Peter Wright silences home crowd with narrow win over Niko Springer before Clayton, Whitlock & Suljovic complete second round field at German Darts Championship 2024

The first round of the 2024 German Darts Championship has reached a conclusion on Hildesheim. Completing the second round field are Peter Wright, Jonny Clayton, Simon Whitlock and Mensur Suljovic.

In his tie, Snakebite had to fight to survive against the talented German youngster, Niko Springer, who started the match with a 14-darter before Wright took the 1-1 with a 100 checkout and then took out 116 to break in 12 darts. Springer, however, got the break back immediately by taking out a 180 in the fourth leg to set up an 80 finish. Springer levelled the score at 2-2 in 15 darts.

The Scot then managed to confirm the break and pull away to 4-2. Springer did come back to 3-4 in 19 darts, but Wright followed by tsking out 105 after Springer failed to clear 121 at the first attempt. The German then reduced the score to 5-4 thanks to a 128 finish in 12 darts, but Wright threw to win the match and claimed victory with a 14-darter.

Elsewhere, Jonny Clayton came through a tense last leg shootout with Martin Lukeman. Although both were far below their respective bests, averaging in the 80s for the majority, it was an enthralling contest that went all the way to an 11th and final leg. In that, Lukeman had the darts, but it was Clayton who prevailed thanks to a 15 dart break of throw.

Completing the second round field, Simon Whitlock defeated Callan Rydz 6-4, hitting five 180s en route to the win, before, in the final first round game, Mensur Suljovic came out the blocks flying against Dimitri van den Bergh, averaging over 104 as he charged into a 4-0 lead. Although Van den Bergh did get back to 4-2, Suljovic wrapped things up 6-2 a few legs later.