Van Duijvenbode is already looking ahead after losing final: "Although I was a little grumpier than usual"

Dirk van Duijvenbode failed to win a European Tour tournament for the first time last Sunday. In the final of the European Darts Open he went down 8-7 against Gerwyn Price.

Van Duijvenbode missed three matchdarts in the final and that took a while to process. "I didn't have a great time today, but unfortunately it's part of it. People then say: you were so close. Basically I was already there, but I was too nervous actually and too rushed because of that," Van Duijvenbode told De Telegraaf.

The 30-year-old Dutchman had the upper hand almost the whole time in the final. "In principle, yes, but then you have to finish it. So that's a piece of experience and had nothing to do with Price. It's just a big goal for me to win a podium tournament like that. I should have taken a few seconds more. And then it probably would have gone in. That's what I regret the most, that I am in too much of a hurry. But it's no different."

Price then did finish it off. "True, but I also had two decisive legs this tournament that I threw out in 11 and 13 darts, but I could start those legs myself. Not now and then he throws such a top leg. I wasn't even close. Then it just happened. I am not very dissatisfied, but I am dissatisfied with the defeat in the final. But I should have lost the semifinals too. So I can put it back into perspective a bit, but if I actually have it (that title, ed.), I have to take it too."

Van Duijvenbode is already looking ahead again. "Next weekend awaits another Euro Tour (International Darts Open in Riesa, Germany, ed.), so I'll just take the good stuff with me. You also have to focus on that in our sport, because you lose more tournaments than you win. It's about how you deal with those defeats. I'm always like: you can be disappointed on Monday -and also just train-, but on Tuesday you are busy again with your next tournament. Otherwise you drive yourself crazy, if you get stuck in this."

"That will work for me, too. I have to say that normally I do get rid of that feeling earlier, but now I was a little grumpier than usual. Usually it's gone by Monday morning, now it just has to be Tuesday morning. I really will take the positive out of this, but with this hangover I have little use for that yet. You have to put things into perspective, but not too quickly, I think. It's okay to be grumpy sometimes."