International Darts Open 2020 preview and schedule: Saturday evening session, including Van Gerwen, Price and De Sousa

Step right up for a very interesting Saturday evening at the International Darts Open.

The sparse Riesa crowd will be treated to displays from world number one Michael van Gerwen, Grand Prix champion Gerwyn Price, European Darts Grand Prix winner Jose de Sousa, and much more. Keep an eye out for Ross Smith, who has lit up the International Darts Open so far.

First though, we have a re-run to get stuck into. Martijn Kleermaker sent Krzysztof Ratajski on his way when they met at the European Darts Grand Prix, and now they have another chance to test if it was a one-off or not. Ratajski won't be at all satisfied with a repeat.

Next up is a meeting of former world finalists. Stephen Bunting was frustrated to miss the World Grand Prix, but after biding his time, the Bullet is back and clashes with Andy Hamilton. After that is another all-English affair; Jason Lowe's reward for sneaking past Scott Marsh is a tie against Nathan Aspinall.

One of the highlights of this evening session will be a coming together of gentle giants. Gabriel Clemens opened with some very good stuff on Friday, and will need more of it against Mensur Suljovic - who himself put in some strong displays in Sindelfingen last time out.

Michael van Gerwen will have been fuming at his pedestrian European Darts Grand Prix final showing. Now's the chance to bite back, and it all begins against Madars Razma.

Gerwyn Price won the International Darts Open in 2019, and he did it in 2018 too. Not many people get a chance at European Tour hat-tricks, if their name isn't Michael van Gerwen. The Welshman's been handed a nasty opening tie too, as Ross Smith's on fire. A scorching 112.86 average was too much for Mario Vandenbogaerde in the first round. To be fair, it'd be too much for anyone. Price better be wary of more quality arrows from Smith.

Max Hopp doesn't have the normal raucous crowds to fire him up in these home events. Of course, the talented German ace doesn't need them, as shown in a highly professional dismantling of Jelle Klaasen. Jose de Sousa is another matter entirely, of course. The newly crowned European Darts Grand Prix champ can produce both the sublime and the ridiculous, sometimes at the same time. In his current form, the Portuguese can plot another big run.

Jesus Noguera couldn't have wished for a better start to his European Tour journey. A 6-0 mauling of Maik Kuivenhoven gives the Spaniard a Saturday evening match to look forward to, and he can have at least one Sunday game if he can find a way past Ian White.

International Darts Open 2020 schedule

Second round

Evening Session

18:00 Krzysztof Ratajski v Martijn Kleermaker
18:30 Stephen Bunting v Andy Hamilton
19:00 Nathan Aspinall v Jason Lowe
19:30 Mensur Suljovic v Gabriel Clemens
20:00 Michael van Gerwen v Madars Razma
20:30 Gerwyn Price v Ross Smith
21:00 Jose De Sousa v Max Hopp
22:00 Ian White v Jesus Noguera