Van Duijvenbode happy with Van Barneveld's practice offer before World Grand Prix: 'I just had to take it with both hands'

Dirk van Duijvenbode will play against Simon Whitlock in the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix on Sunday evening. For the Dutchman, it is his maiden semifinal in a major.

The Titan has already won three times during the tournament against top 16 players. First it was Mensur Suljovic who had to bow to Van Duijvenbode after a tough match. Then also Dimitri van den Bergh and Gary Anderson went out against the current number 73 in the PDC Order of Merit.

In the run-up to the World Grand Prix, Van Duijvenbode trained together with his illustrious compatriot Raymond van Barneveld. The five-time world champion himself offered to practice with him.

"Raymond texted me and said; if you want to practice, I am here for you. I thought that was really nice and beautiful, that he now did it the other way around. I just had to take that opportunity to practice with him with both hands, especially because he has been at this tournament many times, '' Van Duijvenbode tells De Telegraaf.

With a place in the last four, the part-time player who works as a manager at an Aubergine farm has already earned at least 25,000 pounds.

That amount will be doubled if he reaches the final at the World Grand Prix on Sunday evening. An invitation to the Grand Slam of Darts will also follow. However, Van Duijvenbode tries to spend as little time as possible on this, partly thanks to the advice of Michael van Gerwen.

“He always says that you shouldn't be busy with money, but that you just have to want to win and then the money will come. That's how I deal with it. Of course I really know what I earn when I win, but I am not concerned with that during the game. I just want to deliver a good performance and if you deliver it, it will also be rewarded. ''