Dutch darts sensations Gian van Veen and Dirk van Duijvenbode have electrified the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel, securing coveted spots in the quarter-finals. Van Veen showcased his class with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over England’s Tom Bissell, while ‘Aubergenius’ Dirk van Duijvenbode delivered a stunning performance, overcoming former World Champion Michael Smith. Their impressive runs mark them as the last two Dutch players standing in this thrilling PDC European Tour event.
Van Veen Powers Through a Tough Challenge
Young Dutch talent Gian van Veen faced a resilient opponent in England’s Tom Bissell. Bissell, who had already caused upsets by eliminating seasoned players Joe Cullen and former winner Martin Schindler, started strong against the second-seeded Van Veen.
The match began with both players holding their own, but Van Veen soon found his rhythm, securing a crucial break to take the lead. Bissell, however, proved incredibly tenacious, refusing to let Van Veen pull away easily. The game saw a flurry of breaks, with both players exchanging advantages, leading to a tense 4-3 scoreline in Van Veen’s favour.
Van Veen then moved to match point, but a missed bullseye for the win allowed Bissell to narrow the gap to 5-4. Undeterred, ‘The Giant’ closed out the match 6-4 with a clinical 20-checkout, demonstrating the composure that saw him whitewash Niko Springer earlier in the tournament. His performance was highlighted by an exceptional average of 100.97, coupled with a solid 46.15% on his doubles.
Next up for Van Veen in the quarter-finals is England’s Bradley Brooks. Brooks, a former PDC Youth World Champion like Van Veen, has enjoyed a fantastic run, defeating Niels Zonneveld, Chris Dobey, and Jeffrey de Graaf. This marks Brooks’ first-ever European Tour quarter-final appearance.
Match Statistics: Gian van Veen vs. Tom Bissell
- Gian van Veen: Average 100.97 / Doubles 46.15%
- Tom Bissell: Average 91.77 / Doubles 44.44%
Van Duijvenbode Conquers Former World Champion Michael Smith
Dirk van Duijvenbode, affectionately known as ‘Aubergenius’, delivered one of the tournament’s standout performances by defeating former World Champion Michael Smith. Smith had shown promising form this weekend, bouncing back from a recent dip to secure wins against Robert Owen and Jermaine Wattimena, the latter with an impressive 102 average.
Van Duijvenbode, who had already dispatched Bruno Stöckli and James Wade, continued his dominant run. The match against Smith started evenly, with both players holding their first two legs, showcasing their finishing prowess with Smith hitting a 126-finish and Van Duijvenbode a 107-finish.
The turning point came when Van Duijvenbode secured a critical break, moving ahead 3-2. From there, the Dutchman maintained his advantage, holding his throws consistently. ‘Aubergenius’ reached match point and then sealed a commanding victory with a superb 96-finish via double 19, breaking Smith once more to conclude the match.
Van Duijvenbode’s clinical finishing was evident, boasting a 50.00% checkout success rate. He will now face Austria’s Mensur Suljović in the quarter-finals. Suljović has also been in formidable form, having overcome György Jehirszki, Michael van Gerwen, and Ross Smith on his path to the last eight. Despite his loss, Ross Smith, the recent winner of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, still leads the European Tour rankings.
Match Statistics: Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Michael Smith
- Dirk van Duijvenbode: Average 88.37 / Doubles 50.00%
- Michael Smith: Average 91.01 / Doubles 42.86%
The Swiss Darts Trophy: A Key Stop on the European Tour
The Swiss Darts Trophy is the fourteenth and penultimate event on this year’s PDC European Tour calendar. Following this stop in Basel, the tour will head to Maastricht next weekend for its final event before the highly anticipated European Championship.
This marks the third edition of the Swiss Darts Trophy. Eleven Dutch players initially entered the tournament, with five seeded players starting in the second round. Now, only Van Veen and Van Duijvenbode remain to carry the Dutch hopes. Defending champion Stephen Bunting, also a seeded player, was surprisingly eliminated in the second round by Jeffrey de Graaf, guaranteeing a new champion will be crowned this year. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are all scheduled to be played on Sunday evening, promising an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
