Gary Anderson started his defence of the Elten Security Footwear European Darts Grand Prix title in type however Premier League Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Value, Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey and Stephen Bunting all exited.
Scotsman Anderson had taken glory on the Glaspalast in 2024, and returned to motion on the Winamax European Tour with a 110.16 common – aided by 9 180s – to see off World Youth Champion Gian van Veen in a deciding leg after an enthralling day of second spherical motion in Sindelfingen.
The Dutch ace opened their second spherical tie with a 142 end, and he additionally took out 120 and 88 to maneuver 5-3 up – just for Anderson to comb to victory with legs of 14, 11 and 14 darts.
Anderson will now play one other former World Champion, Rob Cross, in Sunday afternoon’s third spherical, after the Englishman punished 14 missed doubles from Mike De Decker to prevail 6-3 of their conflict.
World No 1 Luke Humphries raced previous Connor Scutt for the lack of only one leg, as he started his problem to assert a primary European Tour win of the yr.
He now takes on six-time European Tour occasion winner Michael Smith within the final 16, after the St Helens ace got here from 3-0 and 5-2 right down to edge out Daniel Klose.
Dwelling hopes in Sindelfingen will relaxation on the shoulders of Martin Schindler on Sunday, after the Austrian Darts Open winner started his bid for back-to-back titles with a 6-4 comeback victory towards Josh Rock.
Rock led 3-1 and 4-2, however a elegant 10-darter from Schindler levelled throughout a run of 4 straight legs which propelled him into a 3rd spherical date with Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Van Duijvenbode had earlier claimed his first big-stage win over Van Gerwen, pulling away from the three-time World Champion with a trio of 14-darters earlier than wrapping up a 6-3 triumph with a 101 common.
James Wade completed six doubles from 10 makes an attempt as he noticed off Joe Cullen 6-4, and he progresses to fulfill Niels Zonneveld following the Dutch left-hander’s spectacular 6-2 win over Aspinall.
Dobey was one other Premier League star to exit in spherical two as he went down 6-4 to Luke Woodhouse, who now takes on Ross Smith.
Smith – the runner-up within the Austrian Darts Open final week – completed six doubles from 9 makes an attempt as he pulled clear from three-all to defeat Dave Chisnall.
Danny Noppert got here from 2-0 and 5-3 down to grab a slim 6-5 win over compatriot Wessel Nijman, and he now meets Andrew Gilding in a conflict of former UK Open champions, after the Englishman defied checkouts of 160 and 135 from Jonny Clayton to prevail in a deciding leg.
Raymond van Barneveld booked his spot within the remaining day for the second time in 2025 by edging out Value in a decider.
Van Barneveld will open Sunday’s third spherical motion towards Martin Lukeman, after the Grand Slam of Darts finalist reeled off 5 straight legs to wrap up a 6-2 win over Damon Heta.
Peter Wright started his bid to win a tenth European Tour title with a formidable 6-4 win over Leon Weber, averaging 105 and hitting half of his 12 makes an attempt at a double.
Wright now faces an all-Scottish third spherical tie with Cameron Menzies, who defied a ton-plus common from Bunting to assert a 6-2 win over the Worldwide Darts Open winner by hitting a formidable six doubles from seven makes an attempt.
The match concludes on Sunday, with the third spherical happening within the afternoon session forward of the night’s decisive quarter-finals, semi-finals and remaining.
Elten Security Footwear European Darts Grand Prix
Saturday Might 3
Second Spherical
Afternoon Session
Danny Noppert 6-5 Wessel Nijman
Martin Lukeman 6-2 Damon Heta
Michael Smith 6-5 Daniel Klose
Gary Anderson 6-5 Gian van Veen
Luke Woodhouse 6-4 Chris Dobey
Niels Zonneveld 6-2 Nathan Aspinall
Rob Cross 6-3 Mike De Decker
Ross Smith 6-3 Dave Chisnall
Night Session
James Wade 6-4 Joe Cullen
Andrew Gilding 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Gerwyn Value
Peter Wright 6-4 Leon Weber
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries 6-1 Connor Scutt
Martin Schindler 6-4 Josh Rock
Cameron Menzies 6-2 Stephen Bunting
Sunday Might 4
Afternoon Session (12pm)
Third Spherical
Martin Lukeman vs Raymond van Barneveld
Rob Cross vs Gary Anderson
Niels Zonneveld vs James Wade
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Martin Schindler
Cameron Menzies vs Peter Wright
Andrew Gilding vs Danny Noppert
Luke Woodhouse vs Ross Smith
Luke Humphries vs Michael Smith
Night Session (6pm)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Ultimate
The place does the Premier League head subsequent?
The Premier League continues on the First Direct Area, Leeds on Thursday, Might 8 as Michael van Gerwen takes on Luke Humphries, whereas Luke Littler faces Nathan Aspinall. Watch Night time 14 of Premier League Darts, in Leeds, dwell on Sky Sports activities Motion from 7pm and Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion from 10pm – stream with NOW.
Sky Sports activities will as soon as once more be the house of the Premier League in 2025, with each night time solely dwell together with the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and extra! Stream darts and extra prime sport with NOW
