Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton will start their German Darts Grand Prix campaign in confident mood – and will hope to again feel the love from the crowds in Munich.
In recent weeks, both Welsh players have hit their best form, winning tournaments, including those held in Germany.
Earlier this week, Price retained his International Darts Open crown by beating Michael van Gerwen 8-4 in the final in Riesa.
That was just days after Clayton had shown his brilliance in Berlin by winning the Cazoo Premier League Night, which he quickly followed up by claiming back-to-back triumphs in Birmingham.
Both players have stressed how they enjoy the support of German darts fans with Price declaring: “I think I am half-German now!
“I’ve been getting great support over the last couple of months and it is showing on the board. I know I’m playing well and I’m putting players under pressure.
“The form that I’m showing now is finally coming off the practice board and on to the main stage, and you can’t beat going into tournaments full of confidence.
“I just need to keep doing what I’m doing. My form right now is pretty good, but I still think I’ve got more in the tank.”
Fellow Welsh dragon Clayton has also been breathing fire lately. He scorched Van Gerwen in both Berlin and Birmingham and knows The Ferret is at the top of his game.
“I love playing in these massive arenas with brilliant crowds, and I’ve got a big smile on my face right now,” says Clayton.
Both Clayton and Price will enter the German Darts Grand Prix in Sunday’s second round as the top 16 players have free rides through Saturday’s first round.
Clayton plays either Andrew Gilding or Tytus Kanik, whilst Price is set to meet the winner of the opening round clash between Ian White and Raymond van Barneveld.
It’s tough to choose between Wales’ two leading stars with both playing so well, but Price is maybe the better bet at the moment as his form across all recent tournaments makes him the most in-form player in the world right now.
The Iceman has averaged over 100 in 10 of his 12 matches on the European Tour so far this year, that is 83.3% of his matches.
That along with nine ton-plus averages in 21 matches in the Players Championship means that Price has very impressively had an average of over 100 in 57.6% of his games on the Pro Tour so far this year.
Schedule of Play – Saturday April 8
First Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Jules van Dongen v Berry van Peer
Alan Soutar v Lee Evans
Matt Campbell v Callan Rydz
Mario Vandenbogaerde v Adam Warner
Andy Boulton v Keane Barry
Scott Waites v Dragutin Horvat
Brendan Dolan v Jeffrey De Zwaan
Andrew Gilding v Tytus Kanik
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Jim Williams v Vincent van der Voort
Daryl Gurney v Cameron Menzies
Simon Whitlock v Steve Beaton
Ross Smith v Florian Hempel
Robert Owen v Liam Maendl-Lawrance
Ian White v Raymond van Barneveld
Chris Dobey v Tony Martinez
Gabriel Clemens v Oskar Lukasiak
Sunday April 9
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Josh Rock v Van Dongen/Van Peer
Dave Chisnall v Waites/Horvat
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Campbell/Rydz
Rob Cross v Boulton/Barry
Jonny Clayton v Gilding/Kanik
Joe Cullen v R Smith/Hempel
Nathan Aspinall v Gurney/Menzies
Jose de Sousa v Whitlock/Beaton
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Dobey/Martinez
Danny Noppert v Owen/Maendl-Lawrance
Michael Smith v Vandenbogaerde/Warner
Gerwyn Price v White/Van Barneveld
Damon Heta v Clemens/Lukasiak
Peter Wright v Soutar/Evans
Martin Schindler v Williams/Van der Voort
Luke Humphries v Dolan/De Zwaan
Monday April 10
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Third Round
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
