Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith both navigated tricky Monday afternoon ties to reach the final session at the German Darts Grand Prix, where the quarter-final line-up was set. Aspinall overcame a bright start from home favourite Martin Schindler, rallying from 2-0 down to win 6-4. Schindler had averaged 93 early on, but Aspinall turned the match with a 12-darter to break, eventually sealing victory with checkouts of 167, 84 and 36 to finish with an average just under 100.
Michael Smith also advanced but was forced to work hard against Germany's Niko Springer. Smith raced into a 4-0 lead with checkouts of 120 and 74, and later led 5-1 after a 105 checkout. Springer mounted a late comeback, breaking back with a 70 checkout and pulling to 5-4, but Smith eventually closed out a 6-4 win on double 20.
The session saw several other notable results. Andrew Gilding produced a superb display to ease past William O'Connor 6-1, finishing with a 12-darter on double 18. Jonny Clayton ended Kim Huybrechts' hopes with a 6-3 victory, sealing the win with a 148 checkout. Danny Noppert continued his form with a 6-2 win over Karel Sedlacek, while Krzysztof Ratajski edged past Ross Smith 6-4.
However, there were casualties as Josh Rock and Dirk van Duijvenbode were eliminated. Rock fell 6-5 to a red-hot Niels Zonneveld, who sealed the win with a 12-darter for an 81 checkout. Van Duijvenbode was beaten 6-5 by Kevin Doets, missing a 144 checkout in the deciding leg before Doets returned to take out 53. The quarter-finals begin this evening, with a champion to be crowned later tonight.
