The 10th PDC European Tour event of the season takes place from September 8-10 with the inaugural German Darts Grand Prix as world number one Michael van Gerwen aims to win his 12th tournament of the season.
The odds-on tournament favourite returned to action for the first time since the birth of his first child Zoe in August by landing the Dutch Darts Masters for the fourth year in a row at the weekend but his main rival, UK Open champion Peter Wright, will be hoping to end his celebrations in Mannheim.
Snakebite, who was runner-up in the Premier League and World Matchplay in a season which has seen him claim nine tournaments, is joined by the likes of Mensur Suljovic, Simon Whitlock, Michael Smith and Daryl Gurney in what will be a 48-man field after the final round of qualifying later this week.
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This story originally appeared on the PDPA website
Prize Money
£25,000 – Winner
£10,000 – Runner-Up
£6,000 – Semi-Final
£4,000 – Quarter-Final
£3,000 – Third Round
£2,000 – Second Round
£1,000 – First Round
Total: £135,000
Players
Seeded Players x16: Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright, Mensur Suljovic, Simon Whitlock, Michael Smith, Daryl Gurney, Alan Norris, Kim Huybrechts, Jelle Klaasen, Benito van de Pas, Ian White, Joe Cullen, Dave Chisnall, Rob Cross, Mervyn King, Gerwyn Price
UK Qualifiers x18: Robert Owen, Andy Boulton, Darren Webster, Steve Beaton, Jamie Bain, Andrew Gilding, Kyle Anderson, Jamie Lewis, Mickey Mansell, Keegan Brown, Paul Rowley, Jamie Caven, Mick Todd, Nathan Aspinall, James Richardson, Richard North, Mick McGowan, Ryan Meikle
European Qualifiers x8: Dirk van Duijvenbode, Zoran Lerchbacher, Vincent van der Voort, Ronny Huybrechts, Jermaine Wattimena, Michael Plooy, Jan Dekker, Tony Martinez
Host Nation Qualifiers x4: TBC September 7
East Europe Qualifier: Krzysztof Ratajski
PDCNB Qualifier: Daniel Larsson
KYLE ANDERSON began his bid to win a third title inside six weeks with a superb defeat of Dirk van Duijvenbode as the HappyBet German Darts Grand Prix began on Friday.
Australian star Anderson followed up his maiden Players Championship victory at the start of August with victory in the Auckland Darts Masters, and marched into the second round of the European Tour event in Mannheim with a 6-4 win.
Van Duijvenbode played his part in a high-quality contest, hitting back from 2-0 to level before moving 4-3 up, but finishes of 72, 64 and 94 in successive legs gave Anderson victory.
The Australian ended the contest with a 101.44 average, with Dutch youngster Van Duijvenbode replying with a 100.85 average in defeat as Anderson progresses to a meeting with Kim Huybrechts on Saturday.
“I was watching Dirk in the practice room and he was throwing pretty well and I knew I had to play well,” said a determined Anderson.
Vincent van der Voort set up a second round tie with fellow former European Tour event winner Mervyn King courtesy of a 6-2 defeat of Andrew Gilding, who paid for missed doubles as the Dutchman took leads of 2-0 and 5-1 before sealing the win.
“It was a win and I’m happy with that,” said Van der Voort. “He’s a difficult player to play against but I want to get back to my best and you need some matches that go your way, and this helps a little bit.
“I know when my back holds up I can compete with anyone in the world. I’ve known Mervyn for 20-25 years, he’s an amazing player and I’ll have to play really well to beat him.”
Steve Beaton, last weekend’s Dutch Darts Masters runner-up, was knocked out in Mannheim with a 6-4 defeat to Scottish qualifier Jamie Bain, who now meets Jelle Klaasen.
Beaton led 2-0 and 3-1 before missed doubles allowed Bain in to take the next three, and the Aberdeen ace closed out victory with six doubles from nine attempts.
