Superb Simon Repeats Trick - Day 2 Hungarian Darts Trophy
Simon Whitlock defeated Michael van Gerwen again on the PDC Circuit, this time in the Hungarian Darts Trophy repeating his result two weeks ago in Australia after winning 6-5 to reach the Last 16 at the BOK Sportcsarnok.
The battle of the two Winmau men came down to the last leg after numerous missed darts at double from the reigning Matchplay champion. The Wizard found tops with his first dart to claim the eleventh and deciding leg with his opponent way back on 160.
The Australian ace goes through to face Ryan Meikle in the final match of Sunday’s afternoon session after the Red Dragon star beat Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4, with the tungsten tussle only including one maximum over the ten legs played.
The Barber found a 90 checkout in the fifth leg to break throw for the second time to lead 4-1, having found his first in the opening leg of the match. Double six last dart wrapped up victory for the Englishman to again showcase the talent he possesses, indicating a tournament win could be only around the corner within the PDC.
Joe Cullen after reaching the Final of the New South Wales Darts Masters last month continued his search for a first Euro Tour title of the year, beating Martin Lukeman 6-4 in the evening session including three maximums on the oche.
The Rockstar recorded a double percentage of 46.15% missing seven darts at double and produced the highest checkout of the match in the eighth leg to level at 4-4. The Premier League runner up hit 72 and followed up with a crucial break of throw in the next leg to go one away from victory and throw for the match.
Bradford man Cullen sets up a Last 16 tie with 2019 Champion of Champions winner Jim Williams after he caused the biggest upset of the Second Round, punishing missed darts at double from reigning World Champion Peter Wright to claim a 6-5 win.
Both men found ton plus checkouts to treat the Hungarian crowd on Saturday night, with Snakebite levelling at 2-2 courtesy of a 160 finish in the fourth leg. The PC6 winner found consecutive checkouts of 125 to bring himself back from 5-3 down, before a break of throw on 100 levelled the match at five a piece.
The World Number 2 had two darts to win the eleventh leg, but he fluffed his lines missing two darts at double sixteen allowing Williams back to the board to hit double eight first dart despite his opponent averaging 100.35.
Elsewhere Luke Humphries fell to a 6-3 defeat to Boris Krcmar in Budapest, with the Croatian crucially breaking throw in the eighth leg for a 5-3 lead finishing 100. Double World Series winner Dimitri van den Bergh also lost in Saturday’s action after only averaging 80.70 against former World Cup finalist William O’Connor, who claimed a 6-3 win to reach the Last 16.
The Hungarian Darts Trophy will reach its conclusion on Sunday with many still in the tournament looking for their first Euro Tour victories of 2022 after the likes of Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries were beaten in Hungary, live on PDC TV.
By Harry Masterson
Hungarian Darts Trophy Results
Second Round:
Josh Rock 6-4 Damon Heta (7)
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 6-1 Danny Noppert (14)
Karel Sedlacek 6-3 Ryan Searle (8)
Dirk van Duijvenbode (10) 6-3 Chris Dobey
Michael Smith (4) 6-0 Daryl Gurney
Ryan Meikle 6-4 Krzysztof Ratajski (16)
William O’Connor 6-3 Dimitri van den Bergh (13)
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Jonny Clayton (15)
Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-4 Rob Cross (5)
Jose de Sousa (12) 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Boris Krcmar 6-3 Luke Humphries (2)
Joe Cullen (11) 6-4 Martin Lukeman
Jim Williams 6-5 Peter Wright (6)
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Michael van Gerwen (1)
Nathan Aspinall (9) 6-3 Stephen Bunting
Madars Razma (BYE)
Sunday Order of Play: Last 16
Jim Williams v Joe Cullen (11)
Madars Razma v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Josh Rock v Dirk van Duijvenbode (10)
Boris Krcmar v Dave Chisnall
Jeffrey de Zwaan v Jose de Sousa (12)
Michael Smith (4) v William O’Connor
Karel Sedlacek v Nathan Aspinall (9)
Simon Whitlock v Ryan Meikle