Mensur Suljovic made it to the second round of the Austrian Darts Open in Premstätten near Graz on Friday. The 51-year-old Viennese defeated the Englishman Ricky Evans 6: 4 with difficulty. Suljovic was already 2-0 up and was 4-3 down at times before making the difference in the tenth leg. Scottish ex-world champion Peter Wright is waiting in the next round.
Previously, Rowby-John Rodriguez had to admit defeat in another Austro-English duel to Ryan Meikle with 3:6.
Schnier surprises in the first round
Already in the afternoon session, qualifier Hannes Schnier surprisingly won 6:5 against Jeffrey de Zwaan (PDC-88.). The 46-year-old Viennese, who had earned a place in the main draw through the Austrian elimination, turned a 2:5 deficit against the Dutchman and survived several match darts from his higher rated competitor.
Nathan Aspinall (ENG/9th), who last won the Premier League matchday in Rotterdam on Thursday, is waiting in the second round on Saturday afternoon. The second Austrian qualifier, Marcus Haider, failed 3:6 at Luke Woodhouse (ENG/48.).
Austrian Darts Open in Premstätten
| First round: |
| Nick Kenny (WAL) |
Madars Razma (LAT) |
6:4 |
| Mickey Mansell (ENG) |
Dmitrijis Zukovs (LAT) |
6:1 |
| Krzysztof Ratajski (POL) |
Owen Roelofs (NED) |
6:2 |
| Ricardo Pietreczko (GER) |
Cameron Menzies (ENG) |
6:4 |
| Luke Woodhouse (ENG) |
Marcus Haider (AUT) |
6:3 |
| Maik Kuivenhoven (NED) |
Bradley Brooks (ENG) |
6:5 |
| Hannes Schnier (AUT) |
Jeffrey de Zwaan (NED) |
6:5 |
| John Henderson (SCO) |
Dylan Slevin (IRL) |
6:4 |
| Matt Campbell (CAN) |
Ian White (ENG) |
6:5 |
| Jelle Klaasen (NED) |
William O’Connor (IRL) |
6:5 |
| Simon Whitlock (AUS) |
Kim Huybrechts (BEL) |
6:4 |
| Raymond van Barneveld (NED) |
Brendan Dolan (NIR) |
6:3 |
| Ryan Meikle (ENG) |
Rowby-John Rodriguez (AUT) |
6:3 |
| Daryl Gurney (NIR) |
Stephen Bunting (ENG) |
6:3 |
| Chris Dobey (ENG) |
Vitezslav Sedlak (CZE) |
6:3 |
| Mensur Suljovic (AUT) |
Ricky Evans (ENG) |
6:4 |
Modus: „Best of eleven“-Legs
| Second round tableau: |
| Luke Humphries (ENG/1) |
Daryl Gurney (NIR) |
-:- |
| Andrew Gilding (ENG/16) |
Matt Campbell (CAN) |
-:- |
| Nathan Aspinall (ENG/8) |
Hannes Schnier (AUT) |
-:- |
| Danny Noppert (NED/9) |
Chris Dobey (ENG) |
-:- |
| Damon Heta (AUS/4) |
Luke Woodhouse (ENG) |
-:- |
| Jonny Clayton (WAL/13) |
Jelle Klaasen (NED) |
-:- |
| Dirk van Duijvenbode (NED/5) |
Ryan Meikle (ENG) |
-:- |
| Joe Cullen (ENG/12) |
Nick Kenny (WAL) |
-:- |
| Dave Chisnall (ENG/2) |
Mickey Mansell (ENG) |
-:- |
| Josh Rock (NIR/15) |
Krzysztof Ratajski (POL) |
-:- |
| Michael Smith (ENG/7) |
Ricardo Pietreczko (GER) |
-:- |
| Peter Wright (SCO/10) |
Mensur Suljovic (AUT) |
-:- |
| Michael van Gerwen (NED/3) |
John Henderson (SCO) |
-:- |
| Martin Schindler (GER/14) |
Simon Whitlock (AUS) |
-:- |
| Rob Cross (ENG/6) |
Maik Kuivenhoven (NED) |
-:- |
| Ryan Searle (ENG/11) |
Raymond van Barneveld (NED) |
-:- |