TOP SEEDS Michael van Gerwen and Simon Whitlock were knocked out of the German Darts Championship in the third round on Sunday afternoon by comeback victories for Andy Hamilton and Daryl Gurney in Hildesheim.
Van Gerwen's bid to win a third European Tour title of the year was derailed as he saw Hamilton come from 3-0 down to claim a 6-4 triumph.
The Dutch ace had opened the game in the same form which had seen him whitewash Colin Osborne in round two, finishing 78, 110 and double 12 to win the game's opening three legs.
Hamilton, though, kick-started his challenge with a brilliant 146 finish in the fourth leg, before scoring 167 to set up 40 as he won a second leg with a 14-darter, and he then hit a 180 in another 14-dart finish as he levelled the game.
Van Gerwen broke back in leg seven to move 4-3 up, but Hamilton replied superbly with a maximum in an 11-darter to level once more, and he then added another 180 in a 14-darter to lead for the first time at 5-4.
The pair traded 180s in the next as van Gerwen fought to force a decider, but the Dutchman missed double seven for a 122 finish and three further darts at the bed to allow Hamilton in on double ten for a gritty win.
"Sometimes you play the player, and I upped my game tremendously against a player who's in great form," said Hamilton. "I was in the zone, my finishes were good and I took my chances."
Number two seed Simon Whitlock joined van Gerwen in being knocked out as he went down in a dramatic deciding leg against Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney.
The pair enjoyed a tight battle, with Whitlock coming from 4-3 down to move 5-4 up with an 11-darter, but Gurney forced a decided and pounced when the Australian missed the bull and two darts at double 16 for the win by landing double 18 to claim victory.
Gurney, who won a PDC Tour Card in January and is appearing in his first European Tour event, now plays Peter Wright in the quarter-finals on Sunday evening, and admitted: "I'm very proud to have won this game.
"I've beaten a Premier League player, one of the best in the world, and I fel really good after that. I thought Simon was going to win in the last leg, but I had a bit of luck."
Wright, a semi-finalist in June's UK Open, booked his place in the last eight with a 6-3 win over Jelle Klaasen, despite the Dutch ace finishing 144 as he shared the game's opening four legs.
Hamilton now plays Steve Beaton in the quarter-finals, after the former World Champion reached the last eight for the third successive European Tour event with a dramatic 6-5 win over Andy Smith, who was left waiting on 40 in the deciding leg of a tight game.
Dave Chisnall was another 6-5 winner - for the third successive game this weekend - as he edged out Paul Nicholson, who missed the bull for a 124 checkout in the deciding leg of their clash.
Chisnall's quarter-final opponent will be Kevin Painter, who came from 2-0 down to defeat Justin Pipe 6-4.
Jamie Caven and Richie Burnett will meet in the other quarter-final following their respective wins over Vincent van der Voort and Steve Brown.
Caven dropped only one leg as he defeated van der Voort 6-1, while Burnett averaged 101.85 in his 6-2 defeat of resurgent Brown.
The £100,000 European Tour event will conclude on Sunday evening, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final being held at Halle 39 in Hildeshiem - and with no former European Tour winner remaining in the field, there is guaranteed to be a new winner in the series of events.
Although there is no live broadcast of the German Darts Championship, highlights from selected matches are available in www.LIVEPDC.TV.
