Martin Schindler continues spell-binding form at the Austrian Darts Open as Van Barneveld and Van den Bergh win deciders
Martin Schindler maintained his magnificent run of form by defeating James Wade in Round One of the 2024 Austrian Darts Open in Graz on Friday.
Schindler, International Darts Open winner a fortnight ago, produced the performance of Friday’s opening round at the Steiermarkhalle, averaging 111.4 to dispatch Wade 6-4.
The 27-year-old landed six 180s and pinned six of his ten attempts at doubles, registering winning legs of 13, 18, 11, 14, 13 and 13 darts to record the highest ever European Tour average by a German player.
Wade averaged 99.8 and converted all four of his attempts at doubles, but he was worn down by a relentless Schindler, who will take on Ricardo Pietreczko in an all-German clash on Saturday.
Chris Dobey also impressed on Day One, confirming a clash with reigning champion Jonny Clayton after averaging 106 to wrap up a 6-2 rout of Graham Hall.
Luke Littler will renew his rivalry with second seed Damon Heta on Saturday evening after putting in a professional performance to see off host nation qualifier Zoran Lerchbacher in his opener.
Less than 24 hours on from his Premier League triumph in Liverpool, teenage sensation Littler safely saw off home favourite Lerchbacher 6-2 to progress to Round Two.
Raymond van Barneveld will meet European Darts Grand Prix runner-up Ross Smith in the Second Round after firing in crucial 136 and 96 finishes in the latter stages of his deciding-leg win over Mike De Decker.
UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh also prevailed in a last-leg shoot-out, landing an inspired 152 checkout to stun Gabriel Clemens and reach round two – where last year’s runner-up Josh Rock awaits.
Gian van Veen thrashed a struggling Jose de Sousa to extend the Portuguese star’s winless run on the big stage, and the young Dutchman will now face Ryan Searle.
Northern Irish duo Brendan Dolan and Daryl Gurney also sealed their spot in Saturday’s second round, closing out hard-fought 6-3 wins over Hannes Schnier and Martin Lukeman respectively.
Richard Veenstra produced a trio of ton-plus checkouts to deny Ricky Evans in a rollercoaster contest, following up 141 and 151 checkouts with a 104 finish in the decider after Evans had squandered three match darts.
Wessel Nijman crashed in six 180s to edge out Croatia’s Romeo Grbavac 6-5 on his first Euro Tour appearance in 2019, while Nijman’s Dutch compatriot Jeffrey de Zwaan averaged 99 to account for Karel Sedlacek 6-3.
Danny Lauby and Dom Taylor both tasted victory on their European Tour debuts, overcoming Ryan Joyce and Christian Goedl respectively.
American star Lauby converted 100, 105 and 121 finishes to create a tussle against two-time World Champion Peter Wright, with Taylor posting a ton-plus average to whitewash Host Nation Qualifier Goedl.
Darius Labanauskas battled his way to a 6-4 win over his Nordic & Baltic counterpart Madars Razma, while Ritchie Edhouse defeated Arron Monk by the same scoreline to continue his eye-catching form and bolster his hopes of World Matchplay qualification.
Andrew Gilding snapped his big stage losing streak with a 6-2 victory against Dominik Haberl, and he will now play Germany’s Daniel Klose – who replaces Gerwyn Price in the tournament after the Welshman withdrew due to a trapped nerve in his back.
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Austrian Darts Open 2024 Day One Results
All times BST (local time +1 hour)
Friday April 26
First Round
Afternoon Session
Wessel Nijman 6-5 Romeo Grbavac
Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-3 Karel Sedlacek
Danny Lauby 6-4 Ryan Joyce
Brendan Dolan 6-3 Hannes Schnier
Richard Veenstra 6-5 Ricky Evans
Darius Labanauskas 6-4 Madars Razma
Arron Monk 4-6 Ritchie Edhouse
Dom Taylor 6-0 Christian Gödl
Evening Session
Martin Lukeman 3-6 Daryl Gurney
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Dominik Haberl
Jose de Sousa 1-6 Gian van Veen
Graham Hall 2-6 Chris Dobey
Martin Schindler 6-4 James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Mike De Decker
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-5 Gabriel Clemens
Luke Littler 6-2 Zoran Lerchbacher
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Magnificent Martin Schindler seals maiden European Tour title at the International Darts Open
Martin Schindler secured his first PDC ranking title at the 2024 International Darts Open with an 8-5 win over Gerwyn Price in the final in Riesa.
