Van Duijvenbode jokes on Smith nine-dart finish miss: "I wanted it to go on because then I'll be on YouTube, good for the sponsors"

Dirk van Duijvenbode pounced on a doubling disaster from Michael Smith to reach the Quarter-Finals of the 2022 World Matchplay in an 11-7 win and speaking afterwards, he berated his display saying he won't win majors playing like he did.

"The only thing I always say is play well and eventually you get the results. I played well in the beginning but yeah I just feel a little bit frustrated and lucky because I didn't beat a great Michael Smith but I'll take a win and got a day off as you prepare for the quarters. I need to be ready," said Van Duijvenbode post match.

"I will win the majors but you won't win them with a 93 average, I can hit a 100 average every game, if I hit a 93 I just feel disappointed because I'm so much better than that."

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Playing his World Cup teammate next, Van Duijvenbode was asked about practicing with Danny Noppert and he said that it's not been possible but that friendship goes out the window.

"Well he lives two and a half hours away from me so didn't practice together obviously not. His apartment is four miles away still too far. We like each other but we're both professionals and we both want to win, there won't be any friends, I think he will play 100 average and if I want to beat him I need to play 102 or 103 average so I'm trying that."

Michael Smith missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish and Van Duijvenbode saw the funny side about it not going in and was also shocked at 'Bully Boy's overall display.

"I wanted it to go in because then I'll be on YouTube, good views good for the sponsors. I like it if they stick. I didn't know what he was doing, it was just 58, 90, 59, 60's and I was doing quite alright. I didn't even feel right but I had an 11 and a 12-darter in the first four legs I was just like well that's alright."

He also joked about looking ahead to the longer format saying he prefers it shorter.

"I takes too long, I'd rather play first to four. I've never played games like this leg wise, I've never played first to 15. Most I've played is first to 11 tonight."

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