International Darts Open 2022 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play
The top seeds kick off their European Tour campaigns at the 2022 International Darts Open in Riesa on Saturday.
The first of 13 European Tour events this season features 48 players battling it out for £140,000 in prize money at the SACHSENarena from February 25-27.
The top 16 players from the ProTour Order of Merit (as of June 28, 2021) are seeded and enter at the Second Round stage, while 32 qualifiers battled it out on Day One for the right to join them.
Friday’s curtain-raiser saw reigning European Champion Rob Cross, world number 16 Ryan Searle and German stars Gabriel Clemens and Florian Hempel dumped out of the competition at the first hurdle.
A host of other notable names will be out to avoid a similar fate on Day Two as the action continues across two unmissable sessions.
One side story to this weekend’s event is the battle for the world number one spot between Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright, and both will look to play their part by coming through their opening ties.
Price, winner here in Riesa in 2018 and 2019, is facing an uphill task to retain top spot, knowing he must reach the final of this event and go deep in the UK Open next weekend and hope that Snakebite suffers early exits.
The 2021 World Champion returns to action for the first time since last Thursday’s double nine-dart heroics in Belfast as he takes on the man he defeated in his Ally Pally opener in December – Ritchie Edhouse.
Edhouse pulled off an impressive scalp of Ryan Searle in Round One and gave Price an early scare in the World Championship when he took the opening set without reply before eventually losing 3-1.
Wright launches his quest for a seventh European Tour title against world number 48 Luke Woodhouse – who overcame Andy Boulton 6-2 in his opener.
The afternoon session kicks off with a clash between 2021 Premier League finalist Jose de Sousa and Belgium’s Brian Raman – the current WDF number one and new PDC Tour Card holder.
Former Brisbane Masters winner Damon Heta takes on two-time major champion Daryl Gurney – who knocked out 16-year-old Fabian Schmutzler in Round One.
Krzysztof Ratajski, a former Euro Tour event winner, starts out against 20-year-old Welsh talent Lewy Williams, while Brendan Dolan faces a tricky opener against Host Nation qualifier Niko Springer – who landed five 180s in defeating Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 on Friday.
Danny Noppert, who recently welcomed the birth of his first child, marks his first competitive outing of the season with a tie against multiple major finalist Mervyn King.
In-form Kim Huybrechts, who saw off Hempel with a 97.5 average in Round One, returns to the stage to face ninth seed Devon Petersen – the 2020 German Championship winner.
Ten-time major champion James Wade begins his quest for a first European Tour title since 2016 with a tie against Vincent van der Voort – who produced the stand-out performance of the First Round by averaging 103.7 in a 6-3 win over Adam Gawlas.
Nathan Aspinall, who is recovering from an elbow problem, returns to action for the first time since the World Championship as he faces former Lakeside finalist Jeff Smith.
The evening session sees Michael van Gerwen launch his pursuit of a 33rd European Tour title with a show-down against Irish sensation Keane Barry.
Van Gerwen has not picked up a Euro Tour title since 2019 and faces a tough opener against the naturally-gifted 19-year-old – who swept aside Ron Meulenkamp in Round One.
Top seed and Masters Champion Joe Cullen begins the defence of his International Open title with a meeting against Latvian star Madars Razma.
Mensur Suljovic, the number 15 seed, starts out against 2020 World Matchplay champion Dimitri van den Bergh – who averaged 101.4 in a 6-2 success over Martin Lukeman on Day One.
Nico Kurz’ reward for his opening round success over compatriot Clemens is a show-down with former World Grand Prix finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Two-time world finalist Michael Smith, four times a Euro Tour event winner, takes on 2012 European Champion Simon Whitlock – who whitewashed Dragutin Horvat 6-0 in his opener.
Premier League champion Jonny Clayton aims to avoid a potential banana skin at the hands of Polish giant-killer Kciuk – who thrashed world number ten Rob Cross 6-1 on Friday.
The action gets under way from 12pm GMT, with Second Round matches to be contested over the best of 11 legs.
WATCH DAY TWO OF THE INTERNATIONAL DARTS OPEN STREAMED LIVE HERE (18+)
International Darts Open 2022 Day Two Schedule of Play
All times GMT (Local time one hour ahead)
Saturday February 26
Second Round
Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm)
Jose de Sousa v Brian Raman
Damon Heta v Daryl Gurney
Krzysztof Ratajski v Lewy Williams
Danny Noppert v Mervyn King
Brendan Dolan v Niko Springer
Devon Petersen v Kim Huybrechts
James Wade v Vincent van der Voort
Nathan Aspinall v Jeff Smith
Evening Session (6pm-10pm)
Mensur Suljovic v Dimitri van den Bergh
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Nico Kurz
Joe Cullen v Madars Razma
Michael van Gerwen v Keane Barry
Gerwyn Price v Ritchie Edhouse
Jonny Clayton v Krzysztof Kciuk
Peter Wright v Luke Woodhouse
Michael Smith v Simon Whitlock
