EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW! The 32-player field and draw bracket for the 2023 Machineseeker European Championship has been confirmed. ➡️ bit.ly/EC23Draw
Can Raymond van Barneveld shock Michael Smith at European Championship? ''Certainly with this format there is a chance''
PDCTuesday, 24 October 2023 at 13:00
The 2023 European Championship gets underway on Thursday, Oct. 26. Once again, the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund is hosting this major tournament. There are 32 players competing in this event.
The field consists of the 32 best players from the Euro Tour tournaments in 2023. The draw for the European Championship is also based on the Euro Tour tournament rankings, allowing big names to meet early in the tournament.
"It's a completely different situation," Robert Marijanovic analyzes in conversation with Elmar Paulke in their joint podcast. "Matches like Damon Heta against Gian van Veen right away in the first round I find interesting, Ratajski against Joe Cullen - that's a cracker. Also Chris Dobey, an outsider, is only seeded 32nd at this tournament. Therefore he will play Dave Chisnall. A lot of fireworks can be expected right away.''
In addition to the aforementioned matches, Michael Smith and Raymond van Barneveld are also paired up for the first round. In this, Marijanovic sees good chances for the Dutchman.
''It can go two ways; exciting or totally unspectacular. Which way it will be is entirely up to Barney. Michael Smith will just do what Michael Smith does: play darts. It could also just be a match where Raymond starts shaking his head, nodding off and giving up after only three or four legs.''
But Marijanovic certainly does not consider the five-time world champion hopeless, especially because of the short format (best of 11 legs) in the first round. ''That's a very short format. That's also why I think Raymond has a real chance. If there are chances to beat Michael Smith at a major, it's with this format.''
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- I completely agree with Vincent's comments on "whistlegate". It's great to have someone with Vincent's exprience address this issue, so hopefully clearer and stricter guidlelines can be given to referees, security and members of the crowd. No whistling during throws, and something like: whistlers evicted and fined a hefty sum.
UndartedWaters19-11-2024 - Luke Littler played incredible darts yesterday in the semi-final and the final, heralding a new era of darts (along with some of the other brilliant young players who are emerging). And yet, at Luke's celebration feast, de Decker's ghost is Banquo to Littler's Macbeth, mournfully looking on.UndartedWaters18-11-2024
- Am not outraged and as said above i dont like anyone from any country doing it to anyone from any country. Whoever is going for a double should have best of order.Mysstree17-11-2024
- Say what? It happens in other countries; Littler in January - this year (Holland), go and watch the evidence on YouTube. If it is going to be done to English players, then we are more than entitled to dish the same back when players face off in England. When it happened to Littler in Holland in January... where was your outrage then? ABE attitude.MrYnyslas197117-11-2024
- I dont like individuals or crowds trying to put any player off when they are trying to check out, how anyone can think its okay for the crowd to whistle or shout as someone is throwing for a double is beyond me but it does seem to have become part and parcel of the modern game. I no longer play now, darts is as good as dead at a local level round my way but when i did play many years ago, no matter how intense the rivalry you never shouted out or whistled when an opponent from the other team was throwing for a double.Mysstree17-11-2024