checkouts to dump out Dimitri Van den Bergh, who bowed out with a 103 average.
European Champion Ross Smith produced a sparkling display to seal a whitewash win over Steve Beaton, averaging over a ton and converting six of his eight double attempts to progress to Finals Day.
Smith’s reward is third round clash against Daryl Gurney, who pinned six of his ten darts at double to demolish second seed Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2 in the afternoon’s finale.
Fourth seed Damon Heta reeled off three straight legs to ease past Adam Smith-Neale and set up a last 16 tussle against Joe Cullen, who landed a 108 checkout to account for Josh Payne in an 11-leg affair.
Elsewhere, Madars Razma punished a below-par display from Ryan Searle to run out a comprehensive 6-1 winner and maintain his hopes of World Matchplay qualification.
European Darts Grand Prix 2023 Day Two Results
Saturday May 27
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Josh Rock 6-0 Keegan Brown
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Pascal Rupprecht
Ross Smith 6-0 Steve Beaton
Ryan Searle 1-6 Madars Razma
Rob Cross 6-2 Martijn Kleermaker
Danny Noppert 4-6 Gian van Veen
Damon Heta 6-3 Adam Smith-Neale
Dirk van Duijvenbode 2-6 Daryl Gurney
Evening Session
Andrew Gilding 0-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Jose De Sousa
Luke Humphries 6-5 Chris Dobey
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Ricky Evans
Joe Cullen 6-5 Josh Payne
Martin Schindler 6-3 Gabriel Clemens
Jonny Clayton 4-6 Ross Montgomery
Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
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