Reyes Shines with Perfect Nine-Dart Finish at Austrian Darts Open
Cristo Reyes delivered a stunning performance during the second round of the Austrian Darts Open, achieving a remarkable nine-dart finish while Australian No. 1 Damon Heta faced an unexpected early exit. The Stadthalle was bustling with excitement as Reyes captured the spotlight with his perfect leg to secure a 6-4 victory over Heta.
Since regaining his PDC Tour card in January, the Spanish dart player has made an impressive impact, averaging 101.89 points and successfully landing six sub-180s during his match in Austria. Reyes reached his nine-dart finish in the fourth leg and overcame a spirited comeback from Heta to close the match with a brilliant 11-dart leg.
After his victory, Reyes expressed his excitement, acknowledging the nerves that accompanied his nine-dart achievement. He now looks forward to facing fifth seed Danny Knoppert for a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.
Van Gerwen Excels in Pursuit of Fifth Title
Michael van Gerwen showcased a commanding performance during the evening session, averaging 103.41 points and successfully executing three significant checkouts to defeat Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3. This win marks the start of van Gerwen’s quest for a fifth Austrian Darts Open title.
With top seed Jan van Veen eliminating in a dramatic final leg against Latvian No. 1 Madars Razma, the Dutch star now stands as the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament. Van Veen’s exit was accompanied by the departure of fellow countryman Wessel Nyman, who suffered a resounding defeat to the dynamic Nico Springer.
James Wade and Defending Champion Martin Schindler Advance
James Wade executed a masterful defeat of Austrian fan favorite Mensur Suljovic, averaging 103 points and securing three 11-dart finishes in a decisive 6-2 victory. Meanwhile, reigning champion Martin Schindler advanced convincingly, hitting six maximums and erasing a 2-1 deficit against Peter Wright with five straight legs.
Kim Huybrecht continued her comeback story with a thrilling victory over Chris Dobey, rallying from a 5-4 deficit to claim victory via an impressive 132 finish on the bull. Already building momentum, Huybrecht is set to face Andrew Gilding in the last 16 after Gilding secured a 6-4 win against former European Championship runner-up Jermaine Wattimena.
Notable Performances on Round Two’s Final Day
Other prominent matches saw Ross Smith, who finished as the runner-up to Schindler in last year’s event, averaging over 102 against Niels Sonnefeld. Luke Woodhouse also delivered a strong performance, averaging above 100 in a 6-1 victory over Rob Owen. Northern Ireland’s World Cup champions, Josh Lock and Darryl Gurney, both advanced with solid 6-3 victories over Patric Kovacs and Ian White, respectively.
Additionally, Kevin Doets marked his first career win by defeating Ryan Searle, while Ryan Joyce battled to a draw against Mike DeDecker, who is now on a six-match losing streak on the European Tour. Danny Knoppert narrowly avoided elimination by surviving three match darts to overcome Alan Souter in a tense showdown, thereby completing the lineup for the last 16.
The action at the Austrian Darts Open resumes on Sunday at 12:00 BST, with the remaining 16 players competing in the afternoon session, culminating in a thrilling evening filled with quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.
Saturday’s Results at the Austrian Darts Open
Afternoon session:
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
Ryan Joyce 6-3 Mike Decker
Rob Cross 6-3 William O’Connor
Kevin Doets 6-2 Ryan Searle
Ross Smith 6-3 Niels Sonnefeld
Cristo Reyes 6-4 Damon Geta
Luke Woodhouse 6-1 Rob Owen
Kim Huybrecht 6-5 Chris Dobey
Evening session:
Darryl Gurney 6-3 Ian White
Josh Locke 6-3 Patrick Kovacs
James Wade 6-2 Mensur Suljovic
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Danny Knoppert 6-5 Alan Sarter
Madas Razma 6-5 Jan van Veen
Martin Schindler 6-2 Peter Wright
Nico Springer 6-0 Wessel Nyman
Upcoming Schedule for Sunday at the Austrian Darts Open
Round 3 (from 12:00 BST):
Kevin Deutz vs. Ryan Joyce
James Wade vs. Luke Woodhouse
Kim Huybrecht vs. Andrew Gilding
Michael van Gerwen vs. Rob Cross
Danny Knoppert vs. Cristo Reyes
Josh Locke vs. Nico Springer
Ross Smith vs. Martin Schindler
Madas Razma vs. Darryl Gurney
Evening session (from 18:00 BST):
Quarterfinals
Semifinal
Final
