By Alex Moss
24 JUNE 2017 • 10:43PM
Finland’s Kim Viljanen produced a big shock after beating world number three Peter Wright 6-5 in the second round of the Austrian Darts Open this evening.
Viljanen, ranked 91st on the PDC Order of Merit, overturned a 2-0 deficit against the second seed to move into a 5-3 lead in Vienna.
Wright, a winner of three European Tour titles already this year, took the next two legs to force a deciding leg, which saw Viljanen open with a third maximum and then go on to hit double 18 for a memorable win.
Earlier in the evening, world number one Michael van Gerwen cruised into tomorrow’s third round with a 6-1 victory over Austria’s Christian Kallinger.
The Host Nation Qualifier did break the Dutchman’s throw in the first leg, but top seed van Gerwen rattled off six straight legs to book his place in the final day of action on Sunday.
Teenager Rusty-Jake Rodriguez saw his debut on the European Tour come to an end, losing 6-3 to seventh seed Kim Huybrechts.
The 16-year-old was one of three Rodriguez brothers to compete in the tournament, and was the only one of the siblings to make it through to the second round, but his run in Vienna was ended by the Belgian number one.
Huybrechts will next face Joe Cullen in the last 16, after the 10th seed averaged almost 99 in a 6-3 win over Wales’ Jamie Lewis earlier tonight.
German World Cup star Martin Schindler continued his good recent form by dumping out ninth seed Ian White 6-2, while sixth seed Jelle Klaasen produced a doubling masterclass to whitewash the in-form Rob Cross 6-0.
The Dutchman, who has recently had wrist surgery, hit six of his seven attempts at doubles to send the two-time Players Championship winner home.
Elsewhere, Australia’s Simon Whitlock produced a solid display to see off Vincent van der Voort 6-1, with the Dutchman suffering a disappointing night on the doubles.
Austrian number one Mensur Suljovic made sure their was a home representative on the final day in Vienna tomorrow, as the home favourite averaged 100.70 on his way to a 6-1 triumph against Ronny Huybrechts.
2017 Austrian Darts Open
Multiversum Schwechat, Vienna
Saturday June 23
Second Round
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Ian White 2-6 Martin Schindler
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Vincent van der Voort
Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Christian Kallinger
Peter Wright 5-6 Kim Viljanen
Joe Cullen 6-3 Jamie Lewis
Jelle Klaasen 6-0 Rob Cross
Mensur Suljovic 6-1 Ronny Huybrechts
Picture: PDC Europe
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