SMITH SURVIVES! 😳 Darting drama in Munich, as Michael Smith survives THREE match darts before taking out 116 on tops to edge out Adam Warner in a last-leg decider! Heartbreak for Warner! 😞 🔜 Gerwyn Price v Raymond van Barneveld 📺 bit.ly/23EuroTourLive | #ET4 R2
Michael Smith survives three missed match darts against Warner whilst Price comfortably despatches van Barneveld
PDCSunday, 09 April 2023 at 21:14
Easter Sunday at the German Darts Grand Prix keeps rolling on in Munich with Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price the latest two to secure their place in the third round and ensure a return tomorrow thanks to wins over Adam Warner and Raymond van Barneveld.
The world champion and world number one Michael Smith took on European Tour debutant Adam Warner, who defeated Mario Vandenbogaerde yesterday. With Warner making a mess of cleaning up 25, Smith was on hand to punish, nail double top and break throw in the opening leg.
A routine hold of throw for Michael Smith saw him take the second leg before Warner fluffed his lines on double 16 with Bully Boy again there to punish and take a third straight leg. Warner finally got his first leg on the board with a solid 15-dart break of throw, drawing a sarcastic celebration from himself.
A solid hold followed for Warner as he moved to back within a leg of the world number one. Suddenly full of confidence, Warner then came agonisingly close to a 170 finish. With Smith then missing numerous darts at double, Warner was then able to nail double 4 and take a third straight leg.
Double 10 helped Warner take the lead 4-3 and Smith looked completely bamboozled. Stopping the rot though, Bully Boy pinned top to level things up despite looking visibly frustrated. In a scrappy ninth leg, both players missed darts at double before Warner finally hit the double 4 to move a leg away from the biggest win of the life. With Warner unable to secure win with a 170, Smith returned and successfully cleaned up 20 to send the match to a deciding leg. With Warner having the advantage of throw the pressure was on the reigning world champion. A perfect set-up shot saw Warner leave 32 but he couldn't capitalise missing three clear darts and allowing Smith to return and fire in a stunning, match winning, 116 checkout.
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Arguably the tie of the round saw the five-time former world champion Raymond van Barneveld face off against the 11th seed Gerwyn Price. Despite Price having the advantage of throw in the opener it was Barney who took an early lead on double 8.
After Price fired back with an instant riposte, canceling out the Barney break and then nailing double 10 in the following leg to move in front. Van Barneveld, who publicly stated that he had Price's number following their Grand Slam of Darts clash last year levelled got back on level terms with a pop-pop 56 checkout. Another solid hold of throw for Price followed, nudging back ahead at 3-2.
A second successive 15 dart leg, followed a big roar and suddenly Price was 4-2 up and had won four of the last five legs. A 69 checkout finished on his favourite double top made it three straight 15-darters for the Iceman as he moved a leg away from the win and with van Barneveld putting up little to no opposition, Price comfortably took the very next leg and secured a 6-2 victory.
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- With the general noise / buzz coming from the crowd can a player seriously believe he can hear darts rattling in the other players hand?Mysstree23-11-2024
- Oh, dear... how will we cope now?MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
- They really are going through an insipid spell - at present.MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
- Well done Mike – good to move on and look to the future. With his talent, and increasing confidence on stage, he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the month ahead.
UndartedWaters22-11-2024 - It's called talent and good on him.medinabello21-11-2024