“Against Steve you have to play your best,”said Bain. “I grew up watching Steve and he’s one of my heroes, and still is to this day, so to beat him on a stage like this is amazing.
“I thought early on he was going to run away with it but he missed a few doubles. It was a different Steve to last week and I took advantage.”
Polish ace Krzysztof Ratajski defied a 103 average from Robert Owen to claim a 6-4 win in the meeting between two of last weekend’s quarter-finalists as he moves through to face another Welshman, Gerwyn Price.
Former European Tour finalist Jamie Lewis edged out Andy Boulton 6-5 in a thriller, hitting a key 180 as he broke throw in the deciding leg to set up a tie with Michael Smith on Saturday.
Former World Youth Champion Keegan Brown reeled off five straight legs from 2-1 down to defeat James Richardson, and the Isle of Wight ace now faces Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney.
Home hopes at the Maimarkhalle were ended as all four Host Nation Qualifiers were eliminated on the opening day of the £135,000 tournament.
Jamie Caven, a former European Tour finalist, knocked out German favourite Max Hopp with a 6-4 success in his first appearance of 2017 on the European circuit.
Caven came from 3-2 down to win four of the next five legs as he progressed to a second round meeting with Benito van de Pas.
Nathan Aspinall takes on Dave Chisnall following a strong showing as he overcame Germany’s Bernd Roith 6-3.
Berlin-based Martin Schindler lost out 6-3 to Mick McGowan, who landed a 135 bull finish as he set up a tie with Austria’s Mensur Suljovic, while Michael Hurtz was knocked out 6-1 by Swedish ace Daniel Larsson, who now plays Simon Whitlock.
Darren Webster produced a fine fight back to defeat Ryan Meikle in a deciding leg, averaging 101 and finishing six doubles from 13 attempts alongside hitting six maximums.
Norwich thrower Webster looked on course to exit the PDC European Tour event in Mannheim when youngster Meikle took three successive legs to move 4-2 up, achieving six perfect darts in one leg.
Webster, though, replied with brilliant legs of 11, 12 and 11 darts, which included a 132 finish, to wrestle back the advantage, and recovered from missing one match dart in leg ten to complete the victory.
Richard North will now face World Champion Michael van Gerwen following a 6-3 success against fellow UK Qualifier Mick Todd, as the Hampshire-based thrower moved a step closer to securing Unibet World Grand Prix qualification.
Ronny Huybrechts also kept alive his hopes of challenging for a World Grand Prix spot with a 6-3 win over Austria’s Zoran Lerchbacher, and the Belgian now takes on UK Open champion Peter Wright on Saturday.
Belgian debutant Tony Martinez was a 6-3 winner against Paul Rowley as he progresses to play Joe Cullen, while Jermaine Wattimena now meets Ian White after defeating Michael Plooy 6-3 in their all-Dutch showdown.
Jan Dekker finished six doubles from 11 attempts in his win over Mickey Mansell as he moves through to meet Rob Cross on Saturday.
Day One Results – Round One
Paul Rowley 3-6 Tony Martinez
Jamie Caven 6-4 Max Hopp
Jan Dekker 6-3 Mickey Mansell
Michael Plooy 4-6 Jermaine Wattimena
Mick Todd 3-6 Richard North
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Bernd Roith
Darren Webster 6-5 Ryan Meikle
Ronny Huybrechts 6-3 Zoran Lerchbacher
Michael Hurtz 1-6 Daniel Larsson
Jamie Lewis 6-5 Andy Boulton
James Richardson 2-6 Keegan Brown
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Robert Owen
Jamie Bain 6-4 Steve Beaton
Vincent van der Voort 6-2 Andrew Gilding
Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-6 Kyle Anderson
Martin Schindler 3-6 Mick McGowan
RUTHLESS Michael van Gerwen began his challenge to win a sixth European Tour title of 2017 with a 111 average as he whitewashed Richard North in the HappyBet German Darts Grand Prix second round on Saturday.
