The latest two players through to the Last 16 at the 2023 Austrian Darts Open are Daryl Gurney and Michael Smith after prevailing on Saturday evening.
Gurney punished an off-colour Luke Humphries, who unlike his return to the European Tour last time out was not at his best losing 6-1.
This was shown with only 11% on the doubles from Humphries and Gurney seals an important confidence boosting win against the top seed after qualifying for most European Tours this season but not getting a run together.
Smith narrowly avoided early elimination in the wake of names like Humphries and Peter Wright. 'Bully Boy' lost a 5-3 lead against in-form German, Ricardo Pietreczko who in his second year has been really proving himself, but struck in the deciding leg with a 15-darter.