European Championship Darts: Michael van Gerwen scrapes by shaky last-leg decider towards Wessel Nijman in Dortmund

4-time winner Michael van Gerwen survived seven missed match darts towards Wessel Nijman to squeeze into spherical two of the European Championship in Dortmund.

World youth champion Gian van Veen confirmed why he is one of the thrilling younger skills within the recreation with victory, however 2019 runner-up Gerwyn Worth and World Cup associate Jonny Clayton each exited within the opening spherical on the Westfalenhalle.

Up-and-coming star Nijman crumbled beneath the stress, squandering seven match darts to reward four-time champion Van Gerwen a reprieve and a last-leg victory from 4-2 down.

Van Gerwen retained his 100 per cent document towards his fellow Dutchman successful all 5 of their conferences.

The Dutchman will tackle Chris Dobey subsequent after ‘Hollywood’ defied a 109.2 common from Stephen Bunting to seal a high-quality win with a 105.7 common, 5 180s and 60 per cent on the doubles.

Bunting broke the document for the very best dropping common within the historical past of the match with 109.20.

It was candy revenge for Daryl Gurney after his defeat to Worth earlier this yr in Blackpool, because the Northern Irishman punished a number of missed doubles from ‘The Iceman’ to ship the much-fancied Welshman dwelling 6-3.

Gurney seized upon a shambolic show of ending (3-17) from Worth to progress.

Ryan Searle punished 11 missed darts at doubles from Clayton to cruise into the second spherical for the fourth time in 5 European Championship appearances.

Former semi-finalist Van Veen safely dispatched Damon Heta 6-3 with a 98.7 common.

It is the fourth first spherical defeat in a row for Australian No 1 Heta on the European Championship – together with twice to Van Veen.

House hero Martin Schindler recovered from 3-0 all the way down to edge out Dave Chisnall in a last-leg thriller sending the gang into pandemonium.

The Wall ended the match with a cool 104 common and 66 per cent on the doubles for his first European Championship win on the sixth time of asking.

Within the battle of the previous European champions, Ross Smith eradicated Peter Wright 6-2, pinning a superb 128 checkout on the bull and averaged simply shy of 95 en path to victory.

That end result sees Wright – the previous two-time world champion – drop provisionally to 30 on the planet rankings as he was defending cash from successful this title two years in the past.

Ryan Joyce turned the primary man by to the final 16 on his debut after overcoming final yr’s semi-finalist Luke Woodhouse 6-3 with a 96.93 common and a excessive checkout of 122.

What’s occurring on Friday night time in Dortmund?

Nathan Aspinall returns to Germany because the No 1 seed following his hat-trick of European Tour successes in 2025. He opens his title problem towards two-time champion Rob Cross in a blockbuster tussle.

World No 1 Humphries will get his title bid underway towards Poland’s premier participant Krzysztof Ratajski.

Humphries might probably give up his high canine standing this weekend, with Littler aiming to overtake his World Cup associate on German soil.

Littler has been pitted towards five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld in his opener, and {the teenager} wonderkid will develop into the brand new world No 1 if he scoops the £120,000 high prize in Dortmund.

James Wade – the 2018 European Champion – and Belgian No 1 Mike De Decker additionally do battle, as Gary Anderson and Cameron Menzies collide in an all-Scottish affair.

Northern Eire’s World Cup champion Josh Rock takes on German No 2 Ricardo Pietreczko, with one other dwelling favorite Niko Springer up towards 2024 runner-up Jermaine Wattimena.

Elsewhere, Dutch duo Dirk van Duijvenbode and Danny Noppert will go head-to-head in a battle of the current European Tour finalists, as Aspinall or Cross await the winner on Saturday night.

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