Cristo Reyes (Photo by Paul Targyik/PDC Europe)
Cristo Reyes produced a magical nine-dart finish on a thrilling day of action at the Austrian Darts Open, as Niko Springer dismantled Wessel Nijman in Graz.
Seven seeds were sent packing on Day Two at the Stadthalle, however it was Reyes who stole the headlines, producing his first big stage nine-darter in his victory over Australian number one Damon Heta.
The Spaniard has been a revelation since reclaiming his PDC Tour Card in January, and he delivered another stellar showing in Austria, averaging 101.89 and hitting six 180s to seal a 6-4 success.
Reyes raised the roof with his nine-dart exploits in leg four, before defying a valiant fightback from Heta to wrap up proceedings with a brilliant 11-darter.
“I feel very happy,” reflected Reyes, who will face fifth seed Danny Noppert for a place in the quarter-finals.
“When I hit the nine-darter I got more nervous, but this is amazing. I want to say thank you to this fantastic crowd.”
Michael van Gerwen also impressed in a bumper evening session, averaging 103.41 and converting a trio of ton-plus checkouts to defeat Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 and open his bid for a fifth Austrian Darts Open crown.
Van Gerwen will now set his sights on a showdown against two-time European Champion Rob Cross, who overcame William O’Connor by the same scoreline.
Dutch superstar Van Gerwen is now the highest-ranked player left standing in Graz, after top seed Gian van Veen was beaten in a last-leg decider by Latvia’s number one Madars Razma.
Van Veen crashed out alongside his fellow countryman Nijman, who was blown away by a rampant Springer in a battle between two of the sport’s most explosive talents.
Elsewhere, James Wade produced a virtuoso display to end the hopes of Austrian icon Mensur Suljovic, averaging 103 and conjuring up a hat-trick of 11-darters en route to a dominant 6-2 win.
Reigning champion Martin Schindler also advanced in convincing style, firing in six maximums and reeling off five consecutive legs from 2-1 adrift to sweep aside a struggling Peter Wright.
Kim Huybrechts maintained his resurgence with a sensational deciding-leg win over Chris Dobey, following up a ten-dart break with a breathtaking 132 finish on the bull to overturn a 5-4 deficit.
The Belgian will play Andrew Gilding in the last 16, after the 2023 UK Open champion averaged 100.92 in his 6-4 success against former European Championship runner-up Jermaine Wattimena.
Ross Smith – runner-up to Schindler in last year’s tournament – averaged north of 102 in disposing of Niels Zonneveld, and he will now renew his rivalry with the German number one in round three.
Luke Woodhouse also averaged over a ton in his 6-1 thrashing of Rob Owen, which sets up a showdown against third seed Wade on Sunday afternoon.
Northern Ireland’s World Cup champions Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney also safely advanced to Finals Day, courtesy of 6-3 victories against Patrik Kovacs and Ian White respectively.
Earlier in the day, Kevin Doets celebrated a first career victory over Ryan Searle to book a tie against Ryan Joyce, who condemned Mike De Decker to a sixth consecutive defeat on the European Tour.
Noppert completes Sunday’s last 16 line-up after surviving three match darts to sink Alan Soutar in a gruelling last-leg affair, with the Dutchman revealing post-match that he has been suffering with illness this weekend.
RESULTS
Round Two
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
Ryan Joyce 6-3 Mike De Decker
Rob Cross 6-3 William O’Connor
Kevin Doets 6-2 Ryan Searle
Ross Smith 6-3 Niels Zonneveld
Cristo Reyes 6-4 Damon Heta (Cristo Reyes hit a nine-darter)
Luke Woodhouse 6-1 Rob Owen
Kim Huybrechts 6-5 Chris Dobey
Daryl Gurney 6-3 Ian White
Josh Rock 6-3 Patrik Kovacs
James Wade 6-2 Mensur Suljovic
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Danny Noppert 6-5 Alan Soutar
Madars Razma 6-5 Gian van Veen
Martin Schindler 6-2 Peter Wright
Niko Springer 6-0 Wessel Nijman
