WHITEWASH! Dirk van Duijvenbode whitewashes fellow Dutchman Danny Noppert to seal his spot in the next round... 📺Up next 👉Nathan Aspinall v Maik Kuivenhoven
Michael Smith produces comeback to edge past Ross Smith, Van Duijvenbode whitewashes Noppert in blistering display
PDCThursday, 29 October 2020 at 20:20
Michael Smith is through at the European Championship after producing a comeback to see off Ross Smith - who has been excellent recently reaching the Quarter-Finals at the International Darts Open in Riesa to reach this point.
But 'Bully Boy' himself has been in good form also recently and came from 3-0 down to edge out 'Smudger' 6-5.
In coming from 3-0 down, he made it 3-2 and despite the Deal ace continuing his lead, a turning point came up with a brilliant 142 checkout to trail 4-3.
He broke from there by taking out 96 on two double 19's to make it 4-4 and hit a 62 checkout to hit the front from there at 5-4.
Ross Smith made it a decider from there but couldn't find his scoring boots which allowed the St Helens ace to ease through that final leg.
Dirk van Duijvenbode is also through to the next round to face Smith after a blistering display to see off an outside bet for many in Danny Noppert.
'The Titan' has not played since his World Grand Prix run but he picked off where he left off with a whitewash win with a 98 average allowing his opponent only two darts at double in the end.
Van Duijvenbode surged into a 3-0 lead in the early going with a break of throw leaving double 20 with 140 followed by 171. Noppert pressured but Van Duijvenbode put it away second dart in hand to take that break.
It was a double break as he went 4-0 up with a 14 darts outscoring 'Noppie' with a 140 and 134 to leave 50 which he pinned to go towards the finishing line.
He missed 108 for a 5-0 lead but was relieved to pin double two after Noppert nearly capitalised with an 84 checkout. He concluded proceedings with a 52 checkout with again Noppert only down to a finish to put pressure on.
European Championship 2020 schedule
First round
Thursday October 29
Jamie Hughes (94.22) 6-5 (92.66) Dave Chisnall
Krzysztof Ratajski (99.76) 5-6 (95.19) Steve West
Mervyn King (86.66) 2-6 (91.83) Ian White
Jose de Sousa (96.56) 6-3 (87.65) Jeffrey de Zwaan
James Wade (92.42) 6-5 (93.02) Steve Lennon
Devon Petersen (95.29) 6-1 (87.69) Andy Hamilton
Michael Smith (89.29) 6-5 (91.34) Ross Smith
Danny Noppert (92.93) 0-6 (98.47) Dirk van Duijvenbode
Nathan Aspinall v Maik Kuivenhoven
Joe Cullen v William O'Connor
Rob Cross v Martijn Kleermaker
Jonny Clayton v Max Hopp
Michael van Gerwen v Darius Labanauskas
Gerwyn Price v Kim Huybrechts
Peter Wright v Gabriel Clemens
Mensur Suljovic v Daryl Gurney
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- Oh, dear... how will we cope now?MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
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- Well done Mike – good to move on and look to the future. With his talent, and increasing confidence on stage, he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the month ahead.
UndartedWaters22-11-2024 - It's called talent and good on him.medinabello21-11-2024
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