Darts legends Raymond van Barneveld and Bradley Brooks have made a spectacular return to form, each securing spots in not one, but two upcoming European Tour events. Van Barneveld, a five-time World Champion, showed his class with six consecutive wins, while Brooks also impressed, including a dominant victory over Kim Huybrechts. This double qualification sets the stage for exciting action at the Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp and the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel, with other notable qualifiers like Beau Greaves also making their mark.
Van Barneveld’s Resurgence: A Double Triumph
The legendary Raymond van Barneveld proved he’s still a force to be reckoned with, achieving a remarkable double qualification for the European Tour on a scorching day in Hildesheim. The Dutch maestro won an impressive six consecutive matches, showcasing a timely return to the kind of form that once made him a five-time World Champion.
His journey to secure a spot in the Flanders Darts Trophy (ET13), taking place in Antwerp from September 11-13, saw him overcome tough opponents like Samuel Price, Andy Boulton, and Thomas Lovely. Not content with just one qualification, Van Barneveld then continued his winning streak in the ET14 Qualifier, defeating Arno Merk, Connor Scutt, and David Sharp.
Highlights of his dominant performance included exceptional finishing, with checkouts of 120, 124, and a stunning 160 during his 6-4 victory against Connor Scutt. He then demonstrated his resilience by recovering from a 5-4 deficit to clinch a dramatic win over David Sharp.
Brooks Joins the Double Club
Joining Van Barneveld in achieving a double qualification was Bradley Brooks, who also delivered a stellar performance. Brooks’s run included a particularly strong 6-1 win against the in-form Kim Huybrechts, signaling his intent for the upcoming tournaments.
Both Brooks and Van Barneveld will now compete in the Flanders Darts Trophy and the Swiss Darts Trophy (ET14), which will be held in Basel from October 9-11. They are joined by Jeffrey de Graaf and Cristo Reyes, who also successfully qualified for both prestigious events.
Emerging Talents and Aspirations
The qualification rounds also saw other significant players make their way through. Newly crowned Women’s World Matchplay Champion Beau Greaves secured a spot in one of the events. This adds to her previous qualifying successes last month, as Greaves continues her ambition to reach major autumn tournaments and climb rapidly into the top 64 of the Darts Order of Merit.
Who Qualified? A Closer Look
Here’s a breakdown of the players who successfully navigated the challenging qualification process:
Flanders Darts Trophy (ET13) Tour Card Holder Qualifiers:
- Bradley Brooks
- Cristo Reyes
- Jim Long
- Stephen Burton
- Jeffrey de Graaf
- Beau Greaves
- Raymond van Barneveld
- Karel Sedlacek
- Mickey Mansell
- Chris Landman
Swiss Darts Trophy (ET14) Tour Card Holder Qualifiers:
- Bradley Brooks
- Mensur Suljovic
- Tom Bissell
- Jeffrey de Graaf
- Michael Smith
- Mario Vandenbogaerde
- Raymond van Barneveld
- Sietse Lap
- Maik Kuivenhoven
- Cristo Reyes
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
