Jermaine ‘The Machine Gun’ Wattimena showcased an incredible display of darts, winning the highly anticipated 3rd Pre-Season Darts Tournament. He triumphed over fellow Dutchman Ricardo Ulrich in a thrilling final, capping off a day filled with dramatic comebacks and high-scoring action. Wattimena’s victory was particularly impressive, featuring a stunning 104.2 average in the final – the highest of the entire event – solidifying his status as a formidable force in the sport.
A New Format, Intense Competition
The 3rd Pre-Season Darts Tournament introduced an exciting new format: for the first time, it featured a group stage. A massive field of 243 participants was divided into 61 groups. The top two players from each group advanced to the prestigious Winners’ Round, while the remaining players continued their battle in the Losers’ Round. With PDC Tour Card holders like Jermaine Wattimena and Dennie Olde Kalter in attendance, the stage was set for guaranteed excitement in Garderen.
Early Shocks and High Stakes
The tournament quickly delivered drama. In a surprising turn, the two PDC Tour Card holders, Wattimena and Olde Kalter, met much earlier than expected, clashing in the Last 128. Wattimena had comfortably won his group, but Olde Kalter, much like the previous year, stumbled against Milan Brinkman, leading to this early showdown. The match was incredibly tight, with all legs going with the throw (meaning the player who started the leg won it). In the decisive fifth leg, Olde Kalter had three match darts to seal the victory but couldn’t hit the winning double. Wattimena seized the opportunity, hitting double 10 to narrowly escape with a win. Another significant upset in the Last 128 saw ‘The Cobra’ Jelle Klaasen exit the tournament after missing five match darts against Koen van de Wetering.
Wattimena’s Path to Glory
As the tournament progressed towards the quarter-finals, several strong players, including Luuk Boeijink, Jurrit van Essen, Loek van den Berg, and Jeffrey Bekema, were eliminated. Alongside top favourite Wattimena, both finalists from the previous year, Jerry Hendriks and Angelo Balsamo, successfully reached the quarter-finals. However, Balsamo’s journey ended there. Despite holding a 3-2 lead against Ricardo Ulrich, Balsamo squandered multiple match darts and ultimately lost the game, marking the first time he failed to reach the final in Garderen.
Semi-Final Showdowns
The semi-finals pitted Wattimena against Fabian de Groot, and Ulrich against defending champion Jerry Hendriks.
- Jermaine Wattimena vs. Fabian de Groot: Wattimena quickly established a 4-1 lead, including a brilliant 110-finish. However, De Groot refused to give up, winning two consecutive legs to bring the score to 4-3. In the eighth leg, De Groot even had two darts at the top to force a deciding leg, but he missed. Wattimena capitalized, hitting double 4 to secure a 5-3 victory.
- Ricardo Ulrich vs. Jerry Hendriks: Ulrich also secured a 5-3 victory against the reigning champion. Hendriks showed incredible resilience, fighting back from a 3-0 deficit to level the score at 3-3. But Ulrich responded with two consecutive 16-dart legs to clinch his spot in the final.
The Grand Final: Wattimena vs. Ulrich
The final promised a thrilling encounter between Jermaine Wattimena and Ricardo Ulrich, and it certainly delivered. Wattimena started with immense focus and firepower:
- Leg 1: ‘The Machine Gun’ immediately broke Ulrich’s throw with a spectacular 140-finish in just 12 darts.
- Leg 2: Wattimena consolidated his break with a swift 14-darter, taking an early 2-0 lead.
- Leg 3: Ulrich held his throw, preventing Wattimena from running away with the match.
- Leg 4: Ulrich broke back, hitting an 18-darter to level the match at 2-2.
- Leg 5: Ulrich continued his momentum, checking out 70 to take the lead for the first time, 3-2.
At this point, the momentum seemed to be shifting, but Wattimena then shifted into an even higher gear. He held his own throw in an impressive 11 darts, making it 3-3. A crucial 64-finish in the next leg saw him break Ulrich again, regaining the lead. He then confidently held his throw in the eighth leg, re-establishing a two-leg advantage at 5-3. In the ninth and final leg, Wattimena left no doubt about his dominance. He kicked off with his fourth 180 of the match and finished the leg in just 13 darts to seal a magnificent 6-3 victory.
Wattimena’s performance in the final was exceptional, underscored by his incredible 104.2 average, by far the highest recorded throughout the day in Garderen. This stylish win crowned him the third champion of the Pre-Season Darts Tournament.
Losers’ Round Champion
In the separate Losers’ Round, Sander Schoot emerged victorious. He defeated Jordy Schimmel with a convincing 3-0 scoreline in the final, recording an average of 68.
Tournament Results Overview
Winners’ Round Quarter-Finals
- Jermaine Wattimena 4-0 Danio Aalders
- Fabian de Groot 4-0 Gait Vermeer
- Ricardo Ulrich 4-3 Angelo Balsamo
- Jerry Hendriks 4-1 Henry Boeve
Winners’ Round Semi-Finals
- Jermaine Wattimena 5-3 Fabian de Groot
- Ricardo Ulrich 5-3 Jerry Hendriks
Losers’ Round Quarter-Finals
- Jordy Schimmel 2-1 Jesse van de Lagemaat
- Jasper Schuit 2-1 Tom van Harten
- Robin van de Kamp 2-1 Wiljan Koetsier
- Sander Schoot 2-0 Jack Castelijns
Losers’ Round Semi-Finals
- Jordy Schimmel 2-0 Jasper Schuit
- Sander Schoot 2-0 Robin van de Kamp
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
