The world’s top darts players have settled in Amsterdam this weekend for the World Series of Darts Finals. Six Dutchmen will take action tonight for a full floor. Niels Zonneveld, Maik Kuivenhoven, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Vincent van der Voort are in the next round.
It soon became a party in AFAS Live. He defeated Westlander John Henderson (6-2) in front of a churning hall. The 33-year-old Dutchman quickly came before a break and did not let his experienced opponent come close with great finishes.
A little later Niels Zonneveld completed the party early in the evening. The 22-year-old darts player from Uitgeest won well against Dave Chisnall (6-3) and couldn’t believe his luck. “Sometimes I was too busy with the audience, but that’s part of it,” says Zonneveld, who surprised James Wade in 2020. “This win is better because it’s in front of a home crowd and my friends and family are there.”
For the first time since 2019, the Dutch darters are receiving support from their own audience. “I woke up this morning with tension in my stomach. All my family and friends are there,” says a relieved Kuivenhoven, who threw an average of 88.19. ,,If I finish it with 146 throws, it will be fantastic. I wasn’t very good in scoring, but hit all my doubles. That really gives a wonderful feeling every time.”
In the next round he will compete against Michael van Gerwen, where he won twice in 2020. “Well, that’s a different pressure, I think less than I feel now,” he explains. “Who knows what will happen if I get my average up and roll my double in the same way.”
Dirk van Duijvenbode has reached the second round without worries, where Gerwyn Price. With the audience on his side, he had no child with compatriot Jeffrey de Zwaan (6-2). Tomorrow he will meet Gerwyn Price: ,,I didn’t even realize that I threw an average of 98″, says Duijvenbode, who had brought about 70 men of family, friends and colleagues. I’m going to speed it up, with the audience behind me tomorrow, that could just happen.”
The name Vincent van der Voort has been reverberating through the AFAS Live since the first round. In the squatter against Nathan Aspinall, the crowd favorite did not disappoint. The Dutch Destroyer the Englishman in the swirling room 6-3. The crowd made him nervous, but also let him win. ,,Normally that doesn’t happen,’ says Van der Voort. ,,It gives some extra pressure, but also makes the victory more beautiful.”
Danny Noppert threw the best average of all Dutch players to Van Duijvenbode, but was eliminated by an excellent playing De Sousa. After the first five legs, the Portuguese averaged more than 111. He finished the match with an average of 103.86 and lost The Freeze with 6-2.
It was also soon a party for Belgian fans present; Kim Huybrechts defeated Michael Smith in the first match of the evening. Fortunately, the atmosphere is good.
Program and results:
• Kim Huybrechts – Michael Smith 6-3
• Krzysztof Ratajski – Gabriel Clemens 6-3
• Maik Kuivenhoven -John Henderson 6-2
• James Wade – Mervyn King 0-6
• Niels Zonneveld – Dave Chisnall 6-3
• Jeffrey de Zwaan – Dirk van Duijvenbode 2-6
• Nathan Aspinall – Vincent van der Voort 3-6
• Jose de Sousa – Danny Noppert 2-6
The second round will be played tomorrow evening from 19:00.
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