The following games are now available in www.LIVEPDC.TV
R1 - Kim Huybrechts v Jelle Klaasen
R1 - Dave Chisnall v Dean Winstanley
R1 - Vincent van der Voort v Adrian Lewis
R2 - Simon Whitlock v Mark Dudbridge
R3 - Andy Smith v Steve Beaton
Live Scores
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German Darts Championship - European Tour Event Six
Sunday September 8
Afternoon Session
Third Round
Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Andy Hamilton
Andy Smith 5-6 Steve Beaton
Kevin Painter 6-4 Justin Pipe
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Paul Nicholson
Simon Whitlock 5-6 Daryl Gurney
Jelle Klaasen 3-6 Peter Wright
Jamie Caven 6-1 Vincent van der Voort
Richie Burnett 6-2 Steve Brown
Evening Session (7pm)
Quarter-Finals
Andy Hamilton v Steve Beaton
Kevin Painter v Dave Chisnall
Daryl Gurney v Peter Wright
Jamie Caven v Richie Burnett
Semi-Finals
v
v
Final
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Third Round Match Information
Andy Hamilton produced a superb comeback from 3-0 down to end Michael van Gerwen's hopes of a third European Tour victory of the year with a 6-4 triumph. Van Gerwen continued the form which saw him whitewash Colin Osborne in round two as he took out 78 to break in 14 darts in the opening leg, finished 110 in the second and double 12 in the third to move 3-0 up. Hamilton, though, kick-started his challenge with a brilliant 146 finish in the fourth leg, before scoring 167 to set up 40 as he won a second leg with a 14-darter, and he then hit a 180 in another 14-dart finish as he levelled. Van Gerwen broke back in leg seven to move 4-3 up, hitting three 140s and taking out double 19 for a 13-darter, but Hamilton replied superbly with a maximum in an 11-darter to level once more, and he then added another 180 in a 14-darter to lead for the first time at 5-4. The pair traded 180s in the next as van Gerwen fought to force a decider, but the Dutchman missed double seven for a 122 finish and three further darts at the bed to allow Hamilton back in on double ten for the win.
Andy Hamilton: "Sometimes you play the player, and I upped my game tremendously today against a player who's in great form. I was in the zone, my finishes were good and I took my chances."
Steve Beaton won a tight 11-leg thriller with Andy Smith to book his place in a third successive European Tour quarter-final. Beaton took out 86 on double seven to win the opening leg, but missed two darts to take the second as Smith levelled by taking out 88 in two darts before breaking throw in the third on double 16. The pair traded 180s in the fourth before Beaton broke back on tops for a 13-darter to level. The next three went with throw to leave Beaton 4-3 up before the pair again shared maximums in leg eight, with Beaton's 180 leaving him 84 only for Smith to take out 108 on double 14 to level. Beaton finished 78 on double 12 to move 5-4 up, but wired double 16 for a 112 finish in the next as Smith hit the same bed to force a decider. Beaton was first to a finish, initially missing double 16 to finish 134 before returning, with Smith waiting on 40, to land double eight to book his quarter-final spot.
Steve Beaton: "I love these events and they seem to suit me. I enjoy the format and I'm doing well in the European Tour events. It should be a good game against Andy Hamilton and I'll look forward to that tonight."
Kevin Painter came from two legs down to defeat Justin Pipe 6-4 and win through to a second successive European Tour quarter-final. Pipe edged a nervy opener on double two, and the pair then traded 180s in the second before the Taunton ace scored 165 to set up double eight as he doubled his lead with a 14-darter. Pipe also landed a maximum in the third leg, but missed a dart at tops to allow Painter in to finish 104 on double 18 as he got off the mark. Painter then landed a maximum and double 15 to level, after Pipe missed one dart at double 16, before a 98 finish put the former Players Champion ahead for the first time. Pipe was then punished for eight missed darts at doubles as Painter landed double 16 for a 4-2 lead, only for the world number eight to hit back and level, landing 180s in the next two legs as he followed a 13-darter with double nine. He also gave himself a chance to move ahead in leg nine, but narrowly missed a dart at tops as Painter followed an earlier 180 with double four, and when Pipe missed four more doubles in the tenth, the Rugby-based star took out 88 on the bull for victory.
Kevin Painter: "I struggled a bit and I was a bit nervous in this match. I've been practising OK but didn't score as well as I wanted, but luckily my doubles went in and Justin missed a few. I didn't fire on all cylinders but I'm in the quarter-finals and that's what matters."
Dave Chisnall came through a third successive 11-leg thriller as he edged out Paul Nicholson 6-5 to reach the German Darts Championship quarter-finals. The world number nine took out 120 and 107 to win the game's first two legs before Nicholson stepped in to win the third on double eight when Chisnall, who landed a 180 but missed four darts at doubles. Nicholson was punished for missing three darts at tops to level the game in leg four as Chisnall took out double nine, and double 12 in the next put him 4-1 up. Nicholson landed a 180 and finished 64 to hit back in the sixth and then broke on double 16 in the seventh after Chisnall missed two darts at tops. Chisnall landed a maximum in the eighth leg, and returned to finish double five after Nicholson missed two darts to level, only for the St Helens ace to miss his chance to seal victory in the ninth when he missed a dart at tops. Nicholson pulled back to 5-4 on double 16, and then finished double eight to force a decider, which saw Chisnall score 177 to leave 24 - only to then miss darts at double 12, six and three. Nicholson, though, missed the bull for a 124 checkout, and Chisnall return to seal the win on double one.
