The European Darts Trophy delivered an evening of high drama and unexpected turns. German hopeful Niko Springer secured a thrilling 6-5 victory over Stephen Bunting in a match marred by crowd disruptions, advancing to the Last 16. However, fellow German Martin Schindler faced another early exit. The biggest shock of the night saw Niels Zonneveld deliver a masterclass performance to defeat darts legend Michael van Gerwen 6-2, while Gerwyn Price showcased his dominance. Mensur Suljovic fought back from behind to win, and Cam Crabtree’s extraordinary journey to Göttingen ended without further reward.
Springer Survives Crowd Chaos in Thrilling Decider
Niko Springer, the “Meenzer Bub,” saved Germany’s hopes in the second round, clinching a hard-fought 6-5 win against Stephen Bunting. Despite holding his initial throws with impressive checkouts of 97, 81, and 78, Bunting managed to secure the first break with a 13-dart leg. Springer immediately retaliated with a 14-darter, surviving Bunting’s attempt at a 124 finish. The match culminated in a tense deciding leg, where “The Bullet” (Bunting) faced significant concentration disruption from loud whistles in the Göttingen audience. Both referee Huw Ware and tournament director Philip Brzezinski addressed the crowd firmly. Unfazed, Springer held his nerve to convert his first match dart, securing his spot in the Last 16.
Schindler’s Early Exit Continues a Trend
Earlier, Martin Schindler suffered another opening-round defeat, falling 6-4 to Richard Veenstra. The Dutchman signaled his intent with a 12-dart break, but Schindler, aided by his own 12-darter, managed to turn the game around to lead 3-2. However, a weak throwing leg saw him relinquish the lead shortly after. Veenstra consolidated his advantage with a superb 111 checkout, and a final 78 finish sealed the victory, with Schindler’s late 180 coming too little, too late.
Major Upsets and Dominant Displays
Zonneveld Stuns Van Gerwen with Masterclass
A 107 average from Michael van Gerwen is a rare sight, but even rarer is such a performance ending in a 6-2 defeat. Niels Zonneveld showcased his formidable form, storming to a 4-0 lead with legs of 15, 11, 15, and 13 darts. Van Gerwen, who had barely had a dart at the bullseye, responded with an 11-darter. However, “MvG” later missed a 114 checkout to narrow the gap to 3-4, allowing Zonneveld to escape with his last dart. “Triple Z” then sealed a dream finish with two 180s and a 100 checkout.
Price Powers Past Cullen
Another top-tier performance came from Gerwyn Price, who defeated Joe Cullen 6-2 with a 107 average. While Cullen matched Price’s scoring for much of the match, he failed to capitalize on his own throws from 2-2 onwards, missing crucial doubles. Price, known for his consistent 14-darters, used one to close out the match.
Suljovic’s Resilient Comeback
Mensur Suljovic ensured an Austrian presence in the next round by beating Karel Sedlacek 6-4. Sedlacek, a late replacement for Luke Humphries, will regret not seizing the opportunity to boost his World Matchplay qualification chances. The match was a rollercoaster, with Suljovic squandering a 2-1 lead, allowing Sedlacek to check out 88 and 87 for a 4-2 advantage. However, “Evil Charlie” then missed nine darts at a double, letting his lead slip. Suljovic then orchestrated a complete turnaround with decisive 78 and 116 finishes.
Rock Ends Krohne’s Run
German player Paul Krohne, fresh from his first European Tour victory, faced a tough 6-4 loss to Josh Rock. Krohne struggled to find his rhythm early on, missing chances on double 16 in the opening two legs. Despite battling back to 3-4, and then hitting an 11-dart break to level, Rock, demonstrating top-player class, immediately responded with an 11-darter of his own, securing victory just 15 darts later.
Crabtree’s Epic Journey Not Rewarded
Cam Crabtree’s incredible journey to Göttingen was a story in itself. Having just arrived in the USA, he learned he was a last-minute replacement for the second round. What followed was an odyssey: a 10-hour flight from Washington to Istanbul, a missed connecting flight, and finally a flight to Frankfurt. All this for £3,500 prize money, of which only £2,000 counts for rankings. Unfortunately, his journey didn’t end with a victory, as Kevin Doets defeated him 6-4. The Dutchman continued his strong form, remaining untouchable on his own throw, and after missing his first three match darts, secured the win in the next leg.
Van Veen’s Dominant Performance
Completing a strong day for Dutch players, Gian van Veen secured a 6-1 victory over Krzysztof Ratajski. “The Giant” saved the first leg on his second attempt and then produced a crucial break to go 3-1, highlighted by an incredible 149 checkout. Ratajski, who had been waiting on 40, later overthrew 69 points on double 11 due to a miscalculation. This proved too much, and van Veen comfortably advanced to the Last 16.
European Darts Trophy: Tournament Schedule and Prize Money
The final day of the European Darts Trophy will feature the Last 16 matches starting at 12:00 PM CET, followed by the evening session at 6:00 PM CET, which will include the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and the Grand Final.
Prize Money Breakdown
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-Finalists: £10,000
- Quarter-Finalists: £8,000
- Last 16: £5,000
- 2nd Round: £3,500 (ranking points only if first match won)
- 1st Round: £2,000 (no ranking points)
A total of £230,000 is distributed per tournament. Crucially, players who qualify through the PDC Order of Merit and Pro Tour Order of Merit must win their opening match for their prize money to count towards their respective ranking lists. 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.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
