HOME favourite Max Hopp produced a stunning display on the opening night of the European Darts Trophy as he shocked Raymond van Barneveld at the RWE Sporthalle.
German teenager Hopp was in inspired form as he defeated the five-time World Champion 6-4 in a match that stole the headlines on day one in Muelheim.
Hopp flew out of the blocks and started in spectacular fashion as he took out 161 on the bullseye for a 12-darter in the opening leg. Van Barneveld would hit back with a brilliant 144 checkout of his own two legs later, with the pair then continuing to swap blows before Hopp incredibly took out 161 for the second time in the match to move 4-3 in front.
And the 19-year-old would hold his nerve to wrap up the victory three legs later and set up a second round clash with Kim Huybrechts on Saturday.
There would be less joy for Hopp’s fellow countrymen, Jyhan Artut, Christian Soethe and Martin Schindler though as they all lost out in the first round.
Artut missed three match darts in a deciding leg with Jason Lovett, including the bullseye for a 164 checkout, as the Norwich-thrower downed Germany’s World Cup star.
Soethe, who was competing in his second successive European Tour, lost out in more comprehensive fashion as Mensur Suljovic produced a fine display to seal a 6-0 whitewash win, missing the bullseye for a 170 checkout in the final leg.
Schindler put up a strong display against James Wilson in the final game of the day, although Wilson’s quality would eventually see him pull away in the closing stages, wrapping up the win with an 87 checkout on the bull and a 12-darter.
Van Barneveld’s Premier League compatriot Stephen Bunting would avoid upset though as he secured a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Mark Barilli.
After moving into a 2-0 lead, Barilli turned the game on its head to lead 3-2 before Bunting regained his form to take four of the next five legs to seal victory.
Competing in his first PDC event for over two months, Kevin Painter looked as if he had never been away as he impressively saw off former Lakeside runner-up Alan Norris 6-3, landing four 180s in the process.
Wes Newton was deadly on the doubles and ended with 85% double success in a 6-3 victory against European debutant Chris Dobey, finishing in style with a showpiece 125 checkout (Bull, 25, Bull).
Daryl Gurney booked his spot in the second round after comfortably seeing off Mark Frost 6-2, with a spectacular 153 checkout in the third leg the highlight.
Cristo Reyes would win by the same scoreline as he saw off Connie Finnan to set up a second round match-up with Brendan Dolan. Reyes raced into a 5-0 lead, landing consecutive ton-plus checkouts of 102 and 143 before sealing the win three legs later.
Rowby-John Rodriguez also sealed a comprehensive victory as he beat James Hubbard 6-1 in a match disrupted by power problems inside the RWE Sporthalle.
A lighting failure forced both players off stage midway through the match, although Rodriguez would not be affected as he ran out an impressive victor and landed six perfect darts in the fifth leg.
World number one Michael van Gerwen will face Adam Hunt in round two after the youngster saw off European Tour debutant Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5.
Christian Kist and Darren Johnson would also be made to work hard for their spots in Saturday’s second round as they also secured deciding leg victories over Dirk van Duijvenbode and Mark Dudbridge respectively.
Andy Jenkins sealed an impressive victory as he comprehensively defeated Gerwyn Price 6-1, whilst Jan Dekker gave a masterclass in finishing to beat Jamie Bain 6-3, missing just one dart at double and kicking off with finishes of 160 and 106.
Steve West completes Saturday’s line-up as he reached the second round of a European Tour event for the first time in a year, eventually seeing off youngster David Pallett 6-4.
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Live Scores
Follow live scores throughout the European Darts Trophy at the PDC Live Scores Website, http://live.dartsdata.com .
European Darts Trophy - European Tour Event Seven
First Round
Friday September 11
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Darren Johnson 6-5 Mark Dudbridge
Steve West 6-4 David Pallett
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Mark Frost
Cristo Reyes 6-2 Connie Finnan
Jason Lovett 6-5 Jyhan Artut
Jan Dekker 6-3 Jamie Bain
Adam Hunt 6-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-1 James Hubbard
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Christian Kist 6-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Mensur Suljovic 6-0 Christian Soethe
Andy Jenkins 6-1 Gerwyn Price
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Mark Barilli
Max Hopp 6-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter 6-3 Alan Norris
Wes Newton 6-3 Chris Dobey
James Wilson 6-4 Martin Schindler
Second Round
Saturday September 12
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Brendan Dolan (7) v Cristo Reyes
Robert Thornton (14) v Christian Kist
Justin Pipe (9) v Mensur Suljovic
Terry Jenkins (13) v Steve West
Benito van de Pas (16) v Jason Lovett
Mervyn King (10) v Daryl Gurney
Kim Huybrechts (12) v Max Hopp
Vincent van der Voort (15) v Kevin Painter
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Ian White (6) v Stephen Bunting
Dave Chisnall (8) v Jan Dekker
Adrian Lewis (4) v James Wilson
Michael van Gerwen (1) v Adam Hunt
Peter Wright (5) v Andy Jenkins
Michael Smith (2) v Wes Newton
James Wade (3) v Darren Johnson
Simon Whitlock (11) v Rowby-John Rodriguez
German teenager Hopp was in inspired form as he defeated the five-time World Champion 6-4 in a match that stole the headlines on day one in Muelheim.
