European Darts Grand Prix day one: Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey impress in Sindelfingen
Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey were the top performers on the opening day of the European Darts Grand Prix as they impressed with first round wins in Sindelfingen.
UK Open champion Aspinall averaged almost 103 in a 6-1 victory over Kim Viljanen to set up a tasty tie with Germany's Max Hopp on Saturday in a repeat of the 2015 World Youth Championship final.
Aspinall opened the tie with a 180, finished 115 for a 12-darter to win the opening leg and led 5-0 before the Finnish qualifier responded, but an 82 bullseye combination sealed a comprehensive win.
"I had a tough first game but I settled in from the start and played well," said Aspinall. "I felt really relaxed.
"I've got some history with Max, obviously he beat me in the youth final so it would be nice to get one back on him in his home country. If I play my game, I'll win."
Dobey, meanwhile, was in sensational form with a 6-0 whitewash of Madars Razma, averaging 103.66 as he restricted the Latvian to just one dart at a double.
Dobey, who had just one leg above 15 darts, now takes on Players Championship Finals winner Daryl Gurney in round two.
Steve Beaton opened his bid to win a second Sindelfingen title with a 6-4 win over Stephen Bunting in a battle of former Lakeside Champions.
Beaton, who landed a nine-darter on the European Tour last month, now plays Mensur Suljovic and said: "I knew I had to play well and I felt it was a good game."
World Youth Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh completed a 6-1 win over Austrian qualifier Michael Rasztovits with a 120 finish in a strong display from the Belgian.
Van den Bergh now plays Ian White, who has reached the final of the German Darts Open and Austrian Darts Open in the past two weekends before losing out on both occasions to Michael van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen's second round opponent on Saturday will be Brendan Dolan, who landed six doubles from nine attempts in a 6-2 defeat of German qualifier Michael Rosenauer.
Jeffrey de Zwaan took out finishes of 156, 121 and 112 in his 6-2 victory over Swiss qualifier Stefan Bellmont, moving him through to face 2018 World Champion Rob Cross in round two.
Jamie Hughes set up a tasty second round tie with Adrian Lewis by seeing off Ricardo Pietreczko 6-1, taking out a 151 finish during the contest as he moved into the last 32.
Ross Smith defied a 157 checkout from Pero Ljubic to pull clear from three-all to claim a 6-3 win in their contest, setting up a second round meeting with Jonny Clayton.
James Richardson will now play Mervyn King after winning five legs from six to come from 2-1 down and defeat Matthew Edgar 6-3 in their first round contest.
Krzysztof Ratajski came from 4-2 down to maintain his unbeaten record against Robert Owen with a fourth successive 6-4 win over the Welshman, moving himself through to a tie with Michael Smith.
Dutchman Niels Zonneveld enjoyed a debut win on the European Tour, seeing off German qualifier Michael Hurtz 6-4 as he now progresses to play Peter Wright in round two.
Mark McGeeney also claimed victory on his European Tour debut, defeating Josh Payne 6-3 by winning four of the final five legs to set up a round two meeting with Joe Cullen.
Vincent van der Voort came from 3-1 and 4-2 down to defeat Dave Prins 6-4, as the former Austrian Darts Open winner moves through to play Darren Webster.
Gavin Carlin moved through to play Gerwyn Price with a 6-3 defeat of Dragutin Horvat, defying finishes of 113 and 104 from the Host Nation Qualifier.
Keegan Brown overcame stern resistance from European Tour debutant Daniel Klose, who hit back from 3-1 down to level after six legs before the former World Youth Champion pulled clear to complete a 6-3 victory.
Ryan Searle took out finishes of 110, 119 and 112 in his 6-4 win over Lakeside Champion Glen Durrant, and now receives a Bye in the second round following the withdrawal of James Wade.
The European Darts Grand Prix continues on Saturday with the second round across two sessions in Sindelfingen, before the £140,000 event concludes on Sunday.
Friday results and weekend schedule
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Friday May 10
First Round (Best of 11 legs)
Afternoon Session
- Ross Smith 6-3 Pero Ljubic
- James Richardson 6-3 Matthew Edgar
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Robert Owen
- Niels Zonneveld 6-4 Michael Hurtz
- Nathan Aspinall 6-1 Kim Viljanen
- Mark McGeeney 6-3 Josh Payne
- Brendan Dolan 6-2 Michael Rosenauer
- Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-1 Michael Rasztovits
Evening Session
- Vincent van der Voort 6-4 Dave Prins
- Chris Dobey 6-0 Madars Razma
- Gavin Carlin 6-3 Dragutin Horvat
- Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-2 Stefan Bellmont
- Keegan Brown 6-3 Daniel Klose
- Steve Beaton 6-4 Stephen Bunting
- Jamie Hughes 6-1 Ricardo Pietreczko
- Ryan Searle 6-4 Glen Durrant
Saturday May 11
Second Round (Best of 11 legs)
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
- Michael Smith v Krzysztof Ratajski
- Joe Cullen v Mark McGeeney
- Jonny Clayton v Ross Smith
- Mervyn King v James Richardson
- Ricky Evans v Keegan Brown
- Ian White v Dimitri Van den Bergh
- Gerwyn Price v Gavin Carlin
- NB: Ryan Searle receives due to James Wade's withdrawal
Evening Session
- Rob Cross v Jeffrey de Zwaan
- Darren Webster v Vincent van der Voort
- Daryl Gurney v Chris Dobey
- Mensur Suljovic v Steve Beaton
- Adrian Lewis v Jamie Hughes
- Max Hopp v Nathan Aspinall
- Michael van Gerwen v Brendan Dolan
- Peter Wright v Niels Zonneveld
Sunday May 12
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 11 legs)
- Eight Matches (draw bracket order)
Evening Session (1815 GMT)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 11 legs)
- Four Matches (draw bracket order)
Semi-Finals (Best of 13 legs)
- Two Matches (draw bracket order)
Final (Best of 15 legs)
- Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2
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