JAMES WADE will face Peter Wright in the second round of the 2018 Austrian Darts Open after fending off Host Nation Qualifier Hannes Schnier on Friday, as new European Tour winner Max Hopp survived a scare at the Steiermarkhalle in Graz.
Wade was made to work hard to overcome 2009 World Championship participant Schnier, who produced finishes of 120 and 99 as he took a 3-2 lead.
Two-time European Tour winner Wade responded with a sublime 133 checkout, which sparked a run of four consecutive legs to seal a tasty tie with number one seed Wright on Saturday.
Hopp, fresh from his incredible German Darts Open glory last Sunday, had to rely on three missed match darts from Stephen Burton in the deciding leg of his opener before pinning tops to prevail.
The German star will take on Welshman Jonny Clayton in round two.
Dimitri Van den Bergh missed double 12 for a nine-darter in his fabulous 6-4 win against Plymouth's Simon Stevenson.
The reigning PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion averaged 106.42 to fight off his tenacious opponent and set up a last 32 fixture with Benito van de Pas.
SO CLOSE! | "The curse...is still there!"
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 20, 2018
Watch as Dimitri Van den Bergh misses D12 for a nine-darter in the Austrian Darts Open tonight - it's STILL five years since the last perfect leg on the European Tour!#Darts #ET4 pic.twitter.com/uzs8mqHXSI
2017 Development Tour winner Luke Humphries hit checkouts of 101, 141, 103 and a match-winning 100 in a 6-2 victory against Germany's Kevin Munch, who contributed a brilliant 160 finish to a high quality affair.
The 23-year-old will take on veteran star Steve Beaton on Saturday.
Steve West will play World Champion Rob Cross in the second round after producing a sensational performance to defeat Belgium's Ronny Huybrechts 6-3, with the Essex ace firing in three 11-dart legs and posting an average of 101.88.
Richie Burnett marked his return to European Tour action with a whitewash win over Austria's Alex Steinbauer, who was making his debut at this level.
In his first appearance since 2014, Burnett began and ended his 6-0 win with 78 finishes as he set up a round two tie against Darren Webster.
Roommates in Graz Adam Hunt and Cameron Menzies played out a thrilling match, which youngster Hunt edged 6-5 to set up a meeting with Simon Whitlock.
Darius Labanauskas and Jason Cullen both enjoyed victories on their PDC European Tour debuts.
Lithuania's Labanauskas won four of the last five legs in his 6-3 defeat of Ritchie Edhouse, while Ireland's Cullen enjoyed a 6-1 win against Hungary's Tamas Alexits, who was also making his first European Tour appearance.
Cullen will face Mervyn King in the opening match of Saturday's second round, while Labanauskas will wait until the evening's final game to face home favourite Mensur Suljovic.
Another Irishman, Steve Lennon, eased through with a whitewash win over Austrian qualifier Roxy-James Rodriguez and will play Joe Cullen in round two.
Ron Meulenkamp landed two thirds of doubles attempted in a 6-3 triumph over Gabriel Clemens, which included key 71 and 160 finishes for early breaks of throw.
The Dutchman's last 32 opponent is Daryl Gurney, who he defeated at the same stage in last month's European Darts Open.
Brendan Dolan won the opening match of the day, kicking off with a 180 in a 6-4 success against Alan Tabern which sets up a second round meeting with Ian White.
Michael Barnard enjoyed his first European Tour appearance since 2016 as he claimed a 6-1 victory against Scotland's John Henderson, landing a 116 checkout in the process.
Barnard's reward is a second round match against last weekend's German Darts Open runner-up Michael Smith, the number three seed.
A 120 checkout helped Wayne Jones race into a 5-0 lead against Austrian qualifier Dietmar Burger, who managed to get a leg on the board and land the game's only 180 before being condemned to a heavy defeat.
Jones will now receive a second round bye, with his scheduled opponent Dave Chisnall having withdrawn from the tournament for medical reasons.
Scott Taylor eased past European Tour debutant Simeon Heinz, firing in three 180s and a 171 in a 6-1 demolition of the German qualifier, and will face Gerwyn Price in round two.
Cristo Reyes will go up against Jelle Klaasen after the Spanish number one eased to a 6-1 success Austria's Bastian Pietschnig, who struggled on his European Tour debut.
The Austrian Darts Open continues on Saturday as the 16 first round winners compete against the 16 seeded players, who enter at the second round stage to battle for places in the final day of action of the £135,000 tournament.
The Austrian Darts Open is being broadcast throughout the weekend for PDCTV-HD Subscribers, and through a series of bookmakers' websites worldwide.
See full tournament information in our Event Page
2018 Austrian Darts Open
Friday April 20
First Round
Afternoon Session
Brendan Dolan 6-4 Alan Tabern
Michael Barnard 6-1 John Henderson
Ron Meulenkamp 6-3 Gabriel Clemens
Wayne Jones 6-1 Dietmar Burger
Scott Taylor 6-1 Simeon Heinz
Jason Cullen 6-1 Tamas Alexits
Darius Labanauskas 6-3 Ritchie Edhouse
Steve Lennon 6-0 Roxy-James Rodriguez
Evening Session
Luke Humphries 6-2 Kevin Munch
Steve West 6-3 Ronny Huybrechts
Richie Burnett 6-0 Alex Steinbauer
Adam Hunt 6-5 Cameron Menzies
James Wade 6-3 Hannes Schnier
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Simon Stevenson
Max Hopp 6-5 Stephen Burton
Cristo Reyes 6-1 Bastian Pietschnig
First Round - Best of 11 legs
Watch Online
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