Dirk van Duijvenbode stumbles into the Third Round of the Dutch Darts Championship
Home favourite Dirk van Duijvenbode recovered from a pre-match tumble to book his place in the Last 16 of the Dutch Darts Championship in Leeuwarden on Saturday.
Van Duijvenbode took to the stage ahead of his clash with Dylan Slevin in typically energetic fashion at the WTC Expo, but took an unfortunate backward fall whilst performing his trademark fist-pump routine.
This left the Dutchman in visible discomfort throughout the contest, but he dug deep to edge past the Irish youngster in a deciding leg courtesy of a stunning 129 checkout on two double 18s.
Style it out, Dirk 😭😭😂 pic.twitter.com/obd2YHgI7D
— Live Darts (@livedarts) April 29, 2023
Meanwhile, Michael van Gerwen began his bid for a record-extending 36th European Tour title with a 6-2 success against Gabriel Clemens, converting six of his nine attempts at double to safely progress.
“This means a lot,” said an emotional Van Gerwen, who celebrated his victory on stage with his daughter Zoe.
“I didn’t play well in Rotterdam, but I am pushing to perform better all the time.
“This is only the second time on the European Tour that my daughter is with me. She has had a good weekend and I won my game, and I’m glad I did.
“I love being back in Holland. I would love to be playing at my best, but I’m not done here, and I’d like to thank all the fans for their support.”
Local favourite Danny Noppert, last year’s beaten finalist, delighted the partisan crowd with a 6-1 demolition of Latvia’s Madars Razma.
A resurgent Berry van Peer dumped out last weekend’s Austrian Open champion Jonny Clayton in a dramatic last-leg shoot-out, despite trailing 4-1 and 5-3.
Michael Smith began his title defence by coming through a tough test against Jim Williams, crashing in six maximums and producing a trio of 12-darters to triumph with a 100.5 average.
The reigning World Champion will now take on Peter Wright on Sunday afternoon, after the Scot fought back from 5-1 down to stun Krzysztof Ratajski – whose remarkable capitulation included missed match darts in two separate legs.
Top seed Luke Humphries averaged 101.4 in closing out a 6-3 success against European Champion Ross Smith, and his reward is a Last 16 meeting with UK Open champion Andrew Gilding.
Gilding averaged 108.6 in defeating 2018 champion Ian White 6-4, kicking off the contest with checkouts of 149, 103 and 121, before fending off an inspired fightback from the Stoke star.
Ryan Searle produced the performance of the day in Leeuwarden, averaging 109 in his 6-1 demolition of Premier League star Dimitri Van den Bergh, who averaged over 105 in defeat.
Keane Barry recorded a second successive win over Rob Cross on the European Tour this year, converting 125 and 140 checkouts in defying a 104 average from the sixth seed.
Austrian Open runner-up Josh Rock was the first player to win through to the Last 16, dismissing a brace of 116 finishes from Graham Hall to wrap up a commanding 6-2 victory.
Rock’s reward is a Third Round tie against second seed Dave Chisnall – who posted a ton-topping average and fired in four 180s to overcome a spirited Martin Lukeman.
Stephen Bunting edged out Joe Cullen in a topsy-turvy decider, surviving three match darts in the penultimate leg, having earlier surrendered a 4-1 advantage.
Nathan Aspinall, Damon Heta and Martin Schindler also booked their spots at Finals Day, running out 6-4 winners against Daryl Gurney, Steve Beaton and Roman Benecky respectively.
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Dutch Darts Championship 2023 Day Two Results
All times BST (Local time one hour ahead)
Saturday April 29
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Josh Rock 6-2 Graham Hall
Dave Chisnall 6-4 Martin Lukeman
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Ian White
Rob Cross 3-6 Keane Barry
Danny Noppert 6-1 Madars Razma
Joe Cullen 5-6 Stephen Bunting
Damon Heta 6-4 Steve Beaton
Martin Schindler 6-4 Roman Benecky
Evening Session
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Daryl Gurney
Jonny Clayton 5-6 Berry Van Peer
Michael Smith 6-4 Jim Williams
Ryan Searle 6-1 Dimitri van den Bergh
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Gabriel Clemens
Peter Wright 6-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Luke Humphries 6-3 Ross Smith
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Dylan Slevin
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