The Austrian Darts Open quarter-final line-up is set, but it will not feature Michael van Gerwen or James Wade after both exited during a bumper session in Graz. Rob Cross dumped out van Gerwen in a tight contest, while Luke Woodhouse averaged 103 to ease past Wade in an emphatic victory. The winner on Sunday night will claim the famous green jacket.
Cross edged past van Gerwen in a match that saw breaks exchanged throughout. Cross led 2-1 early, pinning double 10, but van Gerwen broke back with double eight for 2-2 and held on double 16 to go 3-2 up. Cross responded with an 11-darter for an 84 checkout and a 15-darter on double 16 to go 4-3 up, but van Gerwen levelled at 4-4. Cross then broke with a 68 checkout and held with double one to seal the win. He now faces Andrew Gilding, who passed the test of Kim Huybrechts. Gilding trailed 2-1 early after a break on 68 from Huybrechts, but a 127 checkout reduced arrears to 3-2. Huybrechts threw for 4-2, but Gilding broke back with an 82 checkout and was throwing for a 5-4 lead. Huybrechts broke back, but Gilding broke again on double 10 and sealed the win with a 100 checkout.
Cristo Reyes continues his fantastic weekend and will face Josh Rock in the quarter-finals. Reyes exchanged breaks with Noppert but hit 78 and consolidated for double 16 to make it 3-3. A 47 checkout saw him go 4-3 up, and he broke again on double five before pinning double 16 to win 6-3. Rock saw off Niko Springer in a thriller. Springer led 2-0, but Rock broke back on double eight and went 3-2 up with a 12-darter on double eight. Rock broke with an 11-darter on double 16 for 4-3, but Springer broke back and hit double six to go one away at 5-4. Springer missed 90 and drifted into double 18, giving Rock another chance, and he hit double eight to win.
The first quarter-final will see Kevin Doets meet Luke Woodhouse after Doets eased past Joyce 6-2, while Woodhouse averaged 103 to beat James Wade. Martin Schindler continued his title defence by taking down Ross Smith with a 98 average in a repeat of last year's final. He now takes on Daryl Gurney, who downed Madars Razma. Gurney led 2-1 early, but Razma broke with an 87 checkout to level at 2-2. Gurney broke again with a 138 checkout to go 3-2 up, but Razma hit a 12-darter on double 20 for 3-3. Gurney broke again for 4-3, finally held to go one away, and then broke again with a 116 checkout to seal the win.