World Champion Van Gerwen marked his return to action following a month’s break for the birth of his daughter by winning last weekend’s Dutch Darts Masters title in Maastricht, and laid down a marker in Mannheim with a nine-minute rout of the qualifier.
Van Gerwen landed 180s in the opening two legs as finishes of 13 and 14 darts gave him command, before taking out 69 and 112 to complete 15-dart legs.
A 13-darter moved Van Gerwen 5-0 up before he completed a stunning display by landing a third maximum in an 11-dart finish to set up a third round meeting with Gerwyn Price.
“It’s been a great last month and I’m really enjoying myself, and you could see that in my game last week,” said Van Gerwen. “I played really well in Maastricht and I hope I can continue the good form.
“I’ve got the spirit and good motivation at the moment. You always need to be critical of yourself – I had two legs where I had some 57s and 59s, but for the rest I’m doing quite well and that’s what I like to do.”
Welshman Price was a 6-3 winner against leading Polish ace Krzysztof Ratajski, who led 3-2 only for missed doubles in two successive legs to allow the UK Open finalist to start a run of four straight legs as he swept to victory.
Auckland Darts Masters champion Kyle Anderson posted his fifth successive average of over 100 on the European Tour with a brilliant display to defeat Kim Huybrechts 6-4.
The Australian twice hit six perfect darts as he hit back from an early 2-1 deficit to land seven maximums and end with a 102.17 average – despite missing 15 darts at doubles.
Anderson now takes on Dutch ace Jelle Klaasen in the third round, with the former Lakeside Champion enjoying a 6-4 win over Jamie Bain in their tie on Saturday.
Scottish qualifier Bain hit back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2, but Klaasen dominated the second half of the game to progress.
Number two seed Peter Wright saw his bid to win a fifth European Tour event of the year ended by Ronny Huybrechts, who hit six doubles from eight attempts in a superb 6-2 success over the Scot.
Huybrechts’ win keeps alive his hopes of qualifying for next month’s Unibet World Grand Prix as he set up a showdown with Vincent van der Voort, who also has his eyes on snatching a Dublin spot.
The Dutchman was a 6-5 winner in a dramatic clash with Mervyn King, averaging 101 as he hit back from 5-2 down before surviving three missed match darts from his rival in the deciding leg.
Daryl Gurney took out six doubles from ten attempts as he averaged 98 in a strong 6-1 win over former World Youth Champion Keegan Brown.
The Northern Irish ace now plays Ian White, who defied ton-plus finishes of 104, 105 and 156 from Jermaine Wattimena before sealing a 6-4 victory over the Dutchman with a 120 checkout.
Austria’s Mensur Suljovic – who became a father for a second time last month to daughter Ema – swept past Irish ace Mick McGowan with a 6-1 victory and now takes on 2017 shooting star Rob Cross.
Cross impressed once again by averaging 104 and taking out finishes of 150, 112 and 104 amongst 6/8 on his doubles to defeat Jan Dekker 6-3.
Benito van de Pas was also in clinical mood as he overcame Jamie Caven 6-3, finishing 6/9 on his doubles after opening the game with a 104 checkout to set up a tie with Darren Webster, who knocked out seeded Alan Norris 6-3.
Joe Cullen produced a hugely impressive 108.30 average and hit four 180s and half of his darts at a double in a superb 6-3 win over Tony Martinez, the Belgian debutant who had won through to the second round.
Cullen now plays Michael Smith, who defied seven 180s and a missed match dart from Jamie Lewis before escaping with a 6-5 win from a thriller with the Welsh youngster.
Smith – whose partner is expecting their second child – is aiming to follow up May’s Gibraltar Darts Trophy win with a fifth career European Tour win on Sunday.
“My partner was due to give birth a few days ago so I’m waiting for a message that she’s gone into labour!” admitted Smith.
“The only thing I’ve come here for is to win the tournament and I’ve done it four times before, so I don’t see why I can’t make it a fifth tomorrow.”
