Dirk van Duijvenbode has painfully missed his first title on the EuroTour. The Dutch darts player received a match dart against Gerwyn Price in the nerve-racking final of the European Darts Open, but was unable to convert it. Price then struck in the deciding leg to win the match 8–7.
In the semi-finals it had been Van Duijvenbode who came out on top after a thriller. Battled Rob Cross Aubergenius came back from a 6-2 deficit – survived four match darts – and beat the Englishman 7-6.
It gave him confidence for the final against Price, who was in top form throughout the tournament in Leverkusen and won all his matches with an average of over 100. The 2021 world champion switched on his way to the final with Michael van Gerwen (quarter-final, 6-4) and Danny Noppert (semi-final, 7-4) already two Dutchmen out.
In the first two legs of the final, Van Duijvenbode had to explore for a while, but then he raised his level. The number eleven in the world threw one 180 after another and ran out to a 3-1 lead
But Price fought back. Van Duijvenbode started to miss a bit more: exactly something Price almost never does. So bow The Iceman his backlog suddenly turned into a 4-3 lead.
The thirteenth leg also went to Van Duijvenbode and confidence started to grow. The Dutchman could smell the title, but did not throw his match dart on 36 and Price was able to make it 7-7. Price did not let go of his prey and struck in the decisive leg.
Program quarterfinals
Sunday night
• Danny Noppert – Damon Heta 6-4
• Gerwyn Price – Michael van Gerwen 6-4
• Rob Cross – Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5
• Dirk van Duivenbode – Josh Rock 6-3
Semi-finals
• Danny Noppert -Gerwyn Price 4-7
• Rob Cross – Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-7
Final
• Price – Van Duijvenbode 8-7
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