“I was really scared” – Feared World Grand Prix format gave Niels Zonneveld pre debut doubts

Niels Zonneveld produced a shock on his debut at the World Grand Prix. The Dutchman edged world number seven Josh Rock 2-1 in the first round. Relief dominated afterwards for Zonneveld, who felt he fully deserved the win.

Zonneveld stepped onto the double-in, double-out stage with confidence. He had already built that feeling in the lead-up to his clash with Rock.

"It was really difficult, I think," said Zonneveld to DartsNews.com. "I felt well from the beginning till the end, so I was really confident with my game, especially in practising it was really well.

"But yeah, you have to play Josh Rock, the number seven of the world. Of course, he's a brilliant player, so don't underestimate him. But in the end, yeah, I felt my way. I think I deserved the win. But yeah, he let me work with the 151 finish and it was really difficult to take it on the end, but yeah, happy with that."

Rock landed that 151 when Zonneveld was closing in on victory. It instantly brought back memories of a painful defeat. "The 151 was difficult because at the Matchplay, I lost, against Bunting 13-12 and I was like, no, not again, please, because I'm playing well. I won't say I played well to beat him in any way, but he's a brilliant player. But I think today I was the better player, so I think I deserved it. And yeah, at the end, it's such a relief that I get it at the end."

For Zonneveld, the result ranks among the best of his career. "One of the, of course, yeah. I've never played here, I'd never played at the Matchplay, just once, but I lost it. So, besides the Worlds, I think it's the biggest win of my career, especially ranking-wise. So, yeah, that's true."

The Dutchman is enjoying a strong season. He reached two Euro Tour semi-finals this year and also made the last four on the ProTour. There was, however, a dip in results, and with a special reason.

"Oh, not really much. I think the beginning of the year was really good. In month four or five, I got a daughter, so for the first time. So, after that, my form was like dropped a little bit because I didn't put so much effort like I did before. But from now on, I feel like the form is going on and it's going like better and better and better. So, I think that's the most important thing, especially like the Worlds is waiting about two and a half, three months."

Ahead of his Leicester debut, the format made Zonneveld nervous. He chose to drill one specific double extensively.

"I was really, like, scared because I thought the only thing I thought was like, what if you're not coming in? What's the double-in not going? But when I was on stage, I'm really confident that double 14, I practised for like two hours on it and it went really well."

Zonneveld calls the World Grand Prix a unique event. "So, yeah, that was it, but it's a really strange game. It's really difficult, but in the end, it's like more, I don't know if to say easy, but it's more common that you beat the top players, like you saw yesterday.

"But yeah, you have to like prepare for that because it's a really strange format, really strange tournament."

Gary Anderson awaits in round two after he beat Damon Heta. Zonneveld had already made clear how much respect he has for the Scot. "When Anderson is coming on, I don't like to play him. Of course not. But yeah, when Damon is good, then yeah, what do you expect? Like 16 in the World Grand Prix. So, let's keep on your own game and then yeah, let's see what happens."