Keegan Brown sends Gerwyn Price packing at the World Series Finals as Van Barneveld sinks Smith
Keegan Brown pulled off a shock win over Gerwyn Price in the Last 16 of the World Series Finals in Amsterdam on Saturday, as Raymond van Barneveld dispatched Michael Smith.
Day Two of the £350,000 event saw the eight seeds enter the fray at AFAS Live, and world number one Smith and reigning champion Price were among the high-profile casualties in the Dutch capital.
A resurgent Brown produced the upset of the night to dethrone reigning champion Price, landing three ton-plus finishes to move through to his first televised Quarter-Final since 2014.
Trailing 2-0, the former World Youth Champion opened his account with a 111 checkout, before taking out 101 and 85 on the bullseye to establish a 5-3 lead.
The Welshman hit back in leg nine, but after missing double 16 to force a decider, he was left shell-shocked as Brown conjured up a sublime 164 finish to celebrate one of the biggest wins of his career.
“To beat Gezzy in front of this fantastic crowd, I’m absolutely buzzing,” said Brown.
“I thought I’d blown it, and then the 164 checkout went in as sweet as a nut. It’s one of the best checkouts I’ve ever hit.
“I am doing something that I love doing, and long may it continue. I’m just going to keep grinding away.”
Van Barneveld stole the headlines on home soil as he produced a vintage display to move through to the Last Eight on his first televised appearance in the Netherlands since 2019.
Van Barneveld outscored the reigning World Champion in the early stages – including an 11-dart break in leg three – although 130 and 100 checkouts from the St Helens star kept him in contention at two apiece.
The world number one began to find his range as he moved into a 4-3 lead, only for Van Barneveld to raise the roof with a trademark 156 checkout to level at 4-4.
The 56-year-old then punished two missed darts from Smith to move to the cusp of victory with a nerveless 105 outshot, before pinning double ten to seal a memorable win in front of a packed AFAS Live crowd.
“To beat the World Champion in front of the Orange Army, this is really special,” said the five-time World Champion.
“I knew I would have to play my A-game. We all know what Michael is capable of. He’s a fantastic player, one of the best in the world.
“It was a quality game. There were fantastic finishes from both of us, and Michael was a real gentleman tonight. This means a lot to me.”
Van Barneveld was joined in the Last Eight by compatriot Michael van Gerwen – who survived a scare in his comeback win over William O’Connor, winning six of the last seven legs to progress.
O’Connor capitalised on an edgy start from the Dutch superstar to race into a 3-0 lead, although a magical 161 checkout from Van Gerwen in leg nine turned the tide, as he ran out a 6-4 winner.
“I had to work really hard for that,” admitted Van Gerwen, who averaged 93 and crashed in three 180s to kick off his bid for a record-extending fifth World Series Finals crown.
“I made too many mistakes early on, and I think William played really well in the beginning of the game. Fair play to him, but I had a lovely 161 finish at the right moment.
“I made it difficult for myself, but the most important thing is that I won, and now I need to focus on tomorrow, because I still have a lot of work to do.”
Danny Noppert was unable to make it three wins from three for the Dutch contingent as he succumbed 6-3 to World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall.
Noppert averaged almost 106 to topple his compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode on Friday, but was sent packing by an impressive Aspinall, who fired in a magnificent 170 checkout en route to victory.
Top seed Rob Cross was the first player to advance to the Quarter-Finals after wrapping up a 6-3 win over 2021 champion Jonny Clayton.
Cross, winner of back-to-back World Series titles in Hamilton and Wollongong last month, raced into a 3-0 lead with a 110 average, and he maintained that three-leg cushion to seal his place in Sunday’s Quarter-Finals.
Cross’ reward is a show-down against Luke Humphries – who marked his World SeriesFinals debut with a sensational display to deny an in-form Krzysztof Ratajski.
Humphries averaged 106.7, landed four 180s and converted 50 per cent of his attempts at double to cap off an imperious performance, defying a 129 skin-saver from Ratajski in leg eight to prevail.
Dimitri Van den Bergh crashed in five 180s in his 6-1 demolition of Ricky Evans, averaging 97 to create a tie against home favourite Van Gerwen on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, two-time finalist Peter Wright battled his way through to the Quarter-Finals, recovering from a sluggish start to overcome New Zealand’s Haupai Puha 6-4 with the aid of two ton-plus finishes.
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World Series of Darts Finals 2023 Day Two Results
Saturday September 16
Second Round
Rob Cross 6-3 Jonny Clayton
Luke Humphries 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Gerwyn Price 4-6 Keegan Brown
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 William O’Connor
Michael Smith 4-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Danny Noppert
Peter Wright 6-4 Haupai Puha
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-1 Ricky Evans
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