INTERVIEW: Qualification for PDC World Darts Championship came as a big surprise for Nentjes

Geert Nentjes became the thirteenth Dutch player to qualify for the 2019 PDC World Darts Championship. The 20-year-old from Urk claimed qualification through the PDC Development Tour, after reaching three finals this season.

Nentjes managed to win a World Championship spot and a PDC Tour Card for the next two seasons after a very tense last weekend on the Development Tour. He will be eligable to play on the Pro Tour circuit in 2019 and 2020. In an interview with Dartsnews.com he looks back on an exciting last weekend of the Development Tour season. ''Before the final weekend of the Development Tour I had good hope of qualifiation for the World Championship. But after the first of four events, I lost a bit of faith. George Killington (his rival) reached the semi-finals, while I lost in the last 64 round.'' But at the end it still ended well for the Dutchman. He performed fantastic during the final three events and managed to reach two finals. ''I knew something crazy had to happen to qualify for the World Championship. Then I moved into two finals and I passed Killington on the rankings by a distance, bizarre of course.'' Qualification for Alexandra Palace was a big bonus for Nentjes, who was aiming for a top ten spot on the PDC Development Tour Order of Merit at the beginning of the year. ''My goal was to reach the top ten on the Development Tour ranking. But when I look back now, I'm a bit disappointed because I lost all of my three finals. Maybe I could have beat Dimitri van den Bergh as I had darts to make 4-4. In that case I had the throw in the leg-decider.''

Second meeting with Aspinall

The draw for the PDC World Darts Championship put Nentjes up against Nathan Aspinall, the runner-up at the World Youth Championship in 2015. It will be the second meeting between the Dutchman and the Stockport ace, as they met each other three years ago as well. ''I played against him three years ago during the Hague Championship in 2015. I can't remember the results anymore, but I lost that game.'' Nentjes is realistic about his chances against 'The Asp'. A victory is not impossible, but Aspinall will be the favourite to win this match. ''I think I have 30 percent chance to win. I need to be aggressive from the start. But that's difficult, because I have to show it on my debut at the World Championship. Some friends are going with me to London and we are going to make it a few nice days.''

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