The European Darts Trophy has delivered a thrilling afternoon of action, highlighted by German sensation Niko Springer reaching the quarter-finals after a series of nail-biting 6-5 victories. His success marks a historic moment, as for the first time ever, no English players will feature in the European Tour quarter-finals. Dutch talent Wessel Nijman showcased a phenomenal 113 average, while top contenders Gerwyn Price and Josh Rock both survived match darts in dramatic fashion to keep their title hopes alive. Meanwhile, Mensur Suljovic faced a tough exit. This recap dives into all the key moments and sets the stage for the evening’s decisive sessions.
Springer’s Historic Run Continues
Niko Springer’s Decisive Victories
German hopeful Niko Springer continued his remarkable run, securing a spot in the quarter-finals of the European Darts Trophy. For the third time this weekend, his match went the full distance, culminating in a dramatic 6-5 victory over Ross Smith. This win is particularly significant as it means that, for the first time in European Tour history, a quarter-final session will proceed without any English players. Springer, emerging from what he describes as a ‘form slump,’ demonstrated incredible composure. After a cautious start, he hit crucial checkouts of 72 and 85 under pressure to level the score at 2-2. Despite Smith’s superior scoring, he couldn’t convert a crucial break opportunity, allowing Springer to pull ahead 5-3 with an 11-darter. Smith fought back to force a deciding leg, but Springer held his nerve, sealing the win in 13 darts on his throw, showcasing his growing confidence and clutch ability.
Dutch Dominance: Nijman’s Masterclass and Zonneveld’s Precision
Wessel Nijman’s Staggering Performance
One of the most awe-inspiring performances of the afternoon came from Dutchman Wessel Nijman. He delivered a darting masterclass, sweeping aside his compatriot Gian van Veen with a staggering average of nearly 113 points in a dominant 6-1 victory. World number three van Veen managed only a single leg, primarily because Nijman briefly missed two darts at a double. After that momentary lapse, Nijman returned to his sensational form, closing out the match with legs of 12, 11, 15, and 12 darts. His consistent brilliance makes one wonder how he hasn’t yet reached a European Tour final.
Niels Zonneveld’s Flawless Finish
Another impressive Dutch display came from Niels Zonneveld, known as ‘Triple Z’, who secured a 6-4 win against Jermaine Wattimena. Zonneveld’s performance was marked by an almost flawless 75% checkout percentage. A 14-dart break opened the door for him, but Wattimena responded strongly, leveling the match at 3-3 with an 11-darter. Undeterred, Zonneveld immediately secured a re-break and never relinquished his advantage, ultimately sealing the win against his countryman with a clinical 100-finish.
Richard Veenstra Makes His Mark
Earlier in the afternoon, Richard Veenstra booked his first-ever European Tour quarter-final spot with a 6-3 victory over Ryan Searle. While not the highest-scoring match, Veenstra capitalized on Searle’s struggles on the doubles, with Searle missing 16 darts at a double throughout the game. Veenstra secured an early break to lead 2-1 with a 16-darter and quickly extended his lead to 5-1. Searle managed to win two more legs, but Veenstra closed out the match, marking a significant milestone in his European Tour career.
Favorites Face Down Match Darts in Thrilling Battles
Josh Rock’s Great Escape
Josh Rock endured a nerve-wracking 6-5 victory against Chris Dobey, surviving match darts against him. Both players struggled with their finishing, registering a double percentage of just over 20%. An 11-darter from Dobey to make it 3-2 was an early highlight, before Rock managed to establish a 5-3 lead. With both players scoring similarly, it was clear the match would be decided on the outer ring. Rock then missed a remarkable eight match darts to secure a 6-4 win, forcing him to throw second in the deciding leg. Dobey also squandered two opportunities, allowing the Northern Irishman to finally seal the win on his 11th match dart in a truly dramatic finish.
Gerwyn Price Holds His Nerve
Similar to Josh Rock, Gerwyn Price also had to survive at least one match dart en route to a high-quality 6-5 victory over Danny Noppert. Price had multiple chances to pull away in the first half of the match, frequently missing the final dart at a double. Instead, he had to fend off break opportunities from Noppert at 3-3, and again failed to extend his lead to 5-3. Noppert remained relentless, almost delivering the final blow in the decider by missing a 102 checkout on double 11. Price seized the opportunity, holding his throw in 14 darts to escape with the win.
Other Key Encounters
In another match, Kevin Doets succumbed to Damon Heta with a 3-6 defeat. Doets initially overcame early double troubles to take a 3-2 lead with legs of 13 and 12 darts. However, Heta then took control, showcasing a series of strong checkout moments, including finishes of 108 and 80 to turn the tide. He sealed his victory with a superb 85-finish on the bullseye, leaving Doets still searching for his first European Tour quarter-final.
Dirk van Duijvenbode Dominates Suljovic
Mensur Suljovic had a challenging session, suffering a comprehensive 1-6 loss to Dirk van Duijvenbode. ‘The Gentle’ struggled to find his rhythm, while ‘The Titan’ was in superb form. Van Duijvenbode quickly established a 3-0 lead with two 12-darters and even missed three opportunities for another leg. Suljovic gratefully accepted the gift with a 19-darter, but subsequently saw only the back of his opponent as van Duijvenbode cruised to victory.
Looking Ahead: The Final Sessions
The stage is now set for the final sessions of the European Darts Trophy, featuring the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the grand final.
Quarter-Final Line-Up:
- Richard Veenstra vs. Niels Zonneveld
- Josh Rock vs. Wessel Nijman
- Niko Springer vs. Damon Heta
- Gerwyn Price vs. Dirk van Duijvenbode
The Road to the Final:
The semi-finals will see the winners of the first two quarter-finals battle it out, and similarly for the winners of the third and fourth quarter-finals. The ultimate champions will then emerge from the final showdown.
Prize Money Breakdown:
A total prize fund of £230,000 is on offer for the tournament. The winner will take home a substantial £35,000. It’s important to note that all 32 pre-qualified players (via the PDC Order of Merit and Pro Tour Order of Merit) must win their opening match for their prize money to count towards these rankings. If they lose their first game, they still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, or Pro Tour Order of Merit.
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-Finals: £10,000
- Quarter-Finals: £8,000
- Last 16: £5,000
- Last 32: £3,500
- First Round: £2,000
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
