Van Gerwen Survives Close Call as Price and Clayton Exit Early
In a thrilling opening round at the European Championship in Dortmund, four-time winner Michael van Gerwen narrowly advanced to the next stage after overcoming a remarkable challenge from Wessel Nijman. Despite trailing 4-2 and facing seven missed match darts from Nijman, Van Gerwen seized the opportunity to secure a last-leg victory.
The competition saw other notable upsets, including early exits for Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, who both fell in the first round. This year’s tournament, held at the Westfalenhalle, showcased the rising talent of Gian van Veen, the world youth champion, who proved his worth with a solid performance.
Key Matches and Surprising Outcomes
In a dramatic turn of events, Nijman’s inability to convert match darts allowed Van Gerwen to maintain his perfect record against the Dutch player, having won all five of their previous encounters. Van Gerwen will face Chris Dobey next, who put on an impressive display with a 105.7 average, defeating Stephen Bunting, who set a record for the highest losing average at the tournament with 109.2.
Another standout was Daryl Gurney, who exacted revenge on Price, sending the Welshman home with a score of 6-3. Gurney capitalized on Price’s poor finishing, which saw the former World Cup champion convert only 3 of 17 opportunities at doubles. This defeat marks a significant setback for Price, who was among the favorites for the title.
Ryan Searle also advanced in style, overcoming Clayton, who missed 11 crucial darts at doubles. Searle’s victory marks his fourth progression to the second round in five European Championship appearances. Meanwhile, Van Veen continued his impressive form by defeating Damon Heta with a 6-3 scoreline, further complicating Heta’s struggles at the tournament.
Home Crowd Celebrates Schindler’s Victory
Amid the excitement, home favorite Martin Schindler thrilled the local fans by recovering from a 3-0 deficit to edge out Dave Chisnall in a nail-biting finish. Schindler’s 104 average and 66 percent success rate on doubles marked his first European Championship win after five previous attempts.
In a clash between former champions, Ross Smith eliminated Peter Wright with a convincing 6-2 victory, including a stunning 128 checkout. This result has significant implications for Wright, who risks dropping to 30 in the world rankings after failing to defend the points from his title win two years ago.
Rounding out the first round, Ryan Joyce made a notable debut by defeating last year’s semi-finalist Luke Woodhouse 6-3, showcasing a strong average of 96.93 and a high checkout of 122.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the next day’s matches. Nathan Aspinall, the top seed following his recent successes, will open his title challenge against two-time champion Rob Cross. Meanwhile, world number one Luke Humphries begins his quest against Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski.
With £120,000 at stake for the winner in Dortmund, the competition promises to deliver more surprises and thrilling performances as the tournament unfolds. Spectators can catch all the action live on Sky Sports, which continues to be the broadcasting home for major darts events.
