Nico Springer (Photo by Sebastian Doppstadt/PDC Europe)
Niko Springer delivered an emphatic 6-1 victory to dispatch defending champion Michael van Gerwen at the German Darts Grand Prix last night at the Zenith in Munich.
The German star burst into a 4-0 lead over the world number four thanks to incredible efficiency on the outer-ring, missing just three darts at double in taking a four-leg advantage.
Van Gerwen threatened a comeback with a 15-dart break to reduce the deficit to 4-1, but Springer retaliated with a 15-dart break of his own before pinning tops to seal a memorable victory on home soil.
“I’m really happy to play here,” beamed the 25-year-old, who averaged over 98 to down Van Gerwen and set up a last 16 clash against Michael Smith.
“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 2022/23 World Champion capitalised on a poor display of doubling from Chisnall to reach his second Finals Day of the year on the European Tour, aided by a clutch 136 finish in the seventh leg.
William O’Connor produced another significant upset in accounting for top seed Gian van Veen, defeating the Dutch number one 6-2 to set up a last 16 showdown with Andrew Gilding on Monday.
The Irishman raced into a 4-1 lead, and struck two ton-plus checkouts – including a match-winning 108 – to cap off a clinical display.
Gilding emerged the winner in one of eight matches to go to a last-leg decider in Munich, taking out a huge 104 combination finish to defeat Daryl Gurney and book his place in Finals Day.
Home hero Martin Schindler became the second German to triumph on home soil, as the country’s premier player pipped darting mainstay 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 to reach round three, winning two legs from 5-4 down including a 12-dart break to see off a spirited display from the German number two.
Kevin Doets denied James Wade a win on his 100th European Tour appearance as the Dutchman won 6-5 with a 101.30 average, coming back from 5-3 down in a three-leg burst that began with his second 170 finish of the weekend.
Doets will face fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in round three, who survived two match darts against Mike De Decker to edge through a last-leg decider.
A remarkable ten seeds crashed out across the day, including Jermaine Wattimena and Luke Woodhouse, who succumbed to 6-1 drubbings to Niels Zonneveld and Kim Huybrechts respectively.
Zonneveld will take on Josh Rock, who defied a 103.24 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.
Ross Smith delivered a professional performance to see off Patrik Kovacs 6-2 and set up a round three tie with Krzysztof Ratajski, as the Polish number one edged 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 just shy of a ton and taking out a 13-dart leg to win the decider.
Karel Sedlacek will face 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% of his double attempts.
The German Darts Grand Prix will conclude tonight, as a bumper double-session begins with the last 16 in the afternoon session before the final eight players will battle for the title in the evening at the Zenith.
Round Two Results
Ross Smith 6-2 Patrik Kovacs
Niels Zonneveld 6-1 Jermaine Wattimena
Karel Sedlacek 6-2 Damon Heta
Andrew Gilding 6-5 Daryl Gurney
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Ryan Searle
Danny Noppert 6-5 Ritchie Edhouse
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Mike De Decker
Michael Smith 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Kim Huybrechts 6-1 Luke Woodhouse
Josh Rock 6-4 Ryan Joyce
Kevin Doets 6-5 James Wade
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Marcel Hausotter
Niko Springer 6-1 Michael van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall 6-5 Ricardo Pietreczko
Martin Schindler 6-4 Brendan Dolan
William O’Connor 6-2 Gian van Veen
