Raymond van Barneveld ousts Michael van Gerwen at the European Darts Matchplay
Raymond van Barneveld secured his first European Tour win over Michael van Gerwen with a 6-3 success to reach Round Three of the European Darts Matchplay in Trier.
Having clinched a return to the World Matchplay courtesy of his First Round win over George Killington on Friday, Van Barneveld enjoyed another memorable outing as he ended a five-match losing streak against his nemesis on the Euro Tour.
Van Gerwen was making his first appearance since undergoing dental surgery last month, and was sent packing by a clinical Van Barneveld – who produced finishes of 80, 118, 138 and 84 on his way to the Last 16.
“Michael is an amazing player. To me he is still the best in the world,” reflected the five-time World Champion.
“Tonight Michael didn’t play his A-game, but I never gave up and my doubles went in, so I’m really happy.
“To beat him on the [European Tour] stage is a great feeling, and it shows even as a 56-year-old, you can still do well.
“I’m working really hard and the hard work pays off. I have qualified for the World Matchplay, but we have to move further, and I proved tonight that I can still do this.”
Just one ProTour Order of Merit qualification spot for the World Matchplay remains up for grabs, with Steve Beaton and Brendan Dolan now assured of a place at the Winter Gardens.
Kim Huybrechts currently occupies the 16th and final ProTour Order of Merit spot, but the Belgian will make his Blackpool return unless Gian van Veen or Ryan Joyce lift the title on Sunday.
Van Veen reaffirmed his credentials by producing the stand-out performance of the Second Round, averaging 114.15 in whitewashing fourth seed Damon Heta 6-0 with six from six on the doubles.
“I’m over the moon. I felt incredible up here,” admitted Van Veen – who landed 124 and 131 checkouts to record the ninth-highest average in European Tour history.
“I don’t know what to say. Damon is a fantastic player and 6-0 is a flattering scoreline I think. He played well, but I took my chances. It’s amazing.
“Hopefully I can top this performance, but probably not in the near future! I’m really happy to be through to Sunday and I’m looking forward to tomorrow now.”
Josh Rock also advanced in emphatic style, averaging 107.4 to whitewash compatriot Brendan Dolan and set up a mouth-watering Last 16 showdown against Michael Smith.
World number one Smith made a winning start with his new set-up, coming through a high-quality encounter against Keane Barry which saw both players average above 100.
Second seed Dirk van Duijvenbode also averaged in excess of 100, hitting 50% of his attempts at double to wrap up a 6-2 rout of UK Open champion Andrew Gilding.
James Wade produced a vintage display to overcome Jonny Clayton 6-3 in an enthralling encounter, averaging 107 to the Welshman’s 106.
Wade made it back-to-back ton-plus averages in Trier, firing in four 180s and hitting six of his eight darts at double to move through to a tie against fifth seed Rob Cross.
Cross landed three ton-plus checkouts to win a hard-fought tussle against Mickey Mansell 6-4, while top seed Luke Humphries began his title defence with a crushing 6-1 win over Marko Kantele, converting 111 and 118 checkouts along the way.
Humphries’ reward is a meeting against Stephen Bunting – who held his nerve to edge out European Champion Ross Smith 6-5, despite trailing from the outset.
Nathan Aspinall recovered from 4-1 down to deny Martin Lukeman in a last-leg decider, surviving a match dart to triumph with a 103 average and five maximums.
Aspinall will renew his Euro Tour rivalry with Danny Noppert on Sunday afternoon, after the former UK Open champion also survived a scare in his deciding-leg win over James Wilson.
Martin Schindler was the solitary German to taste victory on Saturday, extending his remarkable winning run against Callan Rydz to 11 games as he confirmed a Third Round tie with Van Veen.
Ryan Searle conjured up a timely 11-dart leg to deny Gabriel Clemens in a last-leg shoot-out, while Dimitri Van den Bergh averaged almost 99 to end Ricardo Pietreczko’s dreams of a World Matchplay debut.
Joyce’s hopes of a Winter Gardens return are still alive, however, after he clinched an impressive 6-3 win over third seed Dave Chisnall with an eye-catching 123 finish on the bull.
Joyce will now take on Joe Cullen in the Last 16, with former Masters champion Cullen powering in a 142 checkout to defeat Czech qualifier Vitezslav Sedlak by the same scoreline.
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European Darts Matchplay 2023 Day Two Results
Saturday July 1
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Dave Chisnall 3-6 Ryan Joyce
Josh Rock 6-0 Brendan Dolan
Rob Cross 6-4 Mickey Mansell
Damon Heta 0-6 Gian van Veen
Nathan Aspinall 6-5 Martin Lukeman
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2 Andrew Gilding
Joe Cullen 6-3 Vitezslav Sedlak
Ross Smith 5-6 Stephen Bunting
Evening Session
Jonny Clayton 3-6 James Wade
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-3 Ricardo Pietreczko
Ryan Searle 6-5 Gabriel Clemens
Michael van Gerwen 3-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Michael Smith 6-2 Keane Barry
Luke Humphries 6-1 Marko Kantele
Martin Schindler 6-3 Callan Rydz
Danny Noppert 6-5 James Wilson
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