The winner of this year’s European Championship will be found today and it will not be one from the world’s top two.
It is time for the last day of this year’s European Championship and what a tournament it has been. Several of the favorites have been knocked out and for the first time, a German has reached the quarterfinal at a televised PDC tournament.
He, Max Hopp, made it by knocking James Wilson out with a 10-7 victory in a very exciting game, in which the crowd once again showed their sympathy. In addition, James Wade and Darren Webster won their respective matches. Most surprisingly, Gerwyn Price, won his match against Dave Chisnall by impressive 10-5.
Today it is on for the quarter-finals in the afternoon, followed by semi-finals and the final this evening.
First, we have Steve West in action. He faces Simon Whitlock. The two players rarely meet each other, but it is Simon Whitlock, who has the most mutual wins. Steve West, however, is not the man who listens to statistics. As we saw the other day, you can easily beat Michael van Gerwen, even though you’ve never beaten him before. However, Simon Whitlock is coming to this match with a victory against Peter Wright, where the level was not good at all. So if you have to derive something, Steve West has good opportunities in this match.
The afternoon’s second match is between Rob Cross and Joe Cullen. Rob Cross is the big favorite of the tournament with Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright out of the tournament. However, he faces Joe Cullen, who has shown a really nice level during the tournament, including a nice 10-4 win against Michael Smith. Rob Cross has had it something easier against Danny Noppert and Richard North. It will be the first big opposition for Rob Cross this evening, and with the swinging season he has had, nothing is certain in this showdown.
Darren Webster then faces Max Hopp. Darren Webster can sometimes be an angry man, despite his big smile. However, the temper must be left completely in the evening if he wants a chance against Max Hopp. The German will once again have the German audience on his side and it can easily be uncomfortable for Darren Webster. At the same time, Max Hopp’s level is lifted by the audience, so this battle’s outcome will depend very much on whether Webster can keep his head cool.
The last game this afternoon is between James Wade and Gerwyn Price. Both players have had a long 2018, but they seem to have found good level once again. So this is been a match that could easily be a long and close affair. The two players are also very equal when looking at mutual matches, James Wade has won four, against Gerwyn Prices three. Time will show, if Gerwyn Price can settle the statistics.
All quarter-finals are played best of 19 legs. Semi-finals and the final are being played best of 21 legs.
All matches can be seen on PDC.TV from 13.45 and again at 20.00. Get the full overview below:
Sunday October 28
Afternoon Session (1345 local time, 1245 UK time)
Quarter-Finals
Steve West v Simon Whitlock
Joe Cullen v Rob Cross
Darren Webster v Max Hopp
James Wade v Gerwyn Price
Best of 19 legs
Evening Session (2000 local time, 1900 UK time)
Semi-Finals
West/Whitlock v Cullen/Cross
Webster/Hopp v Wade/Price
Best of 21 legs
Final
Best of 21 legs