German Darts Masters Day One

BUNTING ENJOYS FINE EUROPEAN TOUR DEBUT AS BARNEY ENDURES TOUGH DAY IN BERLIN
 

STEPHEN BUNTING made a winning debut on the PDC's European Tour with a 6-1 German Darts Masters victory over Ross Smith on Saturday - but five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld crashed out of the £100,000 event in Berlin.

Reigning Lakeside Champion Bunting had missed the year's first two European Tour events following his late January switch to the PDC circuit, but announced his arrival in style against emerging star Smith.

Smith took out 117 as he shared the opening two legs of his first round clash with Bunting at Berlin's Maritim Hotel, but Bunting hit 180s in the next two legs as he took control at 3-1.

Smith replied with a maximum of his own, only for Bunting to win his fourth leg courtesy of a 108 finish before hitting tops in the next two to complete the victory.

The St Helens ace now takes on Justin Pipe in Sunday's second round, and admitted: "I've been really nervous all day, it's my first European Tour event and my emotions are running high, so I'm so glad to get through the first game.

"I've come to the PDC to play the big boys and I know I've got the game to do it - and I want to show that this weekend."

The day proved a dramatic one for Dutch star Raymond van Barneveld, who had won through Friday night's European Qualifier - after travelling to Berlin straight from competing in the Betway Premier League Darts in Aberdeen 24 hours earlier - only to lose out to Ronnie Baxter 6-2.

An inspired Baxter won the game's opening four legs before holding off van Barneveld's fightback to claim the win and move through to a second round tie with Ian White.

Van Barneveld was later treated in hospital after feinting with hyperglycemia at a Berlin airport, meaning that he missed a planned appearance alongside World Champion Michael van Gerwen on a German sports show, although he was later released following treatment.

Van Gerwen will enter the German Darts Masters in Sunday's second round at the head of 16 seeds, and he will meet the tournament's only remaining German player after Jyhan Artut claimed a 6-3 win over Jelle Klaasen.

Teenager Max Hopp was whitewashed by a clinical display of finishing by Steve West, who now plays Dave Chisnall, while Andree Welge and debutant Marcel Hausotter picked up only one leg in defeats to Finland's Jani Haavisto and former World Championship finalist Kirk Shepherd.

Haavisto was joined in reaching the last 32 by fellow Finn Jarkko Komula, who whose narrow 6-5 win over Ronny Huybrechts sets him up for a tie with Wes Newton in the second round.

World Youth Champion Michael Smith averaged 104 and hit five 180s in his 6-2 win over Michael Mansell as he progresses to face Mervyn King, who has reached three European Tour finals in the past year.

Another emerging star, David Pallett, won his clash with Jamie Lewis 6-2 to move through to face Andy Hamilton, while PDC newcomer Steve Douglas punished Dean Winstanley for missing two match darts as he edged their clash 6-5 to progress to face Steve Beaton.

16-time World Champion Phil Taylor will play experienced Magnus Caris in the second round, after the Swede was a 6-4 winner over Holland's Jerry Hendriks, while Adrian Lewis plays Andy Smith after the Studley ace's 6-2 defeat of Joe Murnan.

Holland's Vincent van der Voort now plays former UK Open champion Robert Thornton after he came from 3-2 down to defeat Mark Webster 6-4, landing five 180s in the game.

Former Players Championship Finals winner Paul Nicholson landed six 180s - the highest individual total of the day - as well as finishes of 161 and 121, in his 6-2 defeat of Alex Roy as he progressed to a contest with Belgian Kim Huybrechts.

In-form Andrew Gilding's superb 2014 continued as averaged 100 in a 6-2 win over Peter Hudson, which sees him move through to play Jamie Caven in Sunday's opening second round game.

The German Darts Masters is being streamed live through the Bet365 and Coral websites, as well as through the www.LIVEPDC.TV website outside the UK & Ireland.

