Niko Springer thrashes Michael van Gerwen as ten seeds crash out of German Darts Grand Prix

Niko Springer produced a clinical display to thrash defending champion Michael van Gerwen 6-1 in the second round of the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich on Sunday.

Springer turned on the style to emphatically dethrone the reigning champion on a dramatic day which saw ten seeds crash out at The Zenith.

Springer, last year’s Hungarian Darts Trophy winner, stormed into a 4-0 lead before Van Gerwen finally got off the mark, but the German responded with back-to-back legs to clinch a dominant win with a 98.3 average.

“I’m really happy to play here,” said Springer, who will now face Michael Smith in Monday’s Last 16.

“I know I have to play on the same level tomorrow as I did today or maybe a bit better, but I will be ready.

“Michael Smith is a really, really tough opponent. He has achieved a lot of good stuff, he’s a former World Champion.”

Smith – another former German Darts Grand Prix champion – prevailed through a much more tense affair in his 6-5 victory over eight-time European Tour winner Dave Chisnall.

The 2023 World Champion capitalised on a poor display of doubling from Chisnall to prevail with the aid of a pivotal 136 checkout.

Meanwhile, William O’Connor pulled off a commanding 6-2 victory over top seed Gian van Veen despite an average of just 89, taking out 108 to seal the deal.

Kevin Doets denied James Wade a win on his 100th European Tour appearance as the Dutchman edged through a last-leg decider with a 101.3 average, recovering from 5-3 down in a three-leg burst that began with his second 170 checkout of the tournament.

Doets will face fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode – who survived two match darts from Mike De Decker to prevail in a tense last-leg decider.

Also amongst the ten seeds to bow out were Jermaine Wattimena and Luke Woodhouse – who succumbed to 6-1 thrashings at the hands of Niels Zonneveld and Kim Huybrechts respectively.

Zonneveld will now take on Josh Rock – who defied a 103.2 average from Ryan Joyce to prevail 6-4, while Huybrechts will face Jonny Clayton after the Welsh number one squeezed past Host Nation Qualifier Marcel Hausotter in a last-leg decider.

Andrew Gilding emerged the winner in one of eight matches to go to a last-leg decider in Munich, landing a 104 checkout to defeat Daryl Gurney and book his place in Round Three.

Home hero Martin Schindler became the second German to triumph on home soil as he battled past Brendan Dolan 6-4 to set up a Last 16 tussle with Nathan Aspinall.

Three-time European Tour winner Aspinall battled through a deciding-leg epic against Ricardo Pietreczko, recovering from 5-4 down including a 12-dart break to see off a spirited display from the German number two.

Ross Smith delivered a professional performance to see off Hungary’s Patrik Kovacs 6-2 and set up a tie with Krzysztof Ratajski, with the Polish number one edging past Ryan Searle 6-5 by taking out 121 in the deciding leg.

Danny Noppert was also pushed the distance against former European Champion Ritchie Edhouse, averaging 99.4 and registering a 13-darter to win the decider.

Karel Sedlacek will meet Noppert in round three after a dazzling 6-2 victory over Australian number one Damon Heta, in which the Czech crashed in six 180s and hit 55 per cent of his double attempts.

German Darts Grand Prix 2026 Day Two Results

Sunday April 5

Second Round

Afternoon Session
Ross Smith 6-2 Patrik Kovacs
Jermaine Wattimena 1-6 Niels Zonneveld
Damon Heta 2-6 Karel Sedlacek
Daryl Gurney 5-6 Andrew Gilding
Ryan Searle 5-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Danny Noppert 6-5 Ritchie Edhouse
Mike De Decker 5-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Dave Chisnall 5-6 Michael Smith

Evening Session
Luke Woodhouse 1-6 Kim Huybrechts
Josh Rock 6-4 Ryan Joyce
James Wade 5-6 Kevin Doets
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Marcel Hausotter
Michael van Gerwen 1-6 Niko Springer
Nathan Aspinall 6-5 Ricardo Pietreczko
Martin Schindler 6-4 Brendan Dolan
Gian van Veen 2-6 William O’Connor