European Championship 2019 preview and schedule: Friday 25 October, afternoon session

Day two of the 2019 European Championship has a lot to live up to.

What was the most surprising moment? The world number one and undisputed favourite being knocked out in round one? The defending European Championship winner dumped out with a 6-0 whitewash? Or the 17th seed beating the 16th seed being described as "a big shock"? Answers on a postcard, please.

Göttingen has got a lot to look forward to in Friday's afternoon session. Here, we determine the first round winners from the bottom half of the draw.

Jamie Hughes has already tasted success in Europe this season. The surprise Czech Darts Open winner makes his European Championship bow and will want to make an impact. He plays Jermaine Wattimena, who has appeared at this event twice and won one...leg. The only way is up.

Keegan Brown and Stephen Bunting were both European regulars, and could often be seen closer to the latter stages of tournaments. Only one of them can manage it this time. That's followed by recent World Grand Prix semi-finalist Chris Dobey facing Krzysztof Ratajski, who won the last title of the regular European Tour season.

Steve Beaton played his part in European Tour folklore this year, contributing to the glut of nine-darters that made a mockery of the "Curse of Ross Smith". Nathan Aspinall is the Bronzed Adonis' first hurdle en route to his inevitable success. In all seriousness, Aspinall himself is becoming a perpetually well-backed player.

Stage glory for White?

Finally, a tournament Vincent van der Voort won't complain about. Maybe. We'll see. The Dutch Destroyer has earned his place here but it's going to be a tough task for him. Mensur Suljovic claimed glory in Vienna and will have an eye on more of the same a few hundred kilometres west.

We keep saying it, but Ian White really could finally end his big stage duck here. He's easily good enough, he's excellent in Europe and some big names are already gone. His opponent's in the same boat - with the exception that Michael Smith hates his continental jaunts.

Peter Wright is in the sort of form where at least one trophy will surely end up in his hands soon enough. It should've been the Champions League of Darts. And yet, heart-wrenchingly, it wasn't. Jeffrey de Zwaan may face the wrath of Snakebite as the Scot plots revenge on his own bad fortune.

Rounding things off are Ted Evetts and Gerwyn Price. Both can be quite happy with what they've achieved across the European Tour season; Price in particular will feel that lifting the trophy at the Lokhalle on Sunday will round things off nicely.

European Championship 2019 schedule

Day Two, afternoon session

13:00 Jamie Hughes v Jermaine Wattimena
13:30 Keegan Brown v Stephen Bunting
14:00 Krzysztof Ratajski v Chris Dobey
14:30 Nathan Aspinall v Steve Beaton
15:00 Mensur Suljovic v Vincent van der Voort
15:30 Ian White v Michael Smith
16:00 Peter Wright v Jeffrey de Zwaan
16:30 Gerwyn Price v Ted Evetts