Hopp flew out of the blocks and started in spectacular fashion as he took out 161 on the bullseye for a 12-darter in the opening leg. Van Barneveld would hit back with a brilliant 144 checkout of his own two legs later, with the pair then continuing to swap blows before Hopp incredibly took out 161 for the second time in the match to move 4-3 in front.
And the 19-year-old would hold his nerve to wrap up the victory three legs later and set up a second round clash with Kim Huybrechts on Saturday.
There would be less joy for Hopp’s fellow countrymen, Jyhan Artut, Christian Soethe and Martin Schindler though as they all lost out in the first round.
Artut missed three match darts in a deciding leg with Jason Lovett, including the bullseye for a 164 checkout, as the Norwich-thrower downed Germany’s World Cup star.
Soethe, who was competing in his second successive European Tour, lost out in more comprehensive fashion as Mensur Suljovic produced a fine display to seal a 6-0 whitewash win, missing the bullseye for a 170 checkout in the final leg.
Schindler put up a strong display against James Wilson in the final game of the day, although Wilson’s quality would eventually see him pull away in the closing stages, wrapping up the win with an 87 checkout on the bull and a 12-darter.
Van Barneveld’s Premier League compatriot Stephen Bunting would avoid upset though as he secured a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Mark Barilli.
After moving into a 2-0 lead, Barilli turned the game on its head to lead 3-2 before Bunting regained his form to take four of the next five legs to seal victory.
Competing in his first PDC event for over two months, Kevin Painter looked as if he had never been away as he impressively saw off former Lakeside runner-up Alan Norris 6-3, landing four 180s in the process.
Wes Newton was deadly on the doubles and ended with 85% double success in a 6-3 victory against European debutant Chris Dobey, finishing in style with a showpiece 125 checkout (Bull, 25, Bull).
Daryl Gurney booked his spot in the second round after comfortably seeing off Mark Frost 6-2, with a spectacular 153 checkout in the third leg the highlight.
Cristo Reyes would win by the same scoreline as he saw off Connie Finnan to set up a second round match-up with Brendan Dolan. Reyes raced into a 5-0 lead, landing consecutive ton-plus checkouts of 102 and 143 before sealing the win three legs later.
Rowby-John Rodriguez also sealed a comprehensive victory as he beat James Hubbard 6-1 in a match disrupted by power problems inside the RWE Sporthalle.
A lighting failure forced both players off stage midway through the match, although Rodriguez would not be affected as he ran out an impressive victor and landed six perfect darts in the fifth leg.
World number one Michael van Gerwen will face Adam Hunt in round two after the youngster saw off European Tour debutant Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5.
Christian Kist and Darren Johnson would also be made to work hard for their spots in Saturday’s second round as they also secured deciding leg victories over Dirk van Duijvenbode and Mark Dudbridge respectively.
Andy Jenkins sealed an impressive victory as he comprehensively defeated Gerwyn Price 6-1, whilst Jan Dekker gave a masterclass in finishing to beat Jamie Bain 6-3, missing just one dart at double and kicking off with finishes of 160 and 106.
Steve West completes Saturday’s line-up as he reached the second round of a European Tour event for the first time in a year, eventually seeing off youngster David Pallett 6-4.
European Tour - Live Online Coverage
www.LIVEPDC.TV - Worldwide
www.Bet365.com
www.betfair.com
www.coral.co.uk
www.ladbrokes.com
www.unibet.co.uk
Live Scores
Follow live scores throughout the European Darts Trophy at the PDC Live Scores Website, http://live.dartsdata.com .
European Darts Trophy - European Tour Event Seven
First Round
Friday September 11
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Darren Johnson 6-5 Mark Dudbridge
Steve West 6-4 David Pallett
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Mark Frost
Cristo Reyes 6-2 Connie Finnan
Jason Lovett 6-5 Jyhan Artut
Jan Dekker 6-3 Jamie Bain
Adam Hunt 6-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-1 James Hubbard
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Christian Kist 6-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Mensur Suljovic 6-0 Christian Soethe
Andy Jenkins 6-1 Gerwyn Price
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Mark Barilli
Max Hopp 6-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter 6-3 Alan Norris
Wes Newton 6-3 Chris Dobey
James Wilson 6-4 Martin Schindler
Second Round
Saturday September 12
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Brendan Dolan (7) v Cristo Reyes
Robert Thornton (14) v Christian Kist
Justin Pipe (9) v Mensur Suljovic
Terry Jenkins (13) v Steve West
Benito van de Pas (16) v Jason Lovett
Mervyn King (10) v Daryl Gurney
Kim Huybrechts (12) v Max Hopp
Vincent van der Voort (15) v Kevin Painter
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Ian White (6) v Stephen Bunting
Dave Chisnall (8) v Jan Dekker
Adrian Lewis (4) v James Wilson
Michael van Gerwen (1) v Adam Hunt
Peter Wright (5) v Andy Jenkins
Michael Smith (2) v Wes Newton
James Wade (3) v Darren Johnson
Simon Whitlock (11) v Rowby-John Rodriguez