Mike De Decker thrashes Michael Smith at the International Darts Open as Van Gerwen survives Campbell scare
Mike De Decker pulled off a 6-1 rout of a struggling Michael Smith in the Second Round of the International Darts Open in Riesa on Saturday.
Belgian ace De Decker sealed his spot in the Third Round of a European Tour event for the first time since 2019 as he dismantled an out of sorts Smith at the SACHSENarena.
The 27-year-old fired in four 180s and afforded the reigning World Champion only four darts at a double in the contest as he set up a Last 16 show-down with defending champion Gerwyn Price on Sunday afternoon.
Price launched his quest for a fourth International Open title with a 6-3 victory over European Champion Ross Smith, averaging 104.2 with 60 per cent on the outer ring, including a showpiece 142 checkout.
Meanwhile, Michael van Gerwen survived a scare from Matt Campbell on his way to reaching Round Three, with the Canadian missing two match darts in the deciding leg to allow the top seed off the hook.
Campbell, playing with a set of darts borrowed from his manager after his luggage failed to arrive in Germany, missed two darts at double 18 for a memorable scalp, with Van Gerwen edging through with an average of 102.3 and six maximums.
Home favourite Martin Schindler delighted the 4,000-strong crowd in Riesa by knocking out five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld 6-4.
Van Barneveld, who received a late call-up to the event via the reserve list, led 3-2, but only for the German to claim four of the next five legs to set up a meeting with Nathan Aspinall.
Premier League star Aspinall had earlier seen off Belgium’s Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-2 with a 96.5 average and 60 per cent on the doubles.
Last weekend’s European Open runner-up Dirk van Duijvenbode denied Gabriel Clemens a victory on home soil as he prevailed 6-3 despite four 180s and a 97 average from the World Championship semi-finalist.
Host Nation qualifier Niko Springer continued his superb form on the European Tour this season by thrashing an out of sorts Dimitri van den Bergh 6-1 with the aid of three 180s to coast into the Last 16.
Springer will now face Damon Heta on Sunday afternoon after the Australian ace dispatched Brendan Dolan 6-3 with a 97.8 average and a high finish of 152.
Tenth seed Danny Noppert averted a major scalp at the hands of debutant Liam Maendl-Lawrance, holding his nerve in the deciding leg to deny the 18-year-old a dream victory.
Jose de Sousa enjoyed a long-awaited return to form as he whitewashed Lee Evans 6-0 with six from ten on the doubles to set up a Third Round clash with Van Gerwen.
Peter Wright atoned for last weekend’s shock defeat to Ricardo Pietreczko as he overcame Spain’s Jose Justicia 6-3 with a 97.3 average and three ton-plus finishes.
Joe Cullen’s below-par start to the season continued as he suffered a 6-2 defeat at the hands of Alan Soutar – who landed a 126 checkout en route to reaching the Last 16 of a Euro Tour event for the first time.
Two-time European Champion Rob Cross saw off Ireland’s Steve Lennon 6-3 with the aid of four maximums, while Thursday’s Premier League Night Nine winner Jonny Clayton battled back from 3-1 down to defeat Belgium’s Brian Raman 6-4.
Dave Chisnall recorded a sixth straight win over UK Open champion Andrew Gilding, averaging 100.5 with five 180s and six from seven on the doubles.
World Youth Champion Josh Rock safely saw off German hopeful Florian Hempel 6-4 with five maximums to his name to confirm a clash with Cross in the Last 16.
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International Darts Open 2023 Day Two Results
All times BST (Local time one hour ahead)
Saturday April 1
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Danny Noppert 6-5 Liam Maendl-Lawrance
Damon Heta 6-3 Brendan Dolan
Jose De Sousa 6-0 Lee Evans
Rob Cross 6-3 Steve Lennon
Joe Cullen 2-6 Alan Soutar
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Andrew Gilding
Josh Rock 6-4 Florian Hempel
Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Evening Session
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Brian Raman
Dimitri Van den Bergh 1-6 Niko Springer
Peter Wright 6-3 Jose Justicia
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Matt Campbell
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Ross Smith
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Gabriel Clemens
Martin Schindler 6-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Michael Smith 1-6 Mike De Decker
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