Evans survives match darts to deny Durrant in last-leg decider, Whitlock thrashes Lewis

Ricky Evans and Simon Whitlock are the next players through to the second round at the European Championship in Gottingen.

Evans survived two match darts as he denied Glen Durrant in a last leg decider to reach the Last 16 in what wasn't the debut that 'Duzza' would have been hoping for.

Durrant missed darts early on and Evans came in to hit a 110 checkout and trail 2-1 up. He continued to be just behind as he took out a 117 checkout to peg him back 3-2.

He finally put it on level terms at 3-3 and he made it three legs in a row with a 74 checkout to move 4-3 up. Durrant though pegged him back for parity at 4-4.

He punished missed darts from Evans to make it 5-4 and go one away. He missed two match darts though and Evans allowed himself a chance at 5-5. The Kettering ace took this though as he claimed victory 6-5.

Whitlock on the other hand produced a comprehensive victory over Adrian Lewis 6-1 with four 180's, a 99.8 average and 66 percent on the doubles.

Lewis hit the front to start the tie but Whitlock hit back to back 180's on his way to a ten darter as he went 2-1 up and from there he held throw to open up a 3-1 lead with a 108 average at that point.

A break was forthcoming as he stretched his lead to 4-1 and further missed darts confounded the misery for Lewis as Whitlock went one away.

'The Wizard' from there claimed victory to move through in an impressive display from the Australian ace.

Click here for more information on the European Championship, which takes place in Gottingen this weekend.

European Championship 2019

Day One schedule

Joe Cullen (92.56) 6-2 (88.97) Mervyn King
Dave Chisnall (98.36) 6-3 (85.07) Dimitri Van den Bergh
Glen Durrant (97.37) 5-6 (95.28) Ricky Evans
Adrian Lewis (91.04) 1-6 (99.82) Simon Whitlock
20:15 Rob Cross v Darren Webster
20:45 James Wade v Jonny Clayton
21:15 Michael van Gerwen v Ross Smith
21:45 Daryl Gurney v William O’Connor