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Live Scores
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German Darts Masters
Schedule of Play
Saturday April 19
First Round
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Ronny Huybrechts 5-6 Jarkko Komula
Jamie Lewis 2-6 David Pallett
Peter Hudson 2-6 Andrew Gilding
Raymond van Barneveld 2-6 Ronnie Baxter
Michael Mansell 2-6 Michael Smith
Jerry Hendriks 4-6 Magnus Caris
Jelle Klaasen 3-6 Jyhan Artut
Joe Murnan 2-6 Andy Smith

Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Kirk Shepherd 6-1 Marcel Hausotter
John Henderson 6-4 Steve Hine
Jani Haavisto 6-1 Andree Welge
Dean Winstanley 5-6 Steve Douglas
Steve West 6-0 Max Hopp
Ross Smith 1-6 Stephen Bunting
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 Mark Webster
Alex Roy 2-6 Paul Nicholson

Sunday April 20
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Jamie Caven v Andrew Gilding
Robert Thornton v Vincent van der Voort
Justin Pipe v Stephen Bunting
Andy Hamilton v David Pallett
Mervyn King v Michael Smith
Wes Newton v Jarkko Komula
Steve Beaton v Steve Douglas
Dave Chisnall v Steve West

Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Peter Wright v John Henderson
Brendan Dolan v Kirk Shepherd
Kim Huybrechts v Paul Nicholson
Adrian Lewis v Andy Smith
Phil Taylor v Magnus Caris
Michael van Gerwen v Jyhan Artut
Ian White v Ronnie Baxter
Simon Whitlock v Jani Haavisto

Monday April 21
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Third Round
Dolan/Shepherd v Pipe/Bunting
Thornton/van der Voort v White/Baxter
Caven/Gilding v King/M Smith
Chisnall/West v Taylor/Caris
K Huybrechts/Nicholson v Lewis/A Smith
Wright/Henderson v Whitlock/Haavisto
Beaton/Douglas v Newton/Komula
van Gerwen/Artut v Hamilton/Pallett

Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final

All games are the best of 11 legs

Match Information
Afternoon Session
Jarkko Komula opened the German Darts Masters with a narrow win over Ronny Huybrechts, who hit back from 3-1 down to lead 5-4 only to miss six match darts in the final two legs. Komula landed a 180 in a 13-darter to break throw in the game's opening leg, before doubling his lead in the second. Huybrechts landed a 13-darter to get off the mark in leg three, and after Komula landed another 180 in moving 3-1 up, the Belgian finished double six and tops to level the game. Komula powered in a 156 checkout to lead 4-3, only for Huybrechts to level on double eight and punish two missed doubles from the Finn by taking out 62 to lead 5-4. Huybrechts then landed a 180 in the next, but missed five match darts at double top and ten as Komula saved the game on double 16. The decider proved a tense affair, with Komula missing the bull for a 161 finish only to see Huybrechts miss tops for a 116 checkout to allow him back in to edge the win on double 14.

David Pallett won the clash of two of the sport's top young talents as he defeated Jamie Lewis 6-2 to reach the German Darts Masters second round. Pallett made a brilliant start, opening the game with a 180 and adding another maximum as he won the first leg in 12 darts to break throw, despite Lewis missing double ten for a 140 finish. Lewis also missed tops for a 116 finish in the second as Pallett doubled his lead, before he took out 120 for a 3-0 lead and followed another maximum with double eight to move four legs clear. Lewis hit a 180 and double eight as he got off the mark, only for Pallett to post double 16 as he moved a leg away from the win. Double three kept Lewis' hopes alive, but Pallett sealed victory in superb fashion with a 13-darter, hitting his fourth maximum of the game before landing double 18.

Andrew Gilding produced a brilliant display as he averaged 100 in defeating Peter Hudson 6-2 in their German Darts Masters first round contest. Gilding opened the game with a 104 finish and hit a 174 score to set up double 16 as he moved two legs up, with Hudson missing tops for a 111 checkout. Gilding hit a 180 in a 13-darter as he took the third leg, despite Hudson replying with a 177 score - but the Eccles ace finally got off the mark in the fourth on double ten. Gilding followed up a 78 finish by hitting two 180s in a brilliant 11-darter to move 5-2 up, and though Hudson posted a 180 and a 118 finish to claim his second leg, double 18 saw Gilding secure victory in style.

Ronnie Baxter claimed a superb 6-2 win over Raymond van Barneveld as he moved into the second round of the German Darts Masters. Baxter made a brilliant start, landing a 180 and finishing 81 on the bull for a 12-darter in the opening leg, before hitting another maximum and double ten in the second. He then punished missed doubles from the Dutchman by taking out 90 in the third, before a 74 finish put him 4-0 up. He also missed double 12 for a 144 finish in the next as van Barneveld took out tops to get off the mark, before the pair traded 180s in a sixth leg which was won by Baxter on double five as he moved 5-1 up. Double 14 kept van Barneveld's hopes alive, but Baxter landed a fifth 180 of the game in the next before double ten sealed a superb win.

