International Darts Open 2023 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play
The top 16 seeds begin their campaigns at the International Darts Open on Saturday as the Second Round action takes centre stage in Riesa.
The third of 13 Euro Tour events this season features 48 players battling it out for £175,000 in prize money at the SACHSENarena from March 31 to April 2.
The afternoon session features a stand-out tie between reigning UK Open champion Andrew Gilding and fourth seed Dave Chisnall – winner of the Baltic Sea Darts Open earlier this year, as well as last year’s Belgian Darts Open – where he defeated Gilding in the final.
Reigning World Youth Champion Josh Rock starts his latest quest for a maiden European Tour title with a clash against German ace Florian Hempel – who overcame James Wilson in Friday’s opening round.
Last year’s Premier League runner-up and three-time Euro Tour event winner Joe Cullen starts out against Scottish star Alan Soutar – bidding to reach the Third Round of a Euro Tour event for the first time.
Former UK Open champion Danny Noppert opens up against 18-year-old German qualifier Liam Maendl-Lawrance – who knocked out Richie Burnett on a dream debut on Friday.
Premier League star Nathan Aspinall, the number five seed, takes on Belgian veteran Mario Vandenbogaerde, while former World Champion Rob Cross faces former World Cup of Darts runner-up Steve Lennon.
Lee Evans enjoyed a winning return on his first Euro Tour appearance for eight years, averaging 99 in a 6-5 victory over Kim Huybrechts, and he now faces former Grand Slam champion Jose De Sousa.
World Cup of Darts winner Damon Heta faces a tough opener against Brendan Dolan – whose sole appearance in a Euro Tour final came a decade ago.
The evening session features a show-down between five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld and home favourite Martin Schindler.
Van Barneveld seized his late call-up to the event by seeing off Stephen Burton in Round One, and will look to deny the German number two and strengthen his place in the provisional qualification places for July’s World Matchplay.
Reigning champion Gerwyn Price kicks off the defence of his title with a tie crunch clash against European Champion Ross Smith.
Price has proved the dominant force in Riesa in recent years, winning three of the last four stagings of the International Open, and the Welshman is targeting back-to-back Euro Tour titles following last week’s triumph in Leverkusen.
Smith, meanwhile, fired in five 180s on his way to a routine 6-3 win over Finland’s Paavo Myller in Round One and will be keen to sustain that scoring power against the most in-form player on planet darts at present.
World number two Peter Wright looks to atone for last weekend’s disappointing Second Round exit to Ricardo Pietreczko from 5-1 up when he faces Spain’s Jose Justicia – conqueror of Ian White in Round One.
Dirk van Duijvenbode came agonisingly close to capturing his first Euro Tour title a week ago, missing two match darts in a dramatic deciding leg defeat in the final, and the Dutchman starts his latest quest for glory against German number one Gabriel Clemens – who fought back from 5-2 down to stun Simon Whitlock on Friday.
World Champion and world number one Michael Smith, the 2015 International Open winner, faces a tricky opener against Belgian maximum machine Mike De Decker – who knocked out Callan Rydz in Round One.
Michael van Gerwen has racked up a staggering 35 European Tour titles but is yet to claim the International Open trophy, and he begins his bid to end the wait with a clash against Canadian number one Matt Campbell.
Jonny Clayton aims to pick up from where he left off in winning Night Nine of the Premier League on Thursday when he faces Belgium’s Brian Raman – the former WDF world number one.
Former World Matchplay champion Dimitri Van den Bergh looks to avert a potential scalp at the hands of Host Nation qualifier Niko Springer – who saw off Scott Williams in his opener with a 99.6 average.
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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International Darts Open 2023 Day Two Schedule
All times BST (Local time one hour ahead)
Saturday April 1
Second Round
Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm)
Danny Noppert v Liam Maendl-Lawrance
Damon Heta v Brendan Dolan
Jose De Sousa v Lee Evans
Rob Cross v Steve Lennon
Joe Cullen v Alan Soutar
Dave Chisnall v Andrew Gilding
Josh Rock v Florian Hempel
Nathan Aspinall v Mario Vandenbogaerde
Evening Session (6pm-10pm)
Jonny Clayton v Brian Raman
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Niko Springer
Peter Wright v Jose Justicia
Michael van Gerwen v Matt Campbell
Gerwyn Price v Ross Smith
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Gabriel Clemens
Martin Schindler v Raymond van Barneveld
Michael Smith v Mike De Decker
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