Former World Youth Championship finalist Nathan Aspinall also finished six doubles from nine attempts as he defeated Dave Chisnall 6-2
Aspinall now meets former European Championship winner Simon Whitlock, who was a 6-2 winner against Sweden’s Daniel Larsson to begin his bid to claim a second European Tour title.
The £135,000 tournament concludes on Sunday, with the afternoon session’s third round followed in the evening session by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final at the Maimarkhalle in Mannheim.
Day Two Results – Round Two
Ian White 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
Joe Cullen 6-3 Tony Martinez
Benito van de Pas 6-2 Jamie Caven
Rob Cross 6-3 Jan Dekker
Dave Chisnall 2-6 Nathan Aspinall
Mervyn King 5-6 Vincent van der Voort
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Jamie Bain
Alan Norris 3-6 Darren Webster
Kim Huybrechts 4-6 Kyle Anderson
Mensur Suljovic 6-1 Mick McGowan
Peter Wright 2-6 Ronny Huybrechts
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Richard North
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Keegan Brown
Michael Smith 6-5 Jamie Lewis
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Daniel Larsson
The World Champion followed up last weekend’s Dutch Darts Masters victory on his return from a month’s break by claiming the £25,000 title at the Maimarkhalle in Mannheim with an imperious display.
Van Gerwen had opened the weekend with a ruthless whitewash of Richard North as he averaged 111 in Saturday’s second round, before seeing off Gerwyn Price 6-2 to book his spot in the quarter-finals.
He then averaged 102.56 in a 6-1 quarter-final defeat of fellow Dutchman Jelle Klaasen before punishing 11 missed doubles from Simon Whitlock to record another whitewash as he booked his spot in the decider, where he again averaged 111.
After Van Gerwen opened the final with a 180, both players missed the bull before Cross returned on double eight to hold throw.
Van Gerwen levelled in style by taking out 127 for a 12-darter, with Cross finishing 111 to hold in the third after the Dutchman missed double 14 to check out 145.
The World Champion landed a maximum and tops for a 13-darter to square the game in the fourth, but was unable to finish 104 in the fifth as Cross escaped from five missed doubles by landing double five to lead 3-2.
A missed bull for a 127 finish in the sixth from Cross allowed Van Gerwen to avoid a possible break as double 16 saw the world number one square the game once more.
Van Gerwen then secured the crucial break himself to move 4-3 up, opening leg seven with a 180 before taking out 76 for an 11-darter to lead for the first time.
The Dutchman then backed that up with a superb 12-darter, opening once more with a maximum before taking out 101 on double 16 for a 5-3, lead before a 110 checkout sealed a brilliant win.
“When you play well and win it’s a fantastic feeling,” said Van Gerwen, who lost only six legs during the event. “I think I deserved the win and I’m really happy.
“I started off with a 111 average and finished with a 111 average so that’s not too bad!
“Rob was the player who gave me the biggest game and it was difficult to break his throw, but my scoring power was there and my will to win was there, and that makes me the champion today.
“I’m sure I’m going to have more good clashes against Rob, he’s broken through this year and he’s doing really well. He’s going to be one of the big superstars.”
Cross’ remarkable rise in 2017, which has included two Players Championship titles, continued as he won through to his first European Tour final with a series of outstanding performances in Mannheim.
He followed up Saturday’s 103.81 average in a 6-3 second round win over Jan Dekker with a stunning 109.10 average as he stormed past Mensur Suljovic 6-2 in Sunday afternoon’s third round.
He then overcame Ian White 6-2 with the aid of a 105.89 average in the quarter-finals and averaged 102.87 in a 6-3 semi-final defeat of Benito van de Pas.
“I played well this week and I really enjoyed it,” said Cross. “I lost my way a bit in the last four legs, but I can’t take anything away from Michael.
“That’s why he’s there and the experience he’s got is vast, but it won’t be long before I catch him up there. I’m going to be there.”
