European Darts Open: Raymond van Barneveld sets up second-round tie with Michael van Gerwen

The opening day of the year's second European Tour event saw 16 first-round ties take place across two sessions on Friday, with Van Barneveld among the stand-out performers at the Ostermann Arena.

The Dutch veteran ran out a 6-3 winner in a high-quality tie against Sebesta, who averaged over 98 and converted all three of his attempts at double, which included a 121 finish in the penultimate leg.

“Filip played really well. He did his country proud tonight,” said Van Barneveld, who averaged 98 and boasted a 50% checkout success rate. "I needed to produce almost my best game to beat him but I’m happy with the win and I can't wait for tomorrow."

The five-time world champion will now take on reigning champion Van Gerwen on Saturday evening, and he is relishing the chance to renew his rivalry with his former World Cup partner.

“Me and Michael have played each other so many times and I cannot wait to play him,” added Van Barneveld, the winner of the inaugural European Darts Open in 2012.

“Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld – it’s an A-game. It’s like Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund, it’s like Ajax v Feyernood, Manchester United v Liverpool.”

There were mixed fortunes for the six German representatives in first round action, with Ian White producing an astonishing comeback to stun home favourite Gabriel Clemens in a last-leg thriller.

Clemens, roared on throughout by a partisan Leverkusen crowd, led 4-1 with a 110 average, but he paid the price for spurning two match darts in leg eight, as White won the last four legs to prevail. He followed up a 161 skin-saver in the penultimate leg with a magnificent 11-darter to seal his progression.

Ten-time TV title winner James Wade stormed to a 6-1 rout of Florian Hempel in his opener, while European champion Ross Smith posted a ton-plus average to whitewash European Tour debutant Pascal Rupprecht.

Ryan Meikle also averaged over 100 to dispatch Host Nation Qualifier Nico Kurz, crashing in six maximums to book a showdown against Premier League star Jonny Clayton for a place in the last 16.

Ricardo Pietreczko produced on home soil however, converting a brilliant 170 checkout in claiming a 6-2 win over Geert Nentjes, with two-time winner Peter Wright awaiting him in round two.

Rene Eidams was the second German to advance, as he recovered from 4-2 adrift to defeat Dutch youngster Jurjen van der Velde and create a clash against World Champion Michael Smith.

Elsewhere, fresh from his Premier League homecoming in Newcastle, Chris Dobey eased past Maik Kuivenhoven 6-2 to set up a meeting with former UK Open champion Danny Noppert in round two.

Stephen Bunting came through a hard-fought affair against Daryl Gurney in Friday evening's finale, pinning double four with his eighth match dart to progress in a nervy last-leg shoot-out.

Jim Williams will take on last month’s Baltic Sea Darts Open champion Dave Chisnall on Saturday afternoon, defying five 180s from John Henderson to topple the Scot 6-2 on his European Tour return.

Ted Evetts stole the show in Friday’s afternoon session, whitewashing former Grand Slam champion Jose de Sousa with a 98 average, and restricting the Portuguese star to just two darts at double.

Krzysztof Ratajski edged out Bradley Brooks in a dramatic last-leg to book his place in round two, surviving five match darts after Brooks had fought back from 3-0 down to force a decider.

Ryan Joyce defied a magnificent mid-game rally from Jermaine Wattimena to run out a 6-4 winner in a high-quality contest, while Brendan Dolan breezed to a 6-1 success against a profligate Steve Lennon.

In Friday’s curtain-raiser, William O’Connor defied a sluggish start to see off Marko Kantele 6-3, before Andy Boulton marked his European Tour return with a superb comeback win over Luke Woodhouse.

The 16 seeded players enter the fray in Saturday’s second round, with top seed Humphries, defending champion Van Gerwen and world number one Smith amongst the names in action.

European Darts Open: Friday's results and Saturday's schedule

First Round (Best of 11 legs) Afternoon Session

• William O'Connor 6-3 Marko Kantele
• Ryan Joyce 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
• Brendan Dolan 6-1 Steve Lennon
• Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Bradley Brooks
• Geert Nentjes 2-6 Ricardo Pietreczko
• Rene Eidams 6-4 Jurjen van der Velde
• Jose de Sousa 0-6 Ted Evetts
• Luke Woodhouse 5-6 Andy Boulton

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1200 BST)

• Jim Williams 6-2 John Henderson
• Ross Smith 6-0 Pascal Rupprecht
• Ryan Meikle 6-2 Nico Kurz
• Maik Kuivenhoven 2-6 Chris Dobey
• Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Filip Sebesta
• Florian Hempel 1-6 James Wade
• Gabriel Clemens 5-6 Ian White
• Stephen Bunting 6-5 Daryl Gurney

Saturday March 25 Second Round Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)

• Damon Heta v Andy Boulton
• Rob Cross v Ryan Joyce
• Dave Chisnall v Jim Williams
• Dirk van Duijvenbode v Ted Evetts
• Joe Cullen v Ross Smith
• Jonny Clayton v Ryan Meikle
• Danny Noppert v Chris Dobey
• Ryan Searle v Stephen Bunting

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)

• Gerwyn Price v Krzysztof Ratajski
• Luke Humphries v Brendan Dolan
• Michael Smith v Rene Eidams
• Peter Wright v Ricardo Pietreczko
• Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
• Dimitri Van den Bergh v James Wade
• Martin Schindler v William O'Connor
• Josh Rock v Ian White

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