Nathan Aspinall and Luke Humphries stunned on opening night of World Matchplay by Dutch dynamos Nijman and Van Veen
PDC
On a night which was meant to be all about Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall as two box office attractions turned into a nightmare as Dutch darting dynamos Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman sent two of the big names packing at the World Matchplay.
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Van Veen recorded a momentous 10-8 win over defending champion Humphries and now opens up the draw as he faces Danny Noppert in the next round who also won on the opening night.
Van Veen hit a 180 to open up as he looked to take the tie to Humphries. He hit another to leave 41. He missed two darts to break. Humphries missed double eight but Van Veen returned for double 16. That was an early sign that the young Dutchman meant business.
Van Veen doubled his lead pinning double 16 before Humphries finally held throw with a 56 checkout on double 10. Humphries hit double eight to make it 2-2 as he averted the early pressure from Van Veen.
Humphries headed into the break with a flourish pinning 146 for 3-2. Van Veen broke back though going 4-3 up as Humphries' doubling started to go awry. He was throwing for a sudden 5-3 lead. But Humphries broke back for 5-5. Van Veen broke straight back and held.
A 127 checkout saw Humphries break back for 6-6. They both held throw for 7-7. But Humphries kept missing doubles and Van Veen went 8-7 up. Van Veen hit double eight as he made it 9-7 and Humphries was sat on the point of no return.
Van Veen got a shot at 161 for the win. He missed the bull though to send Humphries home. Humphries had a shot at 80 and saved his skin on double five but Van Veen was throwing to win. Win he did as he sealed it 10-8.
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| Luke Humphries | VS | Gian van Veen |
|---|---|---|
| 95.69 | Average (3 Darts) | 98.45 |
| 21 | 100+ Thrown | 23 |
| 15 | 140+ Thrown | 10 |
| 3 | 180 Thrown | 8 |
| 146 | Highest Checkout | 73 |
| 2 | Checkout 100+ | 0 |
| 28.6 | Checkout percentage | 40 |
| 8 / 28 | Checkout | 10 / 25 |
Nijman sends fans favourite Aspinall home
That wasn't all though as Wessel Nijman sent home another of the favourites for the title in Nathan Aspinall.
Nijman was steely, determined and quite frankly sublime as he battled the heat and the fans on his Winter Gardens stage. Often a player who has shown quality without a coming of age, he showed why he is the business.
He opened up with a 4-1 opening session barrage of Aspinall. A 70 checkout saw Nijman continued his emphatic doubling display as Aspinall just had to watch on in awe.
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Nijman missed 161 for a 6-1 lead. Aspinall was 1/8 on his doubles and took aim at 76. He pinned double 20 though to hold. Aspinall hit back with a box-office 121 checkout on the bull for 5-3.
Truly special from the young Dutchman.
Nijman missed 74 to make sure he led 6-3 and the fans of Aspinall rallied. The fans' favourite gave them something to roar about as he made it 5-4. But Nijman hit a 68 checkout on double 16 to make it 6-4 at the break.
Aspinall went one behind again at 6-5. Nijman hit a 52 checkout though smack bang in the middle of the double 16. Aspinall had his usual terrier spirit but Nijman was 7-5 up. A 76 checkout saw Aspinall grimace and Nijman went two away.
Aspinall hit straight back with a 121 checkout on the bull smack bang in the middle to break straight back. Nijman put a 180 on a pin and hit another to leave 41 as Aspinall's break was cancelled out again. Nijman missed the bull for the win.
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Aspinall had a 150 checkout to stay involved. He missed double 18 for 9-7. It was his last act as Nijman pinned double eight.
Noppie pounces on Menzies misery
Noppert who the aforementioned Van Veen faces next pounced on what was a bit of a nightmare of another kind for Cameron Menzies.
Danny Noppert won 10-2 as 'The Freeze' took advantage of a very poor Menzies who again seemed to feel it on the big stage as he wrangles with the nerves. He came in as the third top ProTour player alongside Josh Rock and Martin Schindler.
But it was an all too familiar story for the Scot who didn't manage himself well on the stage. To start, Menzies was broken with Noppert steadfast in his mission pinning 104 for 2-0. It was a debut to forget for Menzies who busted 178 and Noppert returned for a double break on double two.
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At the first break, Noppert was 5-0 up. He returned from the break and still continued to saunter ahead. He went 6-0 up with no end in sight to a horror debut for Menzies. Noppert hit double 10 for what was a 7-0 lead.
Noppert missed double four for a 70 checkout as Menzies took aim pinning double 12 with a wry smile as he made it 7-1.
Menzies added another leg to make it 8-2 at the break but he was still sinking on the Blackpool stage and sink he did as Noppert returned for the finishing touch.
Wade lays down a marker
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While it was a night for the Dutch players, it was James Wade who left a marker in only the way he can. He eased past Joe Cullen with a 104.44 average. His highest ever at the Winter Gardens.
Wade was at his sumptuous best and sits in that Van Veen/Noppert section so could yet be a player to watch again this next week. 'The Machine' at his best is very hard to stop.
Wade hit a first 180 and looked like a man who meant business. He pinned double 20 for the opening leg. He couldn't produce Wade magic though not able to get a shot at 156 and after a good leg, Cullen broke for 1-1.
Amid all the big names going out, James Wade continues on.
Wade broke again and was looking to finally hold to go into a 3-1 lead in a race to ten. A hold he got on double 20. Wade was in sparkling form leaving a double after 12 again.
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He pinned double 20 to lead 4-1 averaging close to 108. Cullen had darts to break. He hit double 14 with Wade couldn't get a shot at 150 so he went 4-2 down.
Cullen bust 108. Wade left 65 while Cullen looked at it again and chased around the board. Wade broke back on double 10 to make it 5-2. Wade made it 6-2 to hold throw.
Wade hit a 64 checkout on double 20 to break again going 7-2 up. Wade hit a 48 checkout. Cullen hit a 140 checkout but it was a late flourish too late as Wade won through 10-3.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
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