Whitlock had seen off Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith on Sunday to reach his second European Tour semi-final of the year, but paid the price for a below-par finishing game against Van Gerwen.
Van de Pas was aiming to reach his second European Tour final of the year as he saw off Darren Webster and Vincent van der Voort – in a dramatic deciding leg – on Sunday, but saw Cross finish 94, 61 and 100 to pull clear from two-all in their semi-final.
Gibraltar Darts Trophy winner Smith was unable to claim his second European Tour success of the year as he bowed out in the quarter-finals, alongside Klaasen, Van der Voort – who missed two match darts against Van de Pas – and White.
Van der Voort had whitewashed Ronny Huybrechts in the afternoon’s third round without the Belgian having a dart at a double, while Klaasen ended Kyle Anderson’s run of form with a comprehensive 6-1 success.
The next PDC European Tour event will be the HappyBet International Darts Open in Riesa from September 22-24, with £135,000 in prize money on offer in the year’s 11th tournament. For tickets, visit www.pdc-europe.tv.
Day Three Results
Round Three
Mensur Suljovic 2-6 Rob Cross
Daryl Gurney 5-6 Ian White
Darren Webster 2-6 Benito van de Pas
Ronny Huybrechts 0-6 Vincent van der Voort
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Michael Smith 6-1 Joe Cullen
Kyle Anderson 1-6 Jelle Klaasen
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Gerwyn Price
Quarter-Finals
Rob Cross 6-2 Ian White
Benito Van de Pas 6-5 Vincent Van der Voort
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Michael Smith
Jelle Klaasen 1-6 Michael van Gerwen
Semi-Finals
Rob Cross 6-3 Benito van de Pas
Simon Whitlock 0-6 Michael van Gerwen
Final
Rob Cross 3-6 Michael van Gerwen
Round One
Paul Rowley 3-6 Tony Martinez
Jamie Caven 6-4 Max Hopp
Jan Dekker 6-3 Mickey Mansell
Michael Plooy 4-6 Jermaine Wattimena
Mick Todd 3-6 Richard North
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Bernd Roith
Darren Webster 6-5 Ryan Meikle
Ronny Huybrechts 6-3 Zoran Lerchbacher
Michael Hurtz 1-6 Daniel Larsson
Jamie Lewis 6-5 Andy Boulton
James Richardson 2-6 Keegan Brown
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Robert Owen
Jamie Bain 6-4 Steve Beaton
Vincent van der Voort 6-2 Andrew Gilding
Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-6 Kyle Anderson
Martin Schindler 3-6 Mick McGowan
Round Two
Ian White 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
Joe Cullen 6-3 Tony Martinez
Benito van de Pas 6-2 Jamie Caven
Rob Cross 6-3 Jan Dekker
Dave Chisnall 2-6 Nathan Aspinall
Mervyn King 5-6 Vincent van der Voort
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Jamie Bain
Alan Norris 3-6 Darren Webster
Kim Huybrechts 4-6 Kyle Anderson
Mensur Suljovic 6-1 Mick McGowan
Peter Wright 2-6 Ronny Huybrechts
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Richard North
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Keegan Brown
Michael Smith 6-5 Jamie Lewis
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Daniel Larsson
Round Three
Mensur Suljovic 2-6 Rob Cross
Daryl Gurney 5-6 Ian White
Darren Webster 2-6 Benito van de Pas
Ronny Huybrechts 0-6 Vincent van der Voort
SImon Whitlock 6-3 Nathan Aspinall
Michael Smith 6-1 Joe Cullen
Kyle Anderson 1-6 Jelle Klaasen
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Gerwyn Price
Quarter-Finals
Rob Cross 6-2 Ian White
Benito Van de Pas 6-5 Vincent Van der Voort
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Michael Smith
Jelle Klaasen 1-6 Michael van Gerwen
Semi-finals
Rob Cross 6-3 Benito van de Pas
Simon Whitlock 0-6 Michael van Gerwen
Final
Rob Cross 3-6 Michael van Gerwen
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