Jarno Bottenberg on win at Dutch Open: ''I don't think anyone expected it''

Jarno Bottenberg won the 2024 Dutch Open last Sunday night. Bottenberg defeated Wesley Plaisier 3-2 in the final.

In a post-match interview with Double Top, he talked about his victory and the upcoming season. Bottenberg made his debut at Lakeside last December, but was eliminated in the second round. So it was a big surprise that the 22-year-old Dutchman took the title in Assen. "The further into the tournament, the more you start thinking about it, but it has to happen first," he begins.

In the final, Bottenberg had to play against World Masters winner Wesley Plaisier, who was seen as one of the big favourites for the title. Bottenberg, however, mainly relied on his own strength. ''I'm not so easily scared of anyone, I know what I can do. However, you know in advance, if you have to play against Wesley, that you are not going to win easily.''

In the decisive fifth set of the final, Bottenberg led 2-1 in legs. A decider seemed to be coming until Bottenberg surprised with a 131 finish for the match, which went out via tops tops. ''I don't know where that 131 came from, but it was in there nicely.''

Bottenberg had to get through 12 rounds at the Dutch Open for his final victory. "Especially the first day of the tournament is very tough. Then every round is 3 hours in between before you can throw again, then you have to make sure you stay focused,'' he explains. ''They are pretty tight oches and there are a lot of people behind you. It was just surviving those rounds first. When I had to, I did throw well.''

The Dutchman is already sure of participating in Lakeside, so he can take it easy next season on the WDF circuit. ''I will go to some WDF tournaments in the area, to get to Lakeside as a seeded player. Furthermore, I will play on the Development Tour and the Challenge Tour.''

Bottenberg had also gone to Q-School earlier this year, but he failed to grab a Tour Card.''It was the first time for me, so it took some getting used to of course.''

Bottenberg managed to pick up only 1 point in the final stage of European Q-School. ''It was not really my week. It is a week where everything has to fall, if that doesn't happen you are out of luck.''