Dave Chisnall: "I can't seem to stop having 6-5 games, but as long as it's 6-5 to me then I'm happy. Paul came back well and I'm pleased to be through."
Paul Nicholson: "The leg which killed me was when I missed three darts at tops to level in the fourth, but fair play to Dave, he deserved to win. I gave myself a chance but the dart at the bull was so far away in the end - I put too much into it and it landed in the 20!"
Daryl Gurney won through to his first PDC quarter-final with a gritty 6-5 win over Simon Whitlock, who missed three darts to claim victory in the deciding leg of a close contest. Whitlock broke throw in the opening leg on double top, but missed three darts to double his lead as Gurney took out 71 on double 18 and then finished tops with his third dart for a 2-1 advantage. Whitlock took leg four with a fine 12-darter, finishing 100, and after Gurney edge the fifth on tops, the Australian punished a miss at double 18 from the Northern Irish ace by taking out 74 in two darts to tie the game at three-all. The pair traded 180s in the seventh as Gurney finished tops for a 14-darter, but Whitlock landed double eight to level and produced a brilliant 11-darter to break and move 5-4 up. Gurney, though, hit back with a 180 in a 14-darter to force a deciding leg, and when Whitlock - who hit a 180 - was unable to land the bull for a 121 finish or two darts at double 16, the youngster held his nerve to finish double 18 to continue a dream European Tour debut event.
Daryl Gurney: "I'm very proud to have won this game, but I was very nervous on the 36 at the end. I've beaten a Premier League player, one of the best in the world, who is in superb form and I feel really good after that. I thought Simon was going to win there in the last leg but I had a little bit of luck. Ive been playing really well in the last two months and I'm playing the best darts I've ever played this year, and that's showing here."
Peter Wright saw off Jelle Klaasen 6-3 to win through to the German Darts Championship quarter-finals. Wright edged the opening leg on double eight before Klaasen levelled with a fine 12-darter, hitting a 180 and finishing 90 on double 16. The next two were also shared as Wright finished 77 for a 14-darter before Klaasen took out 144 on double 18 to stay level at two-all. The pair both hit 180s as Wright edged the fifth on tops with a 13-darter, after Klaasen missed darts at double top and ten to finish 97 for a break - and Wright then broke himself in the sixth, opening with two 180s and recovering from missing out on a nine-darter to land double five for a 4-2 lead. He also took out double 16 to move three legs clear, and though Klaasen hit back on double six to trail 5-3, Wright was too strong in the ninth leg as he took out 110 for the win.
Peter Wright: "I'm pleased with my performance and Jelle played well. I'd love to win this but I'll just take one leg at a time tonight and do my best."
Jamie Caven soared past Vincent van der Voort with a 6-1 victory to book his place in the last eight of the German Darts Championship. Caven hit a 180 and finished 78 to win the opening leg, before van der Voort took out 65 to level. Caven won the third by finishing 90, and when van der Voort missed two darts to level in the fourth, the Derby ace broke on double ten with his third dart, before then hitting a 180 and double ten to lead 4-1. The Dutch ace then missed six darts to hit back in leg six, as Caven took out 106 before posting another 180 and tops to complete a quick-fire win.
Jamie Caven: "It's good to see Vincent getting back to his best after a rough 12 months and he probably didn't do himself justice in this game. It would be special to win this and I love playing in front of these European Tour crowds. It's helping me develop as a player and it's really good for me."
Richie Burnett powered into the German Darts Championship quarter-finals with a 6-2 win over Steve Brown, averaging 101.85 in a fine performance. The Welsh ace hit 180s as he took the first two legs of the game, the second coming in 11 darts, before Brown took out double ten to get off the mark in the third. Burnett moved 3-1 up on double eight before hitting a maximum and a 102 finish in the next and a 96 finish in leg six to move 5-1 up. He landed another 180 in the next, but two missed match darts allowed Brown in on double two, but his respite was short-lived as Burnett finished 82 for a 14-darter to seal a fine victory.
Richie Burnett: "I played well there and I felt good, and hopefully I can get better because I'll have to do that to progress further. I'm really happy with the way I played, and I want to keep this going now tonight."