Van Gerwen survives Dobey scare in European Tour thriller, Waites dumps out Wright as seeds fall at German Darts Grand Prix

PDC
Sunday, 17 April 2022 at 22:09
PLLiverpoolSF Michael Van Gerwen1
The seeded players continue to tumble at the German Darts Grand Prix but one player who will lick his lips at the thought of that is Michael van Gerwen who survived an almighty scare but extended his unbeaten record against Chris Dobey in a European Tour thriller.
Van Gerwen went 5-3 down and looked to be heading out but two match darts were spurned by ‘Hollywood’ who despite having the throw in the decider saw his trebles dry up and ‘Mighty Mike’ jumped all over it with a 6-5 win averaging 105.5.
Dobey hit a 108 checkout for a 3-1 lead in a game where he could have led 4-0. But Van Gerwen hit back with a 67 checkout to make it 3-2 down.
Van Gerwen begin the requisite leg with back-to-back 180’s as he looked to level up but he missed the nine-darter only to return for double 10 for a 12-darter.
Dobey hit a 180 on his throw as he looked to reopen the gap and he was given six darts at 132 only to go wayward and Dobey looked at 87 with Van Gerwen left on double 20 in case he missed. But Dobey pinned the bull to make it 4-3.
Van Gerwen was sat on 90 to hold but missed double 10 handing Dobey a shot at 96 which he took to go one away at 5-3.
Van Gerwen missed 112 to break and make it 5-4 but Dobey missed two match darts allowing MVG back to make it 5-4.
Van Gerwen pinned 88 to send it all the way and Dobey’s finishing line in sight saw a really poor leg and handed Van Gerwen the win with a 93 checkout on double 18.
One of those players who has headed out is one of Van Gerwen’s main rivals in Munich in Peter Wright who was dumped out by a brilliant display by Scott Waites.
Waites held his nerve in the decider after coming from 4-2 down to send it all the way with a 71 checkout. With Wright back on 74, Waites produced a 45 checkout on double 16 to seal it and send the World Number One and World Champion home.
While another of the home hopes has gone home and won’t join Max Hopp and Martin Schindler in the final day as Gabriel Clemens was dumped out by Martin Lukeman.
Lukeman has been one of the most improved players on the PDC Tour this season and again is making strides on the European Tour.
He wrapped up a quality 6-3 victory over the German Number One who was out of sorts averaging just 77.5 and in the arena, you could hear a pin drop as Lukeman silenced the crowd and sent the German Giant packing.