Home hero Schindler sensationally ended Price’s reign as champion as he triumphed on home soil to become the third German player to win a PDC ranking title.
The 27-year-old, who was a steward on the PDC European Tour a decade ago, was overcome by emotion on a night which also saw him crowned as the new German number one.
Having eased past his compatriot Jan Dueckers in Friday’s opening round, Schindler sealed his spot in the Last 16 with a 6-3 success against Joe Cullen, averaging 105 in the process.
The 27-year-old then won through contrasting encounters against Dutch duo Richard Veenstra and Danny Noppert, and he sealed his place in the final with a commanding 7-3 win over Chris Dobey.
This set up a fascinating showdown against Price, who was chasing a third consecutive title in Riesa, having also lifted this title in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023.
Price dominated the opening exchanges, kicking off the contest with six perfect darts and drawing first blood with an 11-dart break, on his way to establishing a 2-0 lead.
Schindler responded with three straight legs to seize the initiative, although the pendulum continued to swing as Price hit back with legs of 15 and 13 darts to edge 4-3 ahead.
However, the German restored his lead with clinical 80 and 120 checkouts, and after winning a scrappy tenth leg via double two, he fired in a magnificent ten-darter to move to the brink of victory.
Price preserved his hopes with a brilliant 12-dart hold, but Schindler wasn’t to be denied, taking out 48 in two darts to clinch his maiden senior title on home soil.
“My knees are shaking right now,” said an emotional Schindler, who climbs to a career-high ranking of world number 22.
“It’s just crazy. I’ve been playing this tour for seven to eight years now. It’s been such a long journey, and now I’m standing here with one of these beautiful trophies.
“I could never have dreamed of this ten years ago, but I have worked so hard for this, I’ve invested so much and right now, I might just be the happiest man on earth.
“I want to be one of the best dart players in the world, and when you win a title on the European Tour, I think you are one of the best.
“My main priority for me was to improve my ranking for the World Matchplay and the World Grand Prix and that went completely to plan. I’m so happy about that, and I’m so happy to win this trophy.”
Price had won 20 of his last 21 matches at this event prior to this weekend, and he continued his incredible record in Riesa to pocket the £12,000 runner-up prize.
The Welshman fended off a resilient Brendan Dolan in his second round tie on Saturday, before powering in an astonishing 115.7 average – a new tournament record – to dispatch Ricardo Pietreczko in the Last 16
Price then fought back from 5-2 down to deny Ross Smith in the quarter-finals – aided by a sensational 161 skin-saver in leg nine – and he followed this up with a hard-fought victory over Stephen Bunting in the semi-finals.
“I’m a little bit disappointed in myself,” admitted Price, who was featuring in his tenth European Tour final.
“I felt I should have won this game, but fair play to Martin, he’s a fantastic player and he played well there.”
Bunting reeled off four straight legs from 4-2 adrift to deny world number one Luke Humphries in the Last 16, and he survived a match dart in his quarter-final tie against Ritchie Edhouse in his run to the semi-finals.
Dobey also continued his fine form with a semi-final showing, after averaging 111.2 in his second round win over Krzysztof Ratajski on Saturday.
The former Masters champion then whitewashed home favourite Gabriel Clemens to progress to the last eight, where he averaged 104 in a 6-2 thrashing of Ryan Searle.
Searle came through deciding-leg ties against Daryl Gurney and Damon Heta in his run to the quarter-finals, while Edhouse dumped out Premier League duo Michael Smith and Rob Cross to reach the same stage.
Noppert – a Players Championship winner on Tuesday – swept aside World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall in his last 16 encounter, while Ross Smith battled back to defeat Cameron Menzies earlier in the day.
International Darts Open 2024 Day Three Results
Sunday April 14
Afternoon Session
Last 16
Richard Veenstra 1-6 Martin Schindler
Nathan Aspinall 2-6 Danny Noppert
Damon Heta 5-6 Ryan Searle
Gabriel Clemens 0-6 Chris Dobey
Luke Humphries 4-6 Stephen Bunting
Rob Cross 4-6 Ritchie Edhouse
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Ricardo Pietreczko
Cameron Menzies 4-6 Ross Smith
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Martin Schindler 6-5 Danny Noppert
Chris Dobey 6-2 Ryan Searle
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Ritchie Edhouse
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Ross Smith
Semi-Finals
Martin Schindler 7-3 Chris Dobey
Gerwyn Price 7-5 Stephen Bunting
Final
Martin Schindler 8-5 Gerwyn Price
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