Joe Cullen and Michael Smith will battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals of the European Championship.

The pair will meet in a tasty all Unicorn clash in the 2nd Round in Dortmund after Cullen beat Jelle Klaasen and Smith saw off Steve Lennon.

But it was a hugely disappointing night for Ian White, as he was sent packing by Richard North.

Smith averaged 101 as he came back to defeat Irishman Lennon. He had to find his best form. Lennon led 3-2 and missed a dart at the bull for a 4-2 advantage before the Unicorn man took control.

The St Helens star opened up a two-leg advantage after his opponent missed a succession of doubles. Lennon then won three on the spin despite two 180s from Smith. But that 6th leg was the turning point. After Lennon missed that one dart, Smith nailed a 105 finish to level at three apiece.

Then came a 12 darter and another maximum and despite missing four match darts, Smith nailed D5 to seal the win.

Cullen came from 1-2 down to win his all Unicorn battle with Klaasen. Both players were guilty of missing key doubles.....both could have been 4-1 up at the break but as it was, Cullen held sway at 3-2 and after the break, despite two 177s from the Dutchman, it was Cullen who won five straight legs to go through.

It was only his second win against Klaasen in 11 attempts.

Ian White was the No.4 seed but it was one of those nights. After taking the opening leg against the throw against Richard North, it turned into a nightmare. The Unicorn man could not find any range or rhythm and incredibly, North reeled off six consecutive legs to breeze through to round two.

Elsewhere on the opening night in Germany defending champion Michael van Gerwen had to average 110 to see off Paul Nicholson......Nicholson went two up with back-to-back 12 dart legs but when he missed six doubles for a 3-2 lead Van Gerwen took control.

The Dutchman is chasing a fifth straight European Championship title and he his five 180s and a superb 170 finish to complete a 6-2 victory. Earlier in the game the World No.1 also hit seven perfect darts.

World Champion Rob Cross came from 2-4 down to beat Danny Noppert 6-4 and Peter Wright completed a whitewash against Jermaine Wattimena.

1st Round results:

Steve West 6-5 Mervyn King

Ian White 1-6 Richard North

Simon Whitlock 6-3 Steve Beaton

Michael Smith 6-3 Steve Lennon

Joe Cullen 6-2 Jelle Klaasen

Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Paul Nicholson

Rob Cross 6-4 Danny Noppert

Peter Wright 6-0 Jermaine Wattimena

Story from STUART PYKE in Dortmund

Photos courtesy PDC

Posted in Unicorn Darts