Michael Smith stormed into the German Darts Masters second round with a superb 6-2 win over Michael Mansell, averaging 104 in an outstanding display. Both players opened the game with 180s, with Smith landing double ten to break with a 14-darter before doubling his lead by taking out 128. Smith also landed another maximum in leg three, but Mansell finished 81 to get off the mark before levelling in the fourth leg. Smith, though, picked up the page by hitting a 180 and a 136 finish for a 12-darter to regain the lead and also landed a maximum in the next before punishing a miss from Mansell - to steal the leg on double 16 - by posting double two to move 4-2 up. Smith then hit a fifth maximum of the game in a superb 11-darter to move to the brink of victory at 5-2, and left tops after 12 darts in the next before eventually sealing the win on double ten.

Magnus Caris moved through to a second round clash with Phil Taylor at the German Darts Masters with a 6-4 win over Jerry Hendriks. Caris won the opener on double 18 and hit a 180 in the second, only for Hendriks to level with an 85 finish, but a 13-darter put the Swede 2-1 up. Hendriks won two of the next three, despite missed doubles, while a 14-darter from Caris restored the equilibrium as the pair were unable to break throw. Double ten put Caris ahead, but he missed double ten for a 140 finish to break in the eighth as Hendriks followed up a 180 with double five for a 14-darter of his own. Caris, though, claimed the ninth by taking out 88 on the bull before sealing victory with the game's only break of throw in leg ten, landing tops after Hendriks missed the same bed to force a decider.

Jyhan Artut thrilled the home crowd with a 6-3 first round win in the German Darts Masters as he knocked Jelle Klaasen out of the event. Klaasen hit a 171 score in the opening leg as he was first to a finish, only to miss six doubles across three visits to allow Artut in on double seven to hold throw, and the next two legs were shared before a 180 from the Dutchman helped him to level at two-all. Artut took out 100 for a 14-darter to regain the lead before breaking in the sixth leg, with both players opening with 180s before the German favourite finished 121 on double 18 to move 4-2 up. Klaasen took out 114 to break back in the next, after Artut missed the bull to finish 89, but the Dutch ace paid the price for further misses in the next - after landing another 171 score - as double 15 moved Artut 5-3 up. He then opened the ninth leg with a 180, and stepped in when Klaasen missed the bull for a 130 finish by landing tops to delight the home crowd.

Andy Smith swept past Joe Murnan 6-2 as he moved through to play Adrian Lewis in the German Darts Masters second round. Murnan finished double five to take the opening leg, but Smith levelled by finishing 80 and broke with a 101 finish, before landing double 16 and double five to race into a 4-1 lead. Double top saw Murnan reply in the sixth leg, but he paid the price for missing four darts, at double 18 and nine, to win the next as Smith regained his three-leg cushion before closing out the win on tops in the next.

Match Stats

Evening Session
Kirk Shepherd defeated European Tour debutant Marcel Hausotter 6-1 as he made his own return to the big stage with a win which sets up a second round game with Brendan Dolan at the German Darts Masters. Shepherd showed the finishing which took him to the 2008 World Championship final as he checked out 160 in the game's opening leg before taking out double ten and double 16 for a 3-0 lead. Hausotter hit a 180 in the fourth leg, but missed the bull to finish 84 and was also off-target with two more darts at double 16 as Shepherd capitalised with a 72 checkout to move four legs clear. The German qualifier took out 95 on double eight to get off the mark in the next, but double four restored Shepherd's advantage before he landed double 16 to seal the win.

John Henderson came from 3-1 down to claim a 6-4 victory over Steve Hine in the German Darts Masters on Saturday, setting up a clash with Peter Wright in round two. Henderson landed the game's first 180, but saw Hine reply in kind before taking out double 16 to win the opening leg, after the Scot had missed the bull and double four to lead. Henderson also opened leg two with a maximum, but missed two darts at tops to level as Hine capitalised with a 107 finish, although the Huntly ace finally got off the mark by breaking throw in leg three with a 14-darter which this time ended on tops. Hine finished 74 on double 19 to win the fourth, but missed double 16 to take the next as Henderson followed another 180 with a 69 finish. He then opened the sixth leg with his fourth maximum of the game before levelling with a 78 checkout, and then hit the front by finishing tops in the next, after Hine was off-target on the bullseye. Hine also had a chance to take the eighth, but missed double 13 for a 106 finish to allow Henderson back in on tops.The Scot then missed a match dart at double 18, to complete a 147 combination, as Hine kept alive his hopes on double four, but Henderson was first to a finish in the next as tops sealed his place in the last 32.

