"To be honest, he’s one of the biggest ‘GOATs’ in Holland when it comes to dart players": Niels Zonneveld shares admiration for Van Gerwen ahead of Dutch derby

Niels Zonneveld cruised into the second round of the European Darts Trophy after a 6-1 win over Keane Barry. In a match that will hardly go down as a high-quality darts contest, the Dutchman still came out on top. Afterward, Zonneveld was honest about his display: the level had to be better, but the win mattered most.

The Dutchman knew the first-round tie at the European Darts Trophy swung on a few crucial moments. That was exactly where he stayed sharp enough to strike when his opponent missed chances. As a result, he kept his tournament dream alive and can now look forward to an intriguing clash with Michael van Gerwen in the next round.

Zonneveld immediately admitted afterward that the match was not of a high standard. Both players struggled to score consistently and maintain the pace. Still, the Dutchman managed to take control of the contest.

“It was like heads and tails, I think. Luckily it went my way. It was not a great game for both of us, but in the end I won and I think that’s the most important thing. Now it’s on to tomorrow night,” he said.

The Dutchman does realize he will need to bring more in the next round. He especially saw room for improvement in the scoring phase of his game. “I’m happy with that, but my performance has to be a little bit better.”

Although the scoring power wasn’t always convincing, Zonneveld did start strongly on the doubles. He opened the match with two hits on double twenty. “The doubles went all right, I think. But the scoring has to be better. So I’ll prepare for tomorrow and then we’ll see,” Zonneveld explained.

That self-criticism reflects the development Zonneveld has undergone in recent years. Where he was once mainly focused on keeping his tour card, he now looks intently at improving his game to go deeper in major tournaments.

The victory is not only important for the tournament itself, but also for the rankings. In professional darts, every win can play a big role in the chase for qualification to the major televised events.

Zonneveld knows that all too well. By winning his first match, he has already secured prize money that counts toward the various rankings.

“The most important thing for me at this moment is to win the first game, because then you get some ranking money,” he explained. “I’m really happy with that because I think it’s really important for the World Matchplay and the World Grand Prix.”

Still, Zonneveld is looking beyond just the first round. “But now I want to win the second round as well.”

A special encounter awaits Zonneveld in the next round. He will take on his compatriot and multiple world champion Michael van Gerwen.

Zonneveld has faced Van Gerwen twice before in his career but has never beaten him. He still views the meeting primarily as a great challenge.

“I’m looking forward to playing him on stage. It’s just a good feeling when I’m playing him,” Zonneveld said.

Zonneveld spoke with great respect about his potential opponent. Van Gerwen is seen by many Dutch darters as one of the greatest players the country has ever produced.

“To be honest, he’s one of the biggest ‘GOATs’ in Holland when it comes to dart players,” he said. “So I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and we’ll see.”

At the same time, the situation is different from their previous meetings. The last time Zonneveld and Van Gerwen faced each other was in 2022. Since then, Zonneveld has taken big steps in his development as a professional. His game has become more consistent, he feels more comfortable on big stages, and he has produced several strong results on the PDC tour in recent seasons.