RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD held off Kevin Painter's fightback to set up a tasty third round clash with in-form Joe Cullen at the Austrian Darts Open, while Michael van Gerwen and James Wade also impressed in Wiener Neustadt.
Five-time World Champion van Barneveld had to battle back from 5-2 down to win his first round clash with Antonio Alcinas on Friday, but made all the early running by taking a 4-0 lead against Painter.
The English star hit back to trail just 4-3, but van Barneveld took a key eighth leg and went on to book his place in Sunday's decisive final stages.
"I'm very pleased with the win and to be through," said van Barneveld. "I might have been a bit fortunate to be 4-0 up because Kevin could have been two-all, but I made the advantage pay.
"I wasn't at my best but the important thing is that I'm through and I can look forward to the third round on Sunday afternoon now."
Van Barneveld will take on Yorkshire youngster Joe Cullen in the last 16, after the 23-year-old stormed past Stuart Kellett 6-1 with a sensational 111.84 average.
Cullen hit three 180s, a 177, a 174 and finishes of 126 and 120 in the display, with Kellett's only leg coming courtesy of a 160 checkout.
"I didn't feel like I could miss!" said Cullen. "It felt good but I wasn't expecting 112 average. It seems to be a good venue for me, and I'm here to win it, so we'll see what happens on Sunday."
World number two Michael van Gerwen also hit a 160 finish, with the checkout coming to seal his 6-1 victory over Wayne Jones in another strong display from the in-form Dutch ace.
He now takes on Ronnie Baxter on Sunday afternoon, with the Blackpool thrower having edged out Terry Jenkins 6-5.
World number four James Wade produced a clinical performance as he defeated Nigel Heydon 6-1, hitting five 180s and averaging 102 as he set up a clash with Dutch ace Jelle Klaasen, who also landed five maximums and a 167 checkout in his 6-4 defeat of Germany's Tomas Seyler.
"I'm very much looking forward to playing Jelle," said Wade, who has lost just once to the Dutchman. "I've got a good record against him but he's playing well, so I'll have to give it my everything."
Wes Newton, who won the European Darts Trophy event in April, remains on course for a second European Tour win of the year following his 6-4 victory over Steve West, as he came from 2-0 down in a game in which both players averaged over 100.
Newton now meets Colin Lloyd, who whitewashed below-par Andy Hamilton, taking out finishes of 130, 120 and 110 in the process.
Reigning Speedy Services UK Open champion Robert Thornton was a 6-4 winner against Mark Walsh as he set up a third round game with Dennis Smith, who edged out Peter Wright in a deciding leg.
Emerging Ross Smith produced some superb darts in his 6-3 win over Gary Anderson as he set up a clash with Brendan Dolan, who was a 6-4 winner against Kevin Dowling.
Steve Beaton landed two 11-dart legs in his narrow 6-5 victory against John Henderson, and the former World Champion now meets Kevin McDine in the last 16, after he overcame Andy Smith 6-3.
Dave Chisnall was another deciding-leg winner as he sneaked past Jamie Caven 6-5 to set up a third round date with Mervyn King, who held off Jim Walker's fightback from 4-0 down to claim a 6-4 victory.
The £100,000 tournament concludes on Sunday, with the third round being held in the afternoon session before the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place in the evening session.
Live Scores
Although there is no live streaming of the Austrian Darts Open, fans can follow live scores from all matches in the event through the PDC Live Scores Website at http://live.dartsdata.com.
See Match Highlights from selected games exclusively in www.LIVEPDC.TV.
Austrian Darts Open
Saturday June 1
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Kevin Dowling 4-6 Brendan Dolan
Peter Wright 5-6 Dennis Smith
Kevin McDine 6-3 Andy Smith
Ronnie Baxter 6-5 Terry Jenkins - highlights in LIVEPDC.TV
Joe Cullen 6-1 Stuart Kellett
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Jamie Caven - highlights in LIVEPDC.TV
Wes Newton 6-4 Steve West
Robert Thornton 6-4 Mark Walsh
Evening Session
Ross Smith 6-3 Gary Anderson
Steve Beaton 6-5 John Henderson
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Wayne Jones
Andy Hamilton 0-6 Colin Lloyd
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Kevin Painter
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Tomas Seyler
Nigel Heydon 1-6 James Wade
Jim Walker 4-6 Mervyn King
Click here to see the Third Round schedule of play in the Austrian Darts Open NetZone
Match Information
Afternoon Session
Brendan Dolan edged out Kevin Dowling 6-4 to progress to the third round following a tight game. Dolan hit back from 2-1 down to lead 3-2 before missed doubles allowed Coventry's Dowling to level. Dolan then won the next two legs to lead 5-3, with Dowling hitting back with two 180s in the ninth leg, before the Northern Irish ace went on to seal the win.
