Three of the Netherlands’ finest dart players — Jermaine Wattimena, Wessel Nijman, and Danny Noppert — have successfully advanced to the last 16 of the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen. This sets them up for a thrilling ‘Finals Day’ where they will compete for the coveted title. Each player showcased impressive skill and determination in their Saturday afternoon matches, overcoming tough opponents to keep Dutch hopes alive in Germany.
Wattimena Triumphs in All-Dutch Clash
The afternoon session kicked off with an exciting all-Dutch encounter as Jermaine Wattimena faced off against Kevin Doets. Wattimena, known as ‘The Machine Gun’, demonstrated his scoring power from the outset.
- The decisive moment arrived in the sixth leg. After holding his own throw with a rapid 11-dart leg, Wattimena immediately broke Doets with a sharp 13-darter, establishing a commanding 4-2 lead.
- He consolidated this break, moving to 5-2.
- Although Doets managed to hold his throw with a 74-finish, Wattimena quickly closed out the match in the next leg with an 18-darter, securing a 6-3 victory.
Looking ahead, Wattimena might face another compatriot in the last 16. If Michael van Gerwen wins his Saturday evening match against Germany’s Michael Unterbuchner, ‘Mighty Mike’ will be Wattimena’s next formidable opponent.
Nijman Continues His Hot Streak Against Searle
Following Wattimena’s success, Wessel Nijman, the winner of the second Euro Tour event of the year, stepped up to the oche. He squared off against the seeded number 10 player, Ryan Searle. Nijman once again delivered a stellar performance, maintaining his excellent form.
- The match began with a flurry of breaks, with the first three legs all going against the throw.
- Nijman then secured his first hold of throw in the fourth leg with an impressive 105-finish, giving him a crucial lead.
- Searle responded by holding his own with an 11-darter.
- However, Nijman continued his relentless scoring, making it 4-2 with a 15-darter.
- He then secured a second break of the match with another swift 11-darter, before wrapping up the game 6-2 with a 19-darter.
Nijman’s dominant display means he will now face either Stephen Bunting or Mickey Mansell in Sunday afternoon’s last 16 clashes.
Noppert Survives Scare to Advance
The final Dutch player to feature was ‘The Freeze’, Danny Noppert, who aimed to follow his compatriots’ winning ways. He faced Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak, who had surprisingly defeated Daryl Gurney the previous night. Lukasiak started exceptionally well, taking three of the first four legs with finishes of 62 and 84 to lead 3-1.
However, Noppert’s experience and precision began to tell as Lukasiak started to miss crucial doubles. Noppert capitalized, turning the deficit into a 5-3 lead. Lukasiak refused to surrender, fighting back with a 19-darter and a 15-darter to force a dramatic deciding eleventh leg.
In this tense final leg, Noppert showcased his class and composure. With an 86-finish in just 14 darts, ‘The Freeze’ sealed a hard-fought 6-5 victory, demonstrating why he is a top contender.
Noppert will now prepare to meet the winner of the highly anticipated match between defending champion Gary Anderson and Germany’s Niko Springer in the last 16.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
