By Alex Moss
12 MAY 2017 • 10:53PM
Steve Beaton produced the best performance on the opening day of the 2017 Gibraltar Darts Trophy to come back from 4-2 down to beat Mike De Decker 6-4 in the first round.
The former BDO world champion appeared to be heading for a second early exit in as many weeks on the European Tour as he trailed De Decker 4-2.
But the Belgian crucially missed a dart at tops in the seventh leg to go 5-2 up, and Beaton went on to win the next four legs to progress.
Beaton hit 180s in four successive legs and finished with the day’s best average, of 99.29, as he completed the comeback victory and will next face Simon Whitlock in the last 32.
“I love it here and I’d love to still be in at the end of the weekend,” Beaton said.
“I’m really happy, I think I played quite well and that’s a good result for me.”
Another former Lakeside winner, Christian Kist, held off a comeback from Ronny Huybrechts to win 6-4 and set up a clash with Michael Smith in the second round.
Kist had opened up leads of 3-1 and 4-2 before being pegged back at 4-4, but then pulled away again by winning the next two legs to advance.
Former European Tour finalist Paul Nicholson spurned three match darts in the deciding leg of his first round tie with Chris Quantock, who enjoyed his first win on the European Tour with a narrow 6-5 victory.
In a game which saw all 11 legs go with throw, a superb 160 checkout from Nicholson in the 10th leg forced a decider, but he missed the bull, double eight and double four to allow Quantock back in to clinch the win and a meeting with Stephen Bunting in the last 32.
John Henderson landed a brilliant 170 finish during his 6-4 win over Germany’s Rene Eidams, as the former European Tour finalist moved through to meet Ian White tomorrow.
Elsewhere on the opening day, there was disappointment for the five Host Nation Qualifiers as they all lost out in the first round on home soil.
Gibraltar number one Dyson Parody saw his hopes of emulating last year’s run to the quarter-finals ended with a 6-1 defeat to Magnus Caris, the Swede coming back from a leg down and hitting a 114 finish to set up a clash with Jelle Klaasen.
James Wilson hit six doubles from 10 attempts as he swept past Parody’s Betway World Cup of Darts partner, Dylan Duo, 6-1 to advance to a second round meeting with Kim Huybrechts.
Matt Clark defeated European Tour debutant Justin Broton 6-3 to move through to face Alan Norris in the last 32 tomorrow.
Darren Johnson produced a strong display to defeat Manuel Vilerio 6-1, averaging close to 93 as he set up a clash with Gerwyn Price in the next round.
Antony Lopez was the other Host Nation Qualifier to slip to defeat, losing out to Dimitri van den Bergh 6-2, with the Belgian now facing James Wade in the last 32.
Polish qualifier Krzysztof Ratajski moved into the second round for the third European Tour event running, seeing off Ritchie Edhouse 6-3 to set up a clash with top seed Peter Wright.
Rob Cross punished European Tour debutant Mario Robbe for 12 missed doubles with a whitewash 6-0 victory, and he will now face Joe Cullen tomorrow.
Alan Tabern marked his first appearance on the European Tour this year with a 6-4 win over Dutch youngster Jeffrey de Zwaan, with Mensur Suljovic next up for the experienced left hander in the second round.
Jonny Clayton survived missed match darts from Justin Pipe in the deciding leg of their tight first round contest, as the Welshman progressed to a meeting with Dave Chisnall tomorrow.
Darren Webster also came through an 11-leg battle, winning the last two legs of his encounter with Richie Corner to set up a last 32 clash with Daryl Gurney.
James Richardson progressed to the second round of a European Tour event for the third time in 2017, defeating Matthew Dennant 6-1 to move into a clash with Spain’s Cristo Reyes tomorrow.
And finally, Martin Schindler punished 21 missed doubles from European Tour debutant Callan Rydz to win 6-4, with the German ace now facing Benito van de Pas on Saturday.
2017 Gibraltar Darts Trophy
Draw Bracket (Second Round Onwards)
Peter Wright (1) v Krzysztof Ratajski
Stephen Bunting (16) v Chris Quantock
Gerwyn Price (8) v Darren Johnson
Alan Norris (9) v Matt Clark
James Wade (5) v Dimitri van den Bergh
Michael Smith (12) v Christian Kist
Dave Chisnall (4) v Jonny Clayton
Joe Cullen (13) v Rob Cross
Mensur Suljovic (2) v Alan Tabern
Cristo Reyes (15) v James Richardson
Benito van de Pas (7) v Martin Schindler
Jelle Klaasen (10) v Magnus Caris
Kim Huybrechts (6) v James Wilson
Ian White (11) v John Henderson
Simon Whitlock (3) v Steve Beaton
Daryl Gurney (14) v Darren Webster
Schedule of Play
Friday May 12
First Round
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Jeffrey de Zwaan 4-6 Alan Tabern
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Justin Pipe
Richie Corner 5-6 Darren Webster
Matthew Dennant 1-6 James Richardson
Justin Broton 3-6 Matt Clark
Martin Schindler 6-4 Callan Rydz
Magnus Caris 6-1 Dyson Parody
Paul Nicholson 5-6 Chris Quantock
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Mario Robbe 0-6 Rob Cross
Rene Eidams 4-6 John Henderson
Ritchie Edhouse 3-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Steve Beaton 6-4 Mike De Decker
James Wilson 6-1 Dylan Duo
Christian Kist 6-4 Ronny Huybrechts
Manuel Vilerio 1-6 Darren Johnson
Dimitri van den Bergh 6-2 Anthony Lopez
Saturday May 13
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Cristo Reyes v James Richardson
Daryl Gurney v Darren Webster
Alan Norris v Matt Clark
Benito van de Pas v Martin Schindler
Stephen Bunting v Chris Quantock
Jelle Klaasen v Magnus Caris
Michael Smith v Christian Kist
Joe Cullen v Rob Cross
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Gerwyn Price v Darren Johnson
Mensur Suljovic v Alan Tabern
Dave Chisnall v Jonny Clayton
Peter Wright v Krzysztof Ratajski
James Wade v Dimitri van den Bergh
Kim Huybrechts v James Wilson
Ian White v John Henderson
Simon Whitlock v Steve Beaton
Sunday May 14
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Third Round
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
All games are the best of 11 legs
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