Gian van Veen has qualified for the second round at the
European Darts Matchplay in Trier. In a Dutch clash, the 21-year-old talent proved too strong for Christian Kist. On Saturday afternoon Van Veen will play Damon Heta in the second round.
Van Veen immediately broke Kist with a 12-darter, but then had to be broken again after a fine 76 finish by Kist. With a 126 check-out Van Veen managed to break his compatriot again with a 12-darter.
The PDC Development Tour frontrunner then held his own leg via double 8, before breaking Kist again with a 122 finish while 'The Lipstick' was waiting on tops. Kist did not let up and came back to 4-2 with an 11-darter.
Van Veen then had a chance to hurt Kist again with a high finish, but from 156, the double 18 was missed for 5-2. Kist then brought the deficit back further by notching a 66 finish for 4-3. However, the initiative was still with Van Veen, who had one break lead left.
A third 100+ finish for Van Veen came in the eighth leg. After four innings he was on 104, and that check-out was decisively thrown out via triple 19, single 15 and double 16. Van Veen then ended the game in strong fashion with a 12-darter.
Van Veen recorded an average of 103.92, compared to a creditable 99.18 for Kist. Also on the finishes the two Dutchmen produced excellent figures. Van Veen had a finish percentage of 75 percent, while Kist did not miss a single dart on the double and was 100 percent on the doubles.
Vitezslav Sedlak took care of Daniel Klose's elimination with a rock-solid performance. The Czech qualifier threw an average of over 102 and a finishing percentage of no less than 85.7 percent.
With an 11-darter and a 127 finish, Sedlak took a 3-2 lead against Klose. The German then missed one chance at double 18 for 3-3, before Sedlak doubled the lead via double 6. With a 16-darter and a 13-darter, Sedlak eventually made the final score 6-3. The Czech will take on Joe Cullen in the second round.
In an all English clash,
Ryan Joyce proved far too strong for Ted Evetts, who did not have his sights set on finishing (1/7). Joyce's check-outs (46 percent) were a lot better done, giving Joyce a 6-1 win. 'Relentless' faces Dave Chisnall in the last 32.
