Van Barneveld shows support for Humphries after whistling from fans: ''Luke doesn’t deserve that, he's a fantastic guy''

Raymond van Barneveld reached the last sixteen of a European Tour tournament for the first time this season on Saturday night. The 57-year-old Dutchman moved into the final day of the European Darts Open after a 6-4 victory over reigning world champion Luke Humphries.

It was mainly the doubles that broke Humphries down. The Englishman recorded a finishing percentage of only 22 percent, while Van Barneveld had a finishing percentage of 40 percent.

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In the first leg, Humphries already missed seven doubles to get on the scoreboard. Van Barneveld took profit with his second dart on the double and then doubled his lead with a 14-dart leg. However 'Cool Hand Luke' fought his way back into the match with a 12-dart leg and a 14-darter to get back to 2-2.

Van Barneveld then regained the lead with a 14-darter, before Humphries tied the score again with a 13-darter. Then it was Van Barneveld who managed to produce a 13-darter to make it 4-3. Humphries then levelled the score again with a 109 finish.

Humphries then failed to break the Dutchman in the ninth leg. The world number one missed two chances on tops, after which Van Barneveld managed to reach 5-4 via double 6. Humphries missed four more doubles in the tenth leg to force a deciding leg. Van Barneveld then hit the double 10 to take the win.

''To beat the world number one is an amazing feeling,'' Van Barneveld said in his stage interview afterwards. “I keep believing in myself. I feel relaxed, and when you’re relaxed, you can achieve anything.”

Humphries was gone from the stage very quickly after the match concluded. 'Cool Hand Luke' was whistled heavily at times by the German fans. Van Barneveld stood up for him. ''Luke is an amazing player. When you’re the World Champion, you have a target on your back, but Luke doesn’t deserve that. He’s a fantastic guy and we’re good friends.''

Van Barneveld will take on Gian van Veen in the third round of this tournament. The third round of the European Darts Open will take place on Sunday afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a bumper evening session at the Ostermann-Arena.