COOL HAND CLAIMS IT! 🤝 Reigning champion Luke Humphries makes a winning start on his return to Prague, coming through a gruelling second round clash against European Champion Ross Smith! 🔜 Jonny Clayton v Martijn Kleermaker 📺 bit.ly/23EuroTourLive | #ET8
Humphries starts defence of his title as Clayton and Van den Bergh also through at Czech Darts Open
PDCSaturday, 13 May 2023 at 22:56
Bringing Saturday night's action at the Czech Darts Open to a close, Luke Humphries, Jonny Clayton and Dimitri Van den Bergh all ensured their return tomorrow courtesy of wins over Ross Smith, Martijn Kleermaker and Stefan Bellmont.
The number one seed and last weekend's losing finalist, Luke Humphries had a tough challenge as he took on Ross Smith. Looking to make light work of the challenge posed to him however, Humphries started the tie much the better player as he moved into an early 3-1 lead.
Battling to stay in touch, Smith pulled back to one behind at 3-2. Mopping up 24 on double 6, 'Smudger' was suddenly back on level terms, much to Humphries annoyance. Taking a third straight leg, Smith nudged in front at 4-3. Thankfully for Humphries though he was able to stop the rot at 4-4, before moving with one from the match at 5-4. Coming within the width of the wire for a skin-saving 170, Smith was agonisingly close to sending us to a decider. But with the miss, he gave Humphries a match-winning opportunity and he gleefully took it, booking his spot in the next round.
Premier League Darts star Jonny Clayton had the towering test of 'the Dutch Giant' Martijn Kleermaker next up. After the Dutchman held throw in the opener, Clayton survived some double trouble to level up before breaking the throw and nudging ahead at 2-1. There was more outer ring issues for both in leg 4 before Clayton finally took out double 1 for the second time in three legs to go 3-1 up.
Taking a fourth straight leg, 'the Ferret' started to take control of the tie and as Kleermaker continued to let Clayton's missed darts at double go unpunished, the Welshman finished a third leg on double 1 of the match to go 5-1 in front. An 81 finish in the following leg secured the victory for Clayton as he booked a last 16 tie against Dirk van Duijvenbode tomorrow.
Finally, rounding off the second round in Prague, Dimitri van den Bergh faced Stefan Bellmont. Showing no sign of his Premier League struggles it was Van den Bergh who started the brighter of the two players as he raced into an early 2-0 advantage.
Despite Bellmont getting himself into the game, nothing was stopping the rampant Belgian from securing the final spot in the last 16. Taking a 6-2 victory.
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