German Darts Grand Prix Monday afternoon Round-Up | Home hopes denied as Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith reach final session in Munich

Nathan Aspinall, Jonny Clayton, Josh Rock, Michael Smith were among the top names aiming to make it to the final session at the German Darts Grand Prix as the Quarter-Final line-up was set.

One of the leading displays came from Aspinall who managed to swat aside Martin Schindler who started the tie brightly but 'The Asp' managed to win four legs on the spin to seal the win.

Aspinall may not have wanted to wrangle through the passport queues yet and he will be staying at least another match as he moves into the Quarter-Finals.

Schindler went 2-0 up early in the tie but the issue was for both is neither was massively at the races with most of the legs coming just under 20 darts. Aspinall for instance won his first with a 20-darter holding throw to go 2-1 down. Schindler was averaging 93 at this point but Aspinall turned it around. A 12-darter to break was the catalyst as he went on to hold for double one so he turned it around. A 167, 84 and 36 from there sealed the win as Aspinall averaged just under a ton in the end.

Michael Smith looked to have his match with Niko Springer firmly in the palm of his hands and he did in the end but he had to seriously work for it as he survived a late comeback from the German to move through.

Early on, he was averaging just 96 but sat at 4/5 on the doubles as moved 4-0 up easily. Breaking with a 120 checkout and 74 checkout for 4-0, he moved two away. Springer was finally on the board but only after Smith missed chances for 5-0. A 105 checkout followed from Smith to break straight back and he was 5-1 up throwing for the win.

Springer broke again with a 70 checkout after Smith couldn't get a match dart from 118. Then Springer sent it all the way from 5-2 down. But he didn't get a chance as Smith pinned double 20 for 6-4 to seal the win.

Andrew Gilding faces Aspinall in the Quarter-Finals and he ended the session superbly easing past William O'Connor 6-1. A 54 checkout early on to break for Gilding. Gilding pinned double 20 to go 4-0 up. O'Connor went 4-1 down pinning a 73 checkout. But a 12-darter for Gilding on double 18 saw him go 5-1 up. O'Connor ended on 11% on the doubles and despite missing 141 for the win, Gilding finally came back for double three.

Albeit joy dissipated for Josh Rock and Dirk van Duijvenbode as a red-hot Niels Zonneveld and Kevin Doets accounted for them in the two main casualties of the session.

Zonneveld broke early with a 102 checkout but Rock hit back with a 52 checkout with Zonneveld missing 84. Rock was sat 4-3 up pinning double 16 for a 33 checkout. But Zonneveld held with a 48 checkout. Rock responded with a 66 checkout to make it 5-4 before Zonneveld made it 5-5 with a 74 checkout.

Zonneveld through with a 12-darter for an 81 checkout though while Van Duijvenbode came from 3-1 down to break back and go 4-3 up against Doets but it wasn't to be as holds from both until the decider sent it to a final leg. One that Van Duijvenbode couldn't pin 144 in and back came Doets for 53 to win it.

To start the session, Danny Noppert continued his form taking down Karel Sedlacek 6-2, while Jonny Clayton snuffed out hopes for Kim Huybrechts.

Early on, it was an 11-darter for Huybrechts to go 2-1 up but Clayton was back on the march hitting 81 to break and go 3-2 up. Clayton was one away pinning 76 to make it 5-3. Huybrechts was throwing to try and hold and make it 5-4. But a 98 checkout saw Clayton one away. A 148 checkout for Clayton saw him seal it.

Krzysztof Ratajski is also through after edging past Ross Smith in the third match of the session 6-4 as 'The Polish Eagle' continues to soar. The Quarter-Finals begin this evening with a champion crowned later tonight.