Finnish ace Jani Haavisto defeated home favourite Andree Welge 6-1 as he won through to the second round of the German Darts Masters in Berlin. Haavisto landed double ten to win the opening leg and doubled his lead with the aid of a 180, before Welge landed three 140s in a 13-darter to get off the mark. However, Haavisto added another maximumas he regained his cushion, hit double 16 for a 4-1 lead landed a 14-darter to win his fifth leg and then sealed victory on double five.

Steve Douglas enjoyed a winning European Tour debut as he came from 5-3 down to edge out Dean Winstanley 6-5 in a thriller at the German Darts Masters.  Douglas hit two 180s as he won the opening leg on tops, and he also added a maximum in the second only for Winstanley to level on tops. The left-hander then hit a fourth 180 in the third leg, as he took out 56 to regain the edge, but Winstanley finished double 12 to level, punished three missed doubles from his opponent to break in the fifth and followed a 180 with double five to take a third successive leg and move 4-2 up. Douglas took out 100 for a 14-darter as he hit back - but he crucially missed two doubles to repeat the finish in the next after the pair had traded 180s, with Winstanley landing tops himself for a 5-3 cushion. Tops kept Douglas' hopes alive in the ninth as Winstanley missed two match darts, at double 14 and seven, and he then took out 104 to send the game into a decider. The pair traded 140s early in the 11th leg, but Douglas was first to a finish - and he had enough cushion to miss four darts at tops before landing the killer blow to complete his fightback.

Clinical Steve West whitewashed German teenager Max Hopp with some superb doubling as he won through to the German Darts Masters' second round. The opening two legs followed the same trend as West punished Hopp's missed doubles by hitting tops - with the pair trading 180s in the second leg - before Wester landed tops once more in the third and hit the bed twice to complete a showpiece 100 finish as he moved 4-0 up. Double two saw West take a fifth successive leg, and when Hopp - who opened the sixth leg with a 180 - missed tops to keep the game alive, the Englishman completed the whitewash with a two-dart 96 finish.

Lakeside Champion Stephen Bunting made a winning European Tour debut with a fine 6-1 defeat of Ross Smith at the German Darts Masters. Bunting broke in the opening leg on double five, only to miss three darts at double 16 in the next as Smith finished 117 to break back and level. Bunting, though, landed two 180s as he regained the lead in leg three - after a miss at the bull from Smith - and the European Tour newcomer added another 180 as he moved 3-1 up. Smith replied with a 180 in the fifth leg, but Bunting asserted his dominance with a 108 finish before landing tops for a 5-1 lead, and when his opponent missed three darts to save the game, the St Helens ace finished 69 on double 16 to complete the victory.

Vincent van der Voort won a see-saw contest with Mark Webster at the German Darts Masters 6-4 as he set up a second round date with Robert Thornton in Berlin. The Dutchman made a brilliant start by hitting back-to-back 14-darters, landing double 16 to win the opening leg before following up a 177 score with tops in the second, after Webster had landed a 180 but missed double 12 and six to level. Van der Voort added 180s in the next two legs, but Webster fired his challenge by taking out 126 on double six to get off the mark and hitting tops to level, before trading 180s with the Dutchman in leg five as a miss at the bullseye allowed the left-hander to hit tops again in hitting the front. Van der Voort hit his fourth 180 before levelling on double ten in the sixth leg, and when Webster missed two darts at double 16 in the next, he regained the edge by posting double four. The tables were turned again in the eighth as van der Voort hit a 180 only to miss two darts at tops and one at double ten, allowing Webster to take out 62 on tops to level - but the drama increased as the Dutchman edged back ahead in an edgy ninth, with Webster missing three darts, at double top, ten and five, to punish an earlier trio of misses from his opponent as the former UK Open finalist hit double ten to move 5-4 up, before taking out 72 on tops in the next to claim victory.

Heavy-scoring Paul Nicholson landed six 180s and two ton-plus finishes as he claimed a 6-2 win over Alex Roy in the German Darts Masters. Nicholson made a sensational start by taking out a 121 finish in the first leg, and after the pair traded 180s in the next the Australian World Cup ace took out 161 to double his lead. Roy hit back on double ten, but Nicholson restored his cushion on tops and hit a 180 in a 13-darter to lead 4-1. He landed another maximum in moving a leg away from victory, but was unable to follow a fourth 180 of the game by closing out the win in the next as he missed three darts at double eight, allowing Roy to hit the same bed to keep his hopes alive. Nicholson, though, hit two more 180s in the next leg to take his tally for the game to six, giving him enough cushion to miss three more match darts before double three secured his second round place against Kim Huybrechts.

Match Stats