Wonderful Wattimena comeback leaves Wade seething after European Championship classic

After Dirk van Duijvenbode and Danny Noppert, Jermaine Wattimena has made it a hatrick of Dutch in the last eight at the 2024 European Darts Championship in Dortmund. 'The Machine Gun' managed to outwit the experienced James Wade after a deciding leg thriller at the major tournament in Dortmund.

For Wattimena, it is only the second major-quarterfinal in his career. The darter previously reached the last eight at the World Grand Prix, but that was only in 2019.

The Dutchman delivered a fine comeback, as Wade led 5-1 after six legs after a 14-darter and a 109 finish, among other things. Moments later, Wade also threw out 95 to lead 6-3. With two 14-darters and a 68 finish, Wattimena then came back to 6-6 before Wade regained the lead in the 13th leg. Wattimena produced a 52 finish to make it 7-7 again. Wade narrowly missed double for a 9 darter in the next leg before the contest ultimately went all the way to a decider.

Wade was allowed to start the final leg but did not start well with only one treble in the first two visits. Wattimena set off with a 137 score and was on 124 after nine arrows. He managed to throw out that finish, allowing Wattimena to qualify for the quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon.