Van Veen and Woodhouse boost World Grand Prix hopes with victory at the Hungarian Darts Trophy
Gian van Veen and Luke Woodhouse bolstered their hopes of World Grand Prix qualification with opening round wins at the Hungarian Darts Trophy on Friday.
Van Veen and Woodhouse are among the chasing pack vying to clinch a place in the World Grand Prix following this weekend’s European Tour event in Budapest.
Dutch starlet Van Veen moved to within £250 of the provisional qualification places courtesy of a comfortable 6-2 victory over Brendan Dolan.
The World Youth finalist led 2-0 and 4-1 before Dolan responded with an 11-darter, but Van Veen closed out the tie to set up a mouth-watering second round contest against World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall on Saturday.
Van Veen would move into the provisional qualification places if he can overcome Aspinall, after Ricardo Pietreczko suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Host Nation Qualifier Nandor Major.
Pietreczko, who currently occupies the final qualification spot, was beaten 6-4 by debutant Major, who won five of the last six legs to become the first ever Hungarian to win a match on the European Tour.
Woodhouse, meanwhile, wrapped up a 6-3 win over Hungary’s Gabor Jagicza with a sensational 160 checkout, to follow up an earlier 100 checkout to move through to face Rob Cross.
Jermaine Wattimena kicked off Friday’s action with a hard-fought win against Joe Murnan, pinning 50 per cent of his attempts at double to set up a showdown against eighth seed Jonny Clayton on Saturday evening.
James Wade set up a tie with reigning champion Joe Cullen courtesy of a hard-fought 6-3 win over William O’Connor at the MVM Dome.
Jose de Sousa will take on World Champion Michael Smith in round two – but only after edging out Daryl Gurney in a decider, having missed nine match darts before finally closing out victory.
Reigning European Champion Ross Smith averaged 100 in an impressive 6-2 win over Welsh qualifier Robert Owen, setting up a clash with Michael van Gerwen on Saturday.
Smith raced through the first five legs without reply, landing a 152 finish in the process, and after Owen posted a 121 checkout to pull back a second leg, the Dover ace closed out the win in leg eight.
Keane Barry also kicked off his campaign in style, racing to a 6-3 victory against Gabriel Clemens, despite the German number one crashing in five 180s in a high-scoring affair.
Mike De Decker produced finishes of 144, 122 and 100 as he ousted UK Open champion Andrew Gilding with a 6-4 success to move through to a second round tussle with Josh Rock.
Rock’s compatriot Nathan Rafferty earned a clash with Gerwyn Price following a high-quality 6-4 win over Stephen Bunting, with the Northern Irish prospect averaging 99 in an eye-catching display.
Earlier in the night, Hungary’s Patrik Kovacs was punished for five missed match darts as Rowby-John Rodriguez took victory in their clash in a dramatic last-leg shoot-out.
Sweden’s Anton Ostlund dispatched Denmark’s Vladimir Andersen in a battle of the European Tour debutants, landing five 180s and converting a 145 checkout to see off his Scandinavian counterpart.
Scott Mitchell also celebrated victory on his European Tour bow, producing a 13-dart break in his deciding-leg win against Andy Boulton to create a showdown against top seed Dave Chisnall.
Mitchell was joined in Saturday’s second round by another former Lakeside Champion, as Scott Waites defied a late fightback from Madars Razma to secure his first win on the European Tour in 2023.
Scott Williams punished a profligate display from Richard Veenstra to move through to a meeting with fourth seed Dirk van Duijvenbode, winning four of the last five legs to run out a 6-3 winner.
Earlier in the day, Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki breezed through to round two with a 6-1 win against Hungarian debutant Mihaly Vida, who raised the roof with a spectacular 161 checkout in the penultimate leg.
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Hungarian Darts Trophy 2023 Day One Results
Friday September 22
First Round
Afternoon Session
Joe Murnan 4-6 Jermaine Wattimena
Vladimir Andersen 2-6 Anton Ostlund
Sebastian Bialecki 6-1 Mihaly Vida
Madars Razma 4-6 Scott Waites
Andy Boulton 5-6 Scott Mitchell
Scott Williams 6-3 Richard Veenstra
Mike De Decker 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Gian van Veen 6-2 Brendan Dolan
Evening Session
Gabor Jagicza 3-6 Luke Woodhouse
Robert Owen 2-6 Ross Smith
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-5 Patrik Kovacs
William O’Connor 3-6 James Wade
Daryl Gurney 5-6 Jose De Sousa
Nathan Rafferty 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Ricardo Pietreczko 4-6 Nandor Major
Gabriel Clemens 3-6 Keane Barry
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