"I came in with zero confidence": Van Duijvenbode admits Masters is a bonus as season begins with Ratajski win

Dirk van Duijvenbode will return this evening to face Gerwyn Price after seeing off Krzysztof Ratajski in a 6-3 win on Friday at the 2023 Masters.

Speaking afterwards, Van Duijvenbode admitted that it is very much a free roll and that he is using new darts that will take a few weeks to get up to speed with.

"I came in with zero confidence. I've got some fresh darts so I need to practice with them for five weeks and then they're good for half a year. I started off well but then I had a bounceout and a 57 after that and two darts missed at doubles. I was frustrated as that could've settled me down but it didn't.

"2-2 it was a very bad leg, I didn't win it after a good leg. Bit frustrating but I was happy that when I got 70, 72 again I hit them. Very pleased."

"The Masters is always a bonus as like I said after the World's, I took a fresh set of darts and it always takes me a few weeks to get used to them as I don't practice that much in January. It's such a busy schedule so I take my time off."

"I'm just happy that I played quite good, I was pretty pleased. It wasn't the best performance but I am just ok with it."

His goal for 2023? Constant improvement and consistency is the aim for Van Duijvenbode.

"Play better than last year, it's my goal every year and at some point you can't improve but I don't think I've reached that level yet."