NATHAN ASPINALL put in a scintillating display in the performance of the opening round of the 2019 German Darts Championship.

DIOGO PORTELA, Mike De Decker and Jyhan Artut were amongst the final qualifiers for the German Darts Championship.

THE German Darts Championship begins on Friday, with Dimitri van den Bergh set to face Steve Beaton in the first round.

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN hit a nine-dart finish on his way to winning the first European Tour title of 2019.

KRZYSZTOF RATAJSKI produced the performance of the day to knock Michael Smith out of the European Darts Open.

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD'S return to European Tour action ended in a 6-4 defeat to Steve Beaton in Leverkusen.

JYHAN ARTUT headlined the four Host Nation Qualifiers for the European Darts Open.

THE European Darts Open begins on Friday, with Raymond van Barneveld set to face Steve Beaton in the first round.

STEVE BEATON, Stephen Bunting and Kyle Anderson were among eight players to secure a European Tour qualification double.

EIGHT players claimed spots in European Tour events at the three East Europe and four Nordic and Baltic Qualifiers.