The MODUS Super Series Week Five delivered thrilling darts action, with Germany’s Daniel Klose clinching the top spot in Group A and securing his place in Saturday’s Finals Night. Klose’s consistent performance, backed by a superior leg difference, saw him edge out Neil Duff. The week was also highlighted by a sensational moment of darts history as debutant Noa-Lynn van Leuven threw a perfect nine-dart finish, leaving fans buzzing. While Klose moves directly to the final, other contenders like Duff, Schenk, Hamilton, Brooks, and Van Leuven will battle it out in subsequent groups for the remaining coveted spots.
Klose Claims Group A Title by a Whisker
Daniel Klose demonstrated impressive form throughout the three-day contest, ultimately securing his qualification for Saturday’s Finals Night. The German powerhouse finished at the top of Group A, but it was a tight race right to the end.
- Points Tie: Klose and Scotland’s Neil Duff both accumulated an impressive 20 points from 15 matches.
- Decisive Leg Difference: Klose’s superior (+20) leg difference proved to be the tie-breaker, comfortably surpassing Duff’s (+11). This crucial metric ensured Klose’s direct passage as the first qualifier of the week.
- Strong Performance: On the final day, Klose won three of his five games, including a dominant 4-1 victory over veteran Andy Hamilton. He also recorded the group’s highest average with a remarkable 93.25.
Duff and Schenk Head to Group B
While Neil Duff narrowly missed out on direct qualification, his performance was commendable. He also secured three wins from five matches on the final day, remaining in contention until the very last throws.
Rising star Ziggy Schenk delivered a standout individual session, achieving a perfect record by winning all five of his games. This included a hard-fought 4-3 victory against Duff, propelling Schenk to third place with 18 points.
Both Neil Duff and Ziggy Schenk will now compete in Group B, which commenced on Thursday evening, aiming to secure one of the remaining five spots for Finals Night.
The Perfect Game: Noa-Lynn van Leuven’s Nine-Darter
The most electrifying moment of the week came from debutant Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who etched her name into darts history by hitting a nine-dart finish against group winner Daniel Klose. A nine-darter is considered the “perfect game” in darts, where a player completes a 501-point leg in the minimum possible nine darts. It requires immense precision and skill, typically achieved by hitting three treble 20s (60 points) three times (180), followed by two more treble 20s (120) and a treble 19 (57), leaving 32, then finishing with a double 16 (32) for a total of 501 points. Or, alternatively, two 180s followed by a 141 finish (treble 20, treble 19, double 12).
Van Leuven’s incredible feat electrified the Live Lounge, showcasing her immense talent. Despite this historic moment and an improved performance on the final day with three wins (including a 4-2 victory over Neil Duff), she finished sixth in the group.
The Road to Finals Night Continues
The competition remains fierce as players vie for the remaining qualification spots. Here’s how the other contenders will progress:
- Group B: Features Neil Duff and Ziggy Schenk, who both performed strongly in Group A.
- Group C: Welcomes Andy Hamilton (who finished fourth with 14 points), Jordan Brooks (fifth after a winless Wednesday), and the nine-dart hero Noa-Lynn van Leuven (sixth).
These groups, starting Thursday afternoon and evening, will determine the final five players who will join Daniel Klose on Saturday’s highly anticipated Finals Night in Portsmouth.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
