By Alex Moss
22 JUNE 2017 • 6:38PM
Mensur Suljovic will begin his bid for home glory in the Austrian Darts Open against either Ronny Huybrechts or James Wilson on Saturday.
The Austrian is the third seed for this weekend’s European Tour event, the seventh of 2017, which takes place at the Multiversum in Schewchat, Vienna.
Aside from a run to the semi-finals of the 2014 Austrian Darts Open, in Salzburg, as one of the Host Nation Qualifiers, Suljovic has not been able to make the most of home advantage in recent years.
The world number seven lost in the first round of the 2015 European Darts Matchplay, held in Innsbruck, while last year Suljovic bowed out to Kyle Anderson in his opening game of the Austrian Darts Open, in Vienna.
Suljovic has reached the final of the last two European Tour events and heads into his home event in good form, with his first hurdle this weekend set to be a clash with either Wilson or Ronny Huybrechts in the last 32.
Last year’s Austrian Darts Open champion Phil Taylor decided not to enter this year’s event, as he continues to scale back on his playing commitments in preparation of his retirement from the professional game at the end of this season.
World number one Michael van Gerwen, fresh from winning the most recent European Tour event in Germany earlier this month, is the top seed and will play either Wayne Jones or a Host Nation Qualifier in his first game.
Second seed Peter Wright starts his bid to claim a fourth European Tour title of 2017 against either Finland’s Kim Viljanen or the East Europe Qualifier, who will come through tonight’s knockout in Schwechat.
Michael Smith, winner of the Gibraltar Darts Trophy last month, will take on either Chris Quantock or Paul Rowley, while former Austrian Darts Open winners Justin Pipe and Vincent van der Voort start out in the first round tomorrow.
2012 winner Pipe takes on Germany’s Rene Eidams, while 2014 champion van der Voort takes on Tony Newell in the first round.
Two-time world champion Adrian Lewis has withdrawn from the tournament for health reasons, and will be replaced in the field by a fifth Host Nation Qualifier.
2017 Austrian Darts Open
June 23-25, Multiversum Schwechat, Vienna
Tournament Draw Bracket
Michael van Gerwen (1) v Wayne Jones/Christian Kallinger
Steve West (16) v Adrian Gray/Vincent van der Meer
Alan Norris (8) v Jamie Bain/Christian Kist
Ian White (9) v Rowby-John Rodriguez/Martin Schindler
Benito van de Pas (5) v John Henderson/Dirk van Duijvenbode
Daryl Gurney (12) v Jonny Clayton/Roxy-James Rodriguez
Simon Whitlock (4) v Vincent van der Voort/Tony Newell
Cristo Reyes (13) v Rene Eidams/Justin Pipe
Peter Wright (2) v Krzysztof Ratajski/Kim Viljanen
Stephen Bunting (15) v Chris Dobey/David Pallett
Kim Huybrechts (7) v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez/Ritchie Edhouse
Joe Cullen (10) v Dimitri Van den Bergh/Jamie Lewis
Jelle Klaasen (6) v Rob Cross/Andy Jenkins
Michael Smith (11) v Chris Quantock/Paul Rowley
Mensur Suljovic (3) v Ronny Huybrechts/James Wilson
Mervyn King (14) v Lee Bryant/Zoran Lerchbacher
Schedule of Play
Friday June 22
First Round
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Adrian Gray v Vincent van der Meer
Chris Quantock v Paul Rowley
Jamie Bain v Christian Kist
Lee Bryant v Zoran Lerchbacher
Rene Eidams v Justin Pipe
Ronny Huybrechts v James Wilson
Krzysztof Ratajski v Kim Viljanen
Wayne Jones v Christian Kallinger
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
John Henderson v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Rowby-John Rodriguez v Martin Schindler
Vincent van der Voort v Tony Newell
Chris Dobey v David Pallett
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Jamie Lewis
Jonny Clayton v Roxy-James Rodriguez
Rob Cross v Andy Jenkins
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez v Ritchie Edhouse
Saturday June 23
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Steve West v Adrian Gray/Vincent van der Meer
Cristo Reyes v Rene Eidams/Justin Pipe
Michael Smith v Chris Quantock/Paul Rowley
Mervyn King v Lee Bryant/Zoran Lerchbacher
Alan Norris v Jamie Bain/Christian Kist
Benito van de Pas v John Henderson/Dirk van Duijvenbode
Daryl Gurney v Jonny Clayton/Roxy-James Rodriguez
Stephen Bunting v Chris Dobey/David Pallett
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Ian White v Rowby-John Rodriguez/Martin Schindler
Simon Whitlock v Vincent van der Voort/Tony Newell
Kim Huybrechts v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez/Ritchie Edhouse
Michael van Gerwen v Wayne Jones/Christian Kallinger
Peter Wright v Krzysztof Ratajski/Kim Viljanen
Joe Cullen v Dimitri Van den Bergh/Jamie Lewis
Jelle Klaasen v Rob Cross/Andy Jenkins
Mensur Suljovic v Ronny Huybrechts/James Wilson
Sunday June 25
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm local time, 12pm-4pm BST)
Third Round
Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
All games are the best of 11 legs. Sunday’s games will be played in draw bracket order.
Picture: PDC Europe
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