Van Duijvenbode sends statement after Searle win: "The way I'm playing you will have to play well to beat me"

Dirk van Duijvenbode sealed a first win on the Winter Gardens stage coming from 6-3 down to see off Ryan Searle in a superb victory at the 2022 World Matchplay.

"When I was 6-4 down, I just thought am I down two legs because I had a feeling I was better but Ryan didn't start the legs very good and then went 180's and 140's. He was behind me, I missed and he took it out. It was very tough and at some point, I only thought it's one break behind and let's go," said Van Duijvenbode post match.

"It didn't feel for me like it was a 103 average, I thought it would be a 97 or 98 average so for me, it didn't feel like a statement but if a lot of people think that it's alright."

Compared to last year, Van Duijvenbode pointed out that the lack of COVID restrictions made returning to Blackpool easier but that he wasn't thinking about writing any wrongs.

"It felt easier because last year we had to be here 10 days before as we couldn't go home because of some situations. Now you just feel like you're playing well apart from one tournament in five or six, I got to at least the quarter-final. Three finals one win so I wasn't bothered about the Matchplay or whatever, just thought do my job and let's go."

He wouldn't be drawn either on potentially winning the tournament. "I'm not going to say I'm going to win it because I'll never say that but the way I'm playing you will have to play well to beat me."