Van Peer cracks Rock as below-par Chisnall edges past Horvat

Berry van Peer and Dave Chisnall are the first players through to round 3 of the 2023 German Darts Grand Prix after victories over Josh Rock and Dragutin Horvat respectively in front of a packed out crowd in Munich.

With 14th seed Josh Rock taking on Berry van Peer, who defeated Jules van Dongen 6-1 yesterday, in the first matchup of the session, it was the Dutchman who took the opening leg. Van Peer breaking throw on double 14 before holding in the next leg to double his lead.

Something about seeing himself 2-0 down had seemingly woken Rock up though. The Northern Irishman began throwing the standard of darts we all know he is capable of, taking the next two legs to level up. Some scrappy set up shots from Rock in leg 5 however allowed van Peer a chance, one he gratefully grasped on double 18.

A brilliant 141 checkout saw a fired-up Rock keep himself in contention and after van Peer wired a dart at bull to restore his two-leg lead, Rocky threatened to take out a 147. He didn't and van Peer returned to mop up the 25 and go within a leg of victory. After Rock saw two match saving darts at double 12 come and go, van Peer would nail double 8 second time of asking a secure himself a spot in the last 16.

The second game of the session saw home favorite Dragutin Horvat hoping to ride the wave of crowd support to victory against 4th seed Dave Chisnall. In a scrappy opening leg, both players were seemingly feeling early match nerves, Horvat eventually pinning double 1 for a 24-dart break.

There was more double trouble in leg two, Chisnall being the one to eventually take it to level up at 1-1. A third consecutive break of throw saw Horvat pin double top relatively cleanly and regain the lead, before holding to stretch his lead to 3-1. After Horvat came within the width of a wire from a three-leg lead, Chizzy held throw to keep himself in touch.

Despite playing well below his usual standard, Chisnall continued to battle on and after taking 72 out on double 9 the match was all square at 4-4. Both players missed an opportunity to go 5-4 ahead, with Chisnall eventually being the man to go within one of the victory. With six darts in hand to take out 100, Chizzy needed only four and booked his spot on the final day tomorrow.