Jeffrey de Graaf sets up meeting with Michael van Gerwen and ends Asian hopes at 2025 PDC World Darts Championship

Jeffrey de Graaf has set up a meeting with Michael van Gerwen in the last 16 of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, following a 4-1 victory over Paolo Nebrida this Sunday afternoon at the Ally Pally.

The last remaining of the Asian qualifiers, Nebrida was carrying the hopes of an entire continent at the Alexandra Palace. That pressure didn't seem to be affecting the Filipino in the opening set though as Nebrida took the opening set 3-1, giving himself the early advantage.

De Graaf though, who notably reached this round of last year's World Darts Championship also, came out fighting in the second set. After a solid hold of throw to open, De Graaf broke the Nebrida throw in leg 2 to take full control. A few moments later, the Dutch-Swede pinned double 8 for a third successive leg, levelling the contest at one set apiece.

Stopping the mini-rot, Nebrida kicked off set 3 with a pop-pop 84 checkout. With each of the next three legs going with the darts, third set was pushed to a fifth and deciding leg. Nebrida had the advantage of throw, but after De Graaf kicked off with a maximum, he grasped control. Despite some messy finishing, De Graaf took the leg, and with it the set to go 2-1 up.

Set 4 also went to De Graaf, a fair bit more comfortably too as the Dutch-Swede, despite averaging only around the 90 mark himself punished Nebrida's almost non-existent scoring to ease through the set 3-1. As a result, De Graaf was now just one set away from the last 16 and a duel with Michael van Gerwen.

Nebrida wasn't ready to throw the towel in just yet, getting himself in front early in set 5 with a hold of throw. De Graaf held his own in leg 2 though, and then broke Nebrida in leg 3 to get to one leg from victory. Throwing for the match, De Graaf went 7 darts into a perfect leg. Although the nine-darter proved illusive victory did not as he returned to oin double 18 for the match.