Gibraltar Darts Trophy 2021 Day Two preview and order of play | Round Two commences on The Rock

The Second Round of the 2021 Gibraltar Darts Trophy takes centre stage on Saturday with European Championship places up for grabs.

The top 16 seeds make their entrance at the Europa Sports Park as they bid to reach the final day of the action in the season’s second and final European Tour event.

The top 32 players on the European Order of Merit following the event will secure places in October’s European Championship.

As it stands, 22 players have already sealed their spot in Salzburg, including a host of new faces, while six of the 16 seeds in action on Saturday must win in order to keep their hopes alive.

Premier League champion Jonny Clayton is among the notable names facing a must-win scenario, and the number seven seed starts out against former World Masters champion Adam Smith-Neale in the evening session.

Dirk van Duijvenbode, a quarter-finalist in last year’s European Championship, aims to clinch his return by overcoming multiple Development Tour event winner Ted Evetts in the opening tie of the afternoon session.

Mensur Suljović, European Championship runner-up in 2016, faces a tough test against a resurgent Kim Huybrechts – who averaged 105 in defeating Boris Koltsov on Friday.

Krzysztof Ratajski, who won the most recent staging of the Gibraltar Trophy in 2019, begins his title defence against two-time ProTour event winner Ryan Searle – who staged a superb fightback from 5-2 down to defeat Martin Schindler in Round One.

Devon Petersen, semi-finalist in last year’s European Championship, must defeat Gabriel Clemens if he is to join the German in the main event next month.

Danny Noppert, who missed the recent Hungarian Trophy for personal reasons, returns as the number 13 seed to take on Sweden’s Andreas Harrysson – who knocked out Keane Barry courtesy of some pinpoint finishing in Round One.

The stand-out tie of the evening sees two former World Champions collide as Michael van Gerwen meets Rob Cross.

Van Gerwen is bidding for back-to-back titles after ending his drought at the Nordic Masters last weekend, while Cross came through a tricky opener against Hungary’s Patrik Kovács and will be looking to raise his game accordingly against the green machine.

Kenny Neyens, who averaged just 71 in a gruelling First Round win over Dyson Parody, is now tasked with taking on Grand Slam champion Jose De Sousa.

Two former European Tour event winners go head-to-head as Michael Smith collides with Simon Whitlock in arguably the pick of the afternoon’s action.

UK Open champion James Wade will be poised for a tough test against Croatia’s Boris Krcmar – who knocked out World Cup winner John Henderson with a 97 average on Friday.

World Matchplay champion Peter Wright starts out against emerging star Callan Rydz – who averaged 103.7 with 75% on the doubles in a 6-1 rout of Host Nation qualifier Justin Hewitt.

Gerwyn Price makes a swift return to action after pulling out midway through last week’s Nordic Masters with an elbow injury, and the world number one’s first test comes in the shape of emerging German star Florian Hempel – who dispatched Stephen Bunting in Round One.

Nathan Aspinall will be eyeing a much-needed confidence boost when he faces Ritchie Edhouse, while top seed Joe Cullen opens up against former ProTour event winner Joe Murnan.

Former World Grand Prix finalists Brendan Dolan and Mervyn King lock horns in what could prove a close-run contest, while former Brisbane Masters winner Damon Heta hosts two-time Challenge Tour winner Adam Hunt.

The action gets under way from 12pm BST, with Second Round matches to be contested over the best of 11 legs.

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Gibraltar Darts Trophy 2021 Day Two Schedule of Play

All times BST – Local time one hour ahead

Saturday September 25

Second Round

Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm)
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Ted Evetts
Brendan Dolan v Mervyn King
Danny Noppert v Andreas Harrysson
Damon Heta v Adam Hunt
Mensur Suljovic v Kim Huybrechts
Michael Smith v Simon Whitlock
James Wade v Boris Krcmar
Krzysztof Ratajski v Ryan Searle

Evening Session (6pm-10pm)
Jonny Clayton v Adam Smith-Neale
Jose de Sousa v Kenny Neyens
Devon Petersen v Gabriel Clemens
Peter Wright v Callan Rydz
Gerwyn Price v Florian Hempel
Michael van Gerwen v Rob Cross
Joe Cullen v Joe Murnan
Nathan Aspinall v Ritchie Edhouse

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