Dennis Smith took victory over Peter Wright in a dramatic deciding leg. Smith led 2-1 before Wright levelled with a 13-darter and then took out finishes of 120 and 103 to lead 4-3, with Smith replying with a 116 checkout. Smith took the next two legs to lead 5-4 before a 107 finish from Wright sent the game into a deciding leg. Smith thought his chance had passed when he missed double 16 for a 101 finish, but Wright could not land the bull for a 129 checkout and the Swindon ace returned to edge into the last 16.
Dennis Smith: "Peter's finishing was fantastic and I thought I'd thrown it away in the last leg when I missed and he had the shot to take out 129. I'm really happy to be through but I'll keep my head down and prepare for Sunday now."
Kevin McDine won through to the third round of a European Tour event for the first time with a 6-3 defeat of Andy Smith. McDine hit a 180 in a 14-darter as he took the opening leg, and added another maximum in the second, only for Smith to level. A 91 finish gave McDine the third, before Smith finished 114 to hit back once again. The next two were also shared before McDine finished double nine to move 4-3 up and crucially broke in the eighth leg, hitting a 180 to set up a 90 finish, before going on to complete the victory.
Kevin McDine: "Andy has got a great record against me so it was a game I felt I had to win to prove a point! I'll try to keep this going on Sunday and do my best."
Ronnie Baxter sneaked past Terry Jenkins 6-5 in a high-scoring game which saw the pair share eight 180s. Jenkins tok out 118 to win the opening leg, before Baxter, aided by finishes of double ten, double 16 and a 13-darter, where a 177 left 32, moved 3-1 up. Jenkins hit back on double five before the pair traded 14-darters, before they shared double ten finishes to leave Baxter 5-4 ahead. Jenkins hit a 180 as he forced a deciding leg. Baxter hit four tons in being first to a finish, and though he initially missed two darts for the match, he returned to land double ten to avenge a loss to Jenkins in the recent European Darts Open.
2012 quarter-finalist Joe Cullen powered into the last 16 of the Austrian Darts Open with a sensational 6-1 win over Stuart Kellett, averaging 111.84 in an outstanding display. He landed a 174 and took out 93 for a 12-darter to open the game before adding a 180 in a 14-darter, a 177 in a 13-darter and a bullseye finish to take out 70 as he moved 4-0 up. Cullen then hit a 180 to set up 126, which he finished on the bull, to move 5-0 up before Kellett hit back with a brilliant 160 checkout - as Cullen waited on 40. The 23-year-old, though, had little longer to wait in wrapping up victory with a 120 checkout for a fine display.
Joe Cullen "I didn't feel like I could miss! It felt good but I wasn't expecting 112 average. It seems to be a good venue for me, and I'm here to win it, so we'll see what happens on Sunday."
Dave Chisnall won an 11-leg thriller with Jamie Caven to move into the third round - with last week's double Players Championship winner missing two darts to snatch the win in the deciding leg. Caven kicked off the game with a 180 and broke in the first leg before Chisnall hit back and then posted a maximum and a 73 finish to lead 2-1. Caven finished 134 to level and the pair traded the next two before Chisnall fired in another 180 in a 13-darter to move 4-3 up, and then took out 97 to lead 5-4. Caven levelled, and when Chisnall missed two darts at double 18 in the decider the Derby ace gave himself a chance at taking out 96, but also missed two darts at the bed before the St Helens thrower returned to grab the win.
Wes Newton came from 2-0 down to pick up a 6-4 win over Steve West in a high-qualty contest which saw the Fleetwood thrower average 101.68 to his opponent's 104.58. West made a thrilling start with a 180 in the opening leg, hitting a 13-darter and then adding a 14-dart finish. Newton took out 129 to hit back, double ten to level and a 12-darter to move 3-2 up, before finishing double eight to win a fourth straight leg. West hit back with an 84 finish for a 12-darter, before Newton hit a 180 in a 13-darter to lead 5-3. West matched that to pull back to 5-4, but after the pair traded 180s in the next he missed two darts to force a deciding leg, and Newton hit tops for a 14-darter to seal a fine victory.
Robert Thornton progressed to the last 16 with a 6-4 win over Mark Walsh. Walsh finished 82 to win the opening leg before Thornton levelled on tops and hit a 177 and double three to break in the third. Walsh broke back to level with a 124 finish, but Thornton hit back with a 66 checkout and then finished a 13-darter to move 4-2 up. Double four and double 16 won Walsh two of the next three legs as he hit back, but Thornton landed two 140s in the tenth leg before sealing the win on double two.
