The German Darts Grand Prix in Munich delivered a Sunday afternoon session packed with drama, as five of the eight matches went to a deciding leg. The headline clash saw Michael Smith triumph over fellow St Helens ace Dave Chisnall in a tense encounter. Chisnall broke immediately to lead 2-0, but Smith broke back on double 10 to level at 2-2 and held to make it 3-3. A sublime 136 checkout put Smith 4-3 up, and though he went one away, Chisnall forced a decider before Smith sealed the win on double 20.
Earlier, Dirk van Duijvenbode edged Mike de Decker 6-5 in a quality decider. Van Duijvenbode took an early break with a 12-darter on double sixteen and led 3-1 after a 48 checkout on double 16. He extended to 4-2, but De Decker broke back with an 84 checkout to trail 4-3. Van Duijvenbode ultimately broke to win, pinning double 10 for the victory. Danny Noppert also advanced with issues, beating Ritchie Edhouse despite a late surge. Noppert led 4-1 after checkouts of 48 and 62, but Edhouse broke back on double eight to close to 4-3. Noppert broke on double 20 to go 5-3 up, and though Edhouse took it to a decider with an 84 checkout, Noppert prevailed.
In other matches, Krzysztof Ratajski defeated Ryan Searle 6-5 in a game of two halves, with breaks dominating the first half as Ratajski led 3-2, before holds in the second half secured his win. Daryl Gurney and Andrew Gilding also went to a decider, with 'Goldfinger' Gilding edging through. Gurney broke on double 14 to lead 3-2 and later held for 4-2 on double eight, but Gilding hit back with a 124 checkout on the bull for 4-4 and eventually won with a 104 checkout in the decider.
Further wins saw Ross Smith end Patrik Kovacs' fairytale run, Niels Zonneveld thrash Jermaine Wattimena 6-1, and Karel Sedlacek sweep aside Damon Heta 6-2. The session, part of a double quota of darting action on Easter Sunday, set the stage for the final day in Munich.
