Kleermaker dispatches top seed Smith, Van den Bergh eases past Meulenkamp

Friday, 24 June 2022 at 22:15

There has only been two wins for the PDC side of the draw tonight at the Dutch Darts Masters as Michael Smith becomes the latest player to head out losing out 6-4 to an inspired display from Martijn Kleermaker.

Kleermaker produced a 96 average, six 180's and 6/8 on his doubles in a superb display on home soil from 'The Dutch Giant'.

Kleermaker hit a 180 in the opening leg and after Smith missed a 58 checkout, he had a chance to break but fluffed his line on the 67 and ‘Bully Boy’ hit double two to go 1-0 up.

But ‘The Dutch Giant’ hit double 10 to level up at 1-1 holding his throw. Smith’s poor doubling again though allowed Kleermaker a chance to break which he took with a 66 checkout at 2-1 up.

But Smith broke back with a 96 checkout to make it 2-2 and he consolidated with an 80 checkout despite his throw being under pressure once more and he was 3-2 up.

Kleermaker kept it at parity on double 18 at 3-3. Smith hit the same target to go 4-3 up. The holds continued on double 20 to make it 4-4.

But a 124 checkout on the bull made it 5-4 as Kleermaker sent the crowd wild once more and he sealed a big win with a 78 checkout.

Joining James Wade as the only other PDC representative into the final day is Dimitri van den Bergh who will aim to make it back-to-back World Series of Darts titles after winning the Nordic Darts Masters.

He dispatched Ron Meulenkamp 6-2 and only Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright remain in terms of PDC representatives and with Danny Noppert and Dirk van Duijvenbode their opponents, it could spell more PDC representatives heading out.

Van den Bergh had early break chances and finally took one after Meulenkamp missed three to hold but after double one in the first leg, he hit 118 to go 2-0 up. ‘The Bomb’ finally got a leg on the board on double five to make it 2-1.

But Van den Bergh opened up a two leg cushion again at 3-1. Meulenkamp hit the first 180 of the match on his throw and kept pace at 3-2 down.

Meulenkamp missed a chance at 112 to hold and Van den Bergh sealed a pivotal break at 5-2. He could have sealed the match with an 11-darter before finally sealing the deal with a 16-darter on double 12.

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TV Guide ITV 4 during the 2022 Dutch Darts Masters

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VAN DEN BERGH WINS!! Dimitri van den Bergh in on the hunt for back-to-back World Series titles as he moves into the Quarter-Finals with a 6-2 win over Ron Meulenkamp! Up Next 👉 Michael van Gerwen v Danny Noppert Watch 📺 bit.ly/PDCTVLive