Evening Session
Ross Smith knocked out Gary Anderson with a fine 6-3 triumph to set up a third round clash with Brendan Dolan. Smith made a superb start, taking the opening leg - after Anderson missed a dart at tops - and then hitting 180s in the next two as he moved 3-0 up, landing a 13-darter in the process. Anderson got off the mark with a superb 11-dart finish, and after Smith moved 4-1 up with a 14-dart leg, the Scot took out 100 to add a second leg. A miss at tops from Anderson allowed Smith to hit double 16 to move 5-2 up, and though the Scot kept his hopes alive in the seventh leg, Smith took out 80 on tops to progress.
Steve Beaton took an 11-leg win over John Henderson in a tight contest, which never saw either player move more than one leg ahead. Henderson took the opening leg on tops with a 13-darter before Beaton hit a 180 to level, and the next two were shared before Beaton hit an 11-darter to move 3-2 up. Henderson punished misses from the former World Champion to hit back, and he then fired in a 180 in an 11-darter to move 4-3 up. Beaton replied with his second 11-darter of the game to level before finishing 95 on the bull, but paid the price for missing his chance to seal victory in the next as Henderson saved the game with a 104 finish. Beaton, though, opened the 11th leg with a 180 and finished double eight to edge the victory.
Steve Beaton: "I knew it would be a hard game but I made it tougher for myself with some missed doubles. When I opened the last leg with a 180 I knew it was in my hands so I'm delighted, and it was a really good game to be involved in in front of a great crowd."
Michael van Gerwen marched past Wayne Jones with a 6-1 triumph to set up a third round meeting with Ronnie Baxter on Sunday. Jones actually took the game's opening leg, hitting a 180 and finishing 61, but van Gerwen finished 80 to level and back-to-back 13-darters to take command at 3-1. Jones added another 180 in the fifth leg, only for van Gerwen to win a fourth leg, and when the former European Championship finalist missed his chance at doubles in four visits in the next van Gerwen landed double four for a 5-1 lead before sealing victory with a spectacular 160 checkout.
Colin Lloyd hit three ton-plus checkouts as he whitewashed Andy Hamilton 6-0, setting up a clash with Wes Newton in round three. Lloyd opened the game with a 180 and finished 130 to break in the opening leg, and finished 36 and 86 as he established a 3-0 lead. Tops moved him four legs up, before he took out 120 and 110 to seal a comprehensive victory.
Raymond van Barneveld held off Kevin Painter's fightback to claim 6-4 victory from their second round clash. Van Barneveld dominated the early stages, finishing 75 in the first leg, tops in the second and double four in the third, which saw him punish misses from Painter, before he landed a 177 to set up double 12 for a 4-0 lead. Painter, though, kick-started his challenge with a 121 finish and hit tops to win the next two, despite 180s from van Barneveld, to pull back to 4-3. Van Barneveld took a crucial eighth leg on double 16, and though Painter finished 82 on the bull to stay in the game, the Dutchman landed a fourth maximum and double ten to complete the win.
Jelle Klaasen moved into the last 16 with a 6-4 defeat of Germany's Tomas Seyler. Klaasen took the opening leg before doubling his lead, landing a 180 and a 98 finish, only for Seyler to trade 180s with the Dutchman as he took the third before punishing a missed bullseye from Klaasen to level in the fourth. The next two were shared before Seyler hit the front, punishing a string of misses from Klaasen in the seventh. The Dutchman, though, responded superbly with a 167 checkout to level, traded 180s before finishing double six to regain the lead at 5-4 before hitting a fifth maximum of the game and tops to seal victory.
James Wade produced a superb performance to defeat Nigel Heydon 6-1, setting up a third round game with Jelle Klaasen. Wade hit a 180 in a 13-darter to kick off the game, and added a second maximum as Heydon levelled with a 14-dart finish. Wade added a third 180 in taking a 2-1 lead before hitting legs of 14, 13 and 13 darts to move 5-1 up - taking his tally of maximums to five in the game - before punishing Heydon for two misses to keep the game alive as he hit double ten to complete a fine performance, averaging 102.41 in the final reckoning.
Mervyn King held off Jim Walker's fightback from 4-0 down to claim a 6-4 win which completes the second round action. King eased away in the early stages, taking the first four legs without reply before the pair traded 180s in the fifth, and when the Norfolk ace missed his chance to win a fifth leg, Walker got off the mark and then took out 60, 68 and 64 to level the game. King, though, hit another 180 and a 64 finish of his own to move 5-4 up before landing another maximum in securing victory in leg ten, with Walker missing double 19 for a 158 checkout.