European Darts Open 2022 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play
The top 16 seeds commence their European Darts Open campaigns in Leverkusen on Saturday as the Second Round action takes centre stage.
The fifth European Tour event of the season features 47 players battling it out for £140,000 in prize money, with 16 qualifiers having progressed through Friday’s opening round to set up a meeting with one of the 16 seeded stars.
One of the stand-out ties of Round Two at the Ostermann Arena sees Michael van Gerwen, twice a European Tour event winner this season, take on former German Championship winner Daryl Gurney.
Van Gerwen collected his 34th Euro Tour title at the Austrian Open in Graz last weekend and has won half of the events on the continent so far this year, but faces a tricky opener against the multiple major champion.
Gurney took out 78 in the deciding leg to edge past Northern Irish compatriot Kevin Burness in Round One and is looking to climb back up the rankings after dropping to world number 23.
Meanwhile, world number one Peter Wright aims to address a patchy recent run of form by challenging for glory this weekend, but faces a tricky opening test against three-time Challenge Tour event winner Scott Williams.
Wright was beaten 6-3 by Callan Rydz in Graz last weekend before suffering a Quarter-Final exit to Gary Anderson in the Premier League in Glasgow on Thursday.
Williams held his nerve to defeat Czech star Adam Gawlas in a deciding leg on Friday with six 180s and a 98 average to his name.
Gerwyn Price starts his quest for a second Euro Tour title of the season with a clash against in-form Luke Woodhouse.
Price picked up the International Open title in February but opted to skip last week’s Austrian Open and has seen his Premier League play-off push dealt a major blow courtesy of just two wins in his last seven outings.
Woodhouse registered a personal best average of 110 in a 6-0 whitewash of Mickey Mansell on Friday afternoon and is now eyeing what would be his biggest result on the Euro Tour to date.
Home hopes rest on the shoulders on Martin Schindler, and the in-form youngster looks to delight a bumper Leverkusen crowd by overcoming two-time European Champion Rob Cross.
Reigning Premier League champion and runaway league leader Jonny Clayton aims to pick up from where he left off in Glasgow 48 hours ago when he faces Austrian ace Rowby-John Rodriguez.
Multiple ranking event winner Damon Heta opens up against two-time Euro Tour event winner Dave Chisnall – who knocked out Gabriel Clemens in Round One.
The evening session also features a tie between recent German Grand Prix champion Luke Humphries and Associate Member qualifier Darren Penhall – who averaged 100 in a 6-0 rout of Luc Peters on Day One.
Nathan Aspinall, semi-finalist in Graz a week ago, opens up against Czech star Karel Sedlacek – who received a bye in Round One following the withdrawal of Danny Baggish.
The afternoon session kicks off with a contest between former Gibraltar Trophy winner Krzysztof Ratajski and new sensation Josh Rock – who whitewashed Connor Scutt in Round One with a 98 average.
Third seed Jose de Sousa looks to arrest a recent slump in form when he faces Sweden’s Dennis Nilsson – conqueror of Martin Lukeman in Round One.
Dirk van Duijvenbode, a winner on the ProTour this season, starts out against Dutch compatriot Maik Kuivenhoven, while former World Grand Prix finalist Brendan Dolan faces recent ProTour event finalist Andrew Gilding.
Players Championship Finals runner-up Ryan Searle takes on Poland’s Krzysztof Kciuk – who overcame Keane Barry on Friday, while ten-time major winner James Wade looks to continue his sublime spell of form when he plays former World Youth finalist Berry van Peer.
Joe Cullen and Devon Petersen will put their close friendship to one side when they lock horns on the big stage, while Dimitri Van den Bergh aims to kick-start a resurgence in results when he meets recent Lakeside semi-finalist Cameron Menzies – who defeated Ian White on Friday.
The action gets under way from 12pm BST, with Second Round matches to be contested over the best of 11 legs.
WATCH DAY TWO OF THE EUROPEAN DARTS OPEN STREAMED LIVE HERE (18+)
European Darts Open 2022 – Day Two Schedule of Play
All times BST (Local time one hour ahead)
Saturday May 7
Second Round
Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm)
Krzysztof Ratajski v Josh Rock
Jose de Sousa v Dennis Nilsson
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Maik Kuivenhoven
Brendan Dolan v Andrew Gilding
Ryan Searle v Krzysztof Kciuk
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Cameron Menzies
James Wade v Berry van Peer
Joe Cullen v Devon Petersen
Evening Session (6pm-10pm)
Luke Humphries v Darren Penhall
Nathan Aspinall v Karel Sedlacek
Gerwyn Price v Luke Woodhouse
Michael van Gerwen v Daryl Gurney
Peter Wright v Scott Williams
Jonny Clayton v Rowby-John Rodriguez
Rob Cross v Martin Schindler
Damon Heta v Dave Chisnall
