Schindler storms into the European Championship quarter-finals – Clayton awaits today!
10:4 against Wattimena – and Dortmund celebrates with “The Wall”: Martin Schindler is in the European Championship quarter-finals for the first time. Littler dazzles with a 114.47 Average. Today it continues against Clayton and Ratajski, and the title is decided in the evening. Your overview of fina
Yesterday's action
Martin Schindler is in the quarter-finals of the European Championship for the first time! With a commanding 10:4 win over Jermaine Wattimena, “The Wall” thrilled the fans in Dortmund and plays Jonny Clayton today for a place in the semi-finals. The standout performance of the last-16 day came from Luke Littler: in his 10:5 win over Nathan Aspinall he posted an Average of 114.47 points – the second highest in the tournament's history.
European Championship, last 16
- Cameron Menzies 4:10 Gerwyn Price
- Stephen Bunting 10:3 Kim Huybrechts
- Ross Smith 10:7 Damon Heta
- Gian van Veen 6:10 Luke Woodhouse
- Krzysztof Ratajski 10:8 Kevin Doets
- Martin Schindler 10:4 Jermaine Wattimena
- Nathan Aspinall 5:10 Luke Littler
- Jonny Clayton 10:8 Josh Rock
Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall served up a real scoring spectacle. Littler raced into a 4:0 lead, but Aspinall fought back to 4:5. Littler then pulled away again and sealed the 10:5 win. A look at the loser shows just how high the level was: Aspinall threw ten 180s and posted an Average of 105.57 points. Against Littler's 114.47, even that was not enough.
Stephen Bunting showed in his 10:3 win over Kim Huybrechts just how much strong Checkouts are worth. Without throwing a single 180, “The Bullet” controlled the match with consistent scoring and a Double rate of 55.56 per cent. He checked out in three figures four times, including 121 points. For Huybrechts it ended a surprise run, after he had come in for the ill Luke Humphries.
Gerwyn Price also gave little away in his 10:4 win over Cameron Menzies. On Average the two were still close at 94.86 to 93.75 points. In the decisive moments, though, the “Iceman” was there: three three-figure Checkouts and five 180s helped the Welshman to a clear win.
Ross Smith came through 10:7 against Damon Heta. Six 180s and a 124 finish went down for the Englishman, who also posted the higher Average with 95.43 points. Things were far tighter between Jonny Clayton and Josh Rock. Rock hit back with eight 180s and a Double rate of 50 per cent, but Clayton saw out the 10:8 win. With an Average of 98.28 points the Welshman underlined his good form ahead of the clash with Schindler.
Krzysztof Ratajski proved his comeback qualities against Kevin Doets. The Pole was already 0:4 down, but fought his way into the match and still won 10:8. Seven 180s and an Average of 96.95 points were the basis for his place in the quarter-finals.
Martin Schindler took his chances ruthlessly against Jermaine Wattimena. While the Dutchman left plenty of chances on the Doubles unused, “The Wall” hit more than every second attempt. A 121 finish was one of the highlights of his 10:4 win. The fact that Wattimena was narrowly ahead on Average at 92.05 to 90.25 did not matter in the end: Schindler won the important Legs and can keep dreaming of the title in front of a home crowd.
For defending champion Gian van Veen, on the other hand, the European Championship is over. Luke Woodhouse came through 10:6 and provided the next big story of his Dortmund weekend. After his nine-darter at the start of the tournament, the Englishman is now among the last eight players.
MODUS Super Series
In the MODUS Super Series, Archie Self stayed unbeaten with four wins. After victories over R. Ulrich (4:1), Graham Usher (4:1) and Jack Aldridge (4:0), he also edged Joe Hunt 4:3. For Hunt it was the only defeat: before that he had beaten Nathan Potter (4:2), Aldridge (4:3) and Usher (4:0). Aldridge picked up three wins in total, including two against Potter (4:1 and 4:3). Potter lost four of his five matches. Tommy Lishman won two of three encounters, while G. Hall and Ulrich went without a win.
In the ANZ Premier League, Tim Pusey took the day's win: in the final of Night 05 he beat Simon Whitlock.
What's on today
Finals day in Dortmund – and Martin Schindler is right in the middle of it. From 13:00 the four quarter-finals of the European Championship are up first. In the evening the semi-finals and the final follow from 19:00. The individual start times below are guidelines and depend on how the previous matches go.
- Approx. 13:10: Ross Smith – Luke Woodhouse
- Approx. 14:10: Gerwyn Price – Stephen Bunting
- Approx. 15:10: Martin Schindler – Jonny Clayton
- Approx. 16:10: Krzysztof Ratajski – Luke Littler
Ross Smith and Luke Woodhouse open finals day. After his nine-darter, Woodhouse has also knocked out the defending champion and should step up to the Oche full of confidence. Smith wants to hold his own with his strong scoring and take the next step towards a second European title.
Gerwyn Price against Stephen Bunting promises a duel with strong Checkouts. Both convinced on the Doubles in the last 16 and won clearly. Whoever takes their chances just as ruthlessly again has good prospects of a place in the evening session.
For Martin Schindler it is about a place in the semi-finals against Jonny Clayton. The Welshman had already knocked out Niko Springer in the first round and now awaits “The Wall” with plenty of experience and strong scoring. Schindler wants to carry on his assured display on the Doubles – with the backing of the Dortmund fans.
Krzysztof Ratajski takes on Luke Littler to close things out. After his outstanding last-16 performance, Littler goes into the match as the favourite. Against Doets, though, Ratajski showed that he stays dangerous under pressure and after a clear deficit.