Gurney dispatches Scutt, Soutar survives Wenig comeback to move through at German Darts Open

Daryl Gurney and Alan Soutar are the next players through to the second round at the German Darts Open in Jena after opening round wins over Connor Scutt and Lukas Wenig respectively.

While not as blockbuster as last week's 105 opener against Nathan Rafferty, Gurney proved too strong for Scutt in a 6-3 win despite missing 1`3 darts at double throughout the contest.

Starting with an 11-darter, he pinned 91 to hold throw before breaking at 3-1 with a 14-darter on double 18 with Scutt only back on 110 after a poor follow up to a 140.

This was confounded as Scutt could only leave double 20 off 92 after Gurney had missed three at double eight but he didn't have such issues next time as he hit double four last dart in hand to go 4-1 up.

From there, Gurney continued to hold with an 82 checkout to make it 5-2. Scutt offered some resistance with a 119 checkout on the bull but could not pressure 'Superchin's throw in the end allowing him to pin double nine for the win.

For Soutar, it was also a 6-3 win but one that could have been a lot more comfortable as he survived a comeback from the home hero Wenig who couldn't reproduce his prior European Tour brilliance.

He started the brighter pinning 108 to go 1-0 up but Soutar broke at 2-1 with a 43 checkout on double 18 and took the initiative from there surging into a 5-1 lead and looked to be easing for the finishing line but match darts came and went in multiple legs allowing Wenig a route back in.

But it was Soutar's time to punish as he pounced on a missed 62 checkout to hit double 18 for the win.