Hildesheim witnessed intense darting action as players battled for spots in the upcoming European Tours. Spain’s Cristo Reyes dominated, securing qualification for both the Polish and German events with an unbeaten record. While no Dutch players made it to the first Euro Tour in Poland initially, Jeffrey de Graaf eventually broke through. The second qualifier, for the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen, saw a stronger Dutch presence, with Jeffrey de Zwaan, Kevin Doets, and Richard Veenstra all earning their places, showcasing impressive form and setting the stage for exciting tournaments ahead.
European Tour Qualifiers: A Day of Triumphs and Debuts
Wednesday afternoon in Hildesheim, Germany, was a crucial day for professional darts players vying for a spot in the first two European Tour events of the season. These qualifiers determined who would compete in the inaugural Euro Tour in Poland and the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen, Germany.
Qualifier 1: The Polish Dream (ET1 – Poland)
The first qualification tournament, for the highly anticipated Euro Tour in Poland, proved challenging for many. Initially, it seemed no Dutch players would make the cut, with Richard Veenstra narrowly missing out after a final round loss to Spain’s Cristo Reyes.
However, Jeffrey de Graaf delivered a standout performance, securing his spot with an impressive 97 average to defeat Germany’s Maximilian Czerwinski. This qualification marks a significant achievement for de Graaf, ensuring Dutch representation in Poland.
The tournament also saw some remarkable comebacks and exciting debuts:
- Marvin Kraft and Carl Sneyd both staged incredible rallies, coming back from 5-2 deficits against Ricky Evans and Callan Rydz, respectively, to qualify for their European Tour debuts in March.
Key Results from Qualifier 1 Final Rounds:
- Cristo Reyes 6-4 Richard Veenstra
- Connor Scutt 6-5 Charlie Manby
- Ritchie Edhouse 6-2 Niall Culleton
- Adam Gawlas 6-2 Darius Labanauskas
- Mickey Mansell 6-3 Michael Smith
- Darryl Pilgrim 6-3 Kim Huybrechts
- Jeffrey de Graaf 6-4 Maximilian Czerwinski
- Thomas Lovely 6-4 Sebastian Bialecki
- Marvin Kraft 6-5 Ricky Evans
- Carl Sneyd 6-5 Callan Rydz
Qualifier 2: The German Challenge (ET2 – European Darts Trophy, Göttingen)
The second qualification event brought more success for Dutch talent, with three players securing their places for the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen.
- Jeffrey de Zwaan showcased his prowess by defeating the seasoned Mensur Suljovic in a compelling final round match.
- Kevin Doets demonstrated excellent form, overcoming Tavis Dudeney with a strong display of darts.
- Richard Veenstra, keen to bounce back from his earlier near-miss, displayed top-tier darts, recording 100+ averages in two of his three matches to clinch his spot against Karel Sedlacek.
A true highlight of the day was the dominant return of Cristo Reyes. The Spaniard proved unstoppable in both qualification tournaments, remaining undefeated and securing his place in the first two European Tours of the year. In the second qualifier, ‘The Spartan’ dropped an astonishingly low two legs across all his matches, including a decisive 6-0 victory over Maik Kuivenhoven in the final round.
Another notable debutante emerged from this qualifier: Ireland’s Shane McGuirk. He earned his spot on the European Tour by narrowly defeating Wesley Plaisier in a thrilling final leg decider.
Key Results from Qualifier 2 Final Rounds:
- Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-3 Keane Barry
- Cristo Reyes 6-0 Maik Kuivenhoven
- Darius Labanauskas 6-4 Lukas Wenig
- Kai Gotthardt 6-4 Cameron Crabtree
- Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-2 Mensur Suljovic
- Shane McGuirk 6-5 Wesley Plaisier
- Kevin Doets 6-4 Tavis Dudeney
- Richard Veenstra 6-4 Karel Sedlacek
- Ricky Evans 6-4 Jim Long
- Sebastian Bialecki 6-1 Arno Merk
The stage is now set for an exciting start to the European Tour season, with a mix of established stars, returning talents, and fresh faces ready to battle for glory.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
