Gian van Veen has advanced to the quarterfinals of the
European Darts Open at the expense of
Raymond van Barneveld. 'GVV The Giant' won the Dutch clash at the Euro Tour tournament in Leverkusen convincingly with 6-1.
Van Barneveld won in the second round against reigning world champion Luke Humphries on Saturday. Against Van Veen the five-time world champion started by winning the first leg, but after that the match quickly went the way of the strong playing Van Veen. The 22-year-old Van Veen took the lead with a 13-darter and a 74 finish and then made it 3-1 with a 12-darter. In the fifth leg, Van Barneveld missed two chances to reduce the deficit to 2-3, after which Van Veen hit the double 10 to extend the lead to 4-1.
Van Veen then threw a 15-darter in the sixth leg for 5-1. Van Barneveld had chances to extend the match in the seventh leg, but missed three chances on double 16. Van Veen then ended the match with a 16-darter.
In the quarterfinals, Van Veen will take on
Ross Smith. Smudger' dealt with Ross Smith in a spectacular match. It was 6-5 for Smith, who posted an average of 106.39. Rock averaged 101.40 himself.
Smith gained a break lead in the third leg by throwing out 96, but Rock broke him back in the eighth leg with a 65 finish. Both men then held their own leg, necessitating a deciding leg. Rock missed two match darts in the final leg before Smith got the win over the line.
In a clash between two former world champions,
Michael Smith made it to the quarter-finals after a 6-4 win over
Peter Wright. 'Snakebite' led 3-1 earlier in the match, but lost his break in the eighth leg. With a 17-darter and a 14-darter, Smith then secured the victory.