Photo: Mike Glover/UK Darts Magazine
“I’ve got Phil Taylor tomorrow and he’s beaten me twice since I won
against him at the World Championship, so it’s not about revenge. I’m
expected to get beaten but if I do win, I’m the hero again for the
weekend.”
Photo: Carlsten Aarlt/PDC Europe
Recent Austrian Darts Trophy winner Vincent van der Voort was unable
to recapture his form from the previous week and he fell victim to
Kevin Painter at the opening stage of the tournament, whilst Daryl
Gurney enjoyed a 6-0 victory over local qualifier Anthony Lopez.
There was also an impressive victory for James Hubbard, who overcame
Ronny Huybrechts 6-3 and Benito van de Pas produced a fine display to
defeat Antonio Alcinas 6-0.
The other winners included Dimitri van den Bergh, Dean Winstanley,
John Henderson and Jyhan Artut.
Second Round
Michael Smith turned back the clock six months as he repeated his
impressive victory over Phil Taylor in the World Championships with
a 6-4 victory in Gibraltar as the top sixteen from the Order of Merit
entered the fray in the second round.
“I’m so happy to win,” said Smith. “I know that I’ve got the game to
beat Phil and I showed it today. He missed a few doubles but I felt good
and was comfortable, and I hit the right shots at the right time.
“I’ve just knocked out the defending champion s there’s no reason I
can’t go all the way on Sunday.”
There was a second major shock as World Champion Michael van
Gerwen too was dumped out in his first match by Benito van de Pas,
who claimed a narrow 6-5 victory.
And this wasn’t the end of the upsets as Peter