Durrant battles back to deny Dobey as Van Gerwen launches Gibraltar Trophy title defence

Glen Durrant battled back from 3-0 and 4-1 down to defeat Chris Dobey 6-4 in Round Two of the Gibraltar Darts Trophy on Saturday, while Michael van Gerwen saw off Jose De Sousa in his opening tie.

Durrant, the reigning Lakeside Champion, recovered from a slow start to book his place in Sunday’s Last 16 at the Victoria Stadium with a 104 average.

Defending champion Van Gerwen got off and running with a 6-3 victory over Portuguese star De Sousa – who looked on course to pull off a famous win when he led 3-1 before the world number one reeled off five consecutive legs to progress with a 103.5 average.

Elsewhere, Michael Smith confirmed his place in October’s European Championship courtesy of a 6-1 rout of Danny Noppert despite an average of just 85.

Grand Slam champion Gerwyn Price whitewashed Gibraltar’s David Francis 6-0 with a 98 average, while Peter Wright disposed of the other remaining host nation qualifier Dyson Parody for the loss of just one leg, averaging 100.

Jonny Clayton was the only seeded player to bow out at the first hurdle as he went down 6-3 to an inspired Kim Huybrechts, while Dutch World Cup star Jermaine Wattimena pulled off an impressive 6-2 win over Dimitri van den Bergh.

UK Open champion Nathan Aspinall registered a blistering 109.8 average and five 180s on his way to a 6-4 defeat of Ryan Joyce, while Rob Cross saw off Poland’s Krzysztof Kciuk 6-3 with an average of just 87.

Kcuik’s compatriot Krzysztof Ratajski fared better in his clash with Steve Beaton as he prevailed 6-3 with high checkouts of 124 and 126, while Daryl Gurney safely dispatched debutant qualifier Carl Wilkinson 6-4.

Dave Chisnall averaged 103 and landed five maximums in a high quality last-leg victory over Jeffrey de Zwaan, as James Wade overcame veteran Paul Rowley 6-2 and Ian White powered past Germany’s Michael Rosenauer 6-1.

Joe Cullen began his quest for a second Euro Tour title of the season by defeating Ritchie Edhouse 6-3 with a 98.5 average and four 180s, as Mensur Suljovic thrashed Dutch youngster Wessel Nijman 6-1 to set up a Last 16 show-down with Wright.

Saturday September 28

Second Round

Afternoon Session

Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Ryan Joyce

James Wade 6-2 Paul Rowley

Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Steve Beaton

Jonny Clayton 3-6 Kim Huybrechts

Rob Cross 6-3 Krzysztof Kciuk

Daryl Gurney 6-4 Carl Wilkinson

Dave Chisnall 6-5 Jeffrey de Zwaan

Michael Smith 6-1 Danny Noppert

Evening Session

Ian White 6-1 Michael Rosenauer

Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Mensur Suljovic 6-1 Wessel Nijman

Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Jose De Sousa

Peter Wright 6-1 Dyson Parody

Joe Cullen 6-3 Ritchie Edhouse

Glen Durrant 6-4 Chris Dobey

Gerwyn Price 6-0 David Francis