3 Dutch winners in round 2 German Darts Grand Prix

Wim Blokpoel - Yesterday the last 32 of the 2022 PDC German Darts Grand Prix in Munich was played. 6 Dutchmen were still in the field.

In the afternoon session, first Dutchman in action was Dirk van Duijvenbode. ‘Aubergenius’ started his tournament against Croatian number one Boris Krcmar. At 2-2 Van Duijvenbode broke the throw with a 112-finish, but Krcmar broke straight back with a 106-finish for 3-3. 3-3 became 4-4, and 4-4 became 5-5 as we went into a deciding leg. It was the Dutchman who won the deciding leg as Van Duijvenbode beat Krcmar 6-5 and went into the last 16.

Wesley Plaisier, the man with the highest average of round 1, played against Masters Champion Joe Cullen in round 2. At 3-3, Cullen broke Plaisier’s throw as Plaisier was 3-4 behind, but Plaisier broke straight back to 4-4. Cullen could barely find any treble, as Plaisier easily went 5-4 up and in leg 10 Plaisier ended his massive 6-4 win over Joe Cullen, to reach the last 16 of an Eurotour event for the first time in his career! It will be an all Dutch third round, as Plaisier takes on Van Duijvenbode.

‘The Black Cobra’ Jeffrey de Zwaan, took on Luke Humphries in round 2. The scoring from both was great, but it was De Zwaan who finished better as he took a 4-2 lead. Humphries fought back to 4-4, but in leg 9 it was JDZ who got the chance to take the lead, however he missed as he was 4-5 down. In leg 10, De Zwaan couldn’t find the trebles and it was a 4-6 defeat for De Zwaan, despite a decent display. 

In the evening, Five Time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld played against Australian Damon Heta. At 2-2 it was The Heat who broke Barney’s throw as he saw himself 2-3 down. Heta managed to keep that break going, as 2-3 became 3-4 and 4-5, and Heta managed to win the game as Van Barneveld lost 4-6.

Dutch number one Michael van Gerwen started his tournament against ‘Hollywood’ Chris Dobey. Soon, Van Gerwen was 1-3 down as Dobey was averaging way above the ton! Van Gerwen managed to make it 3-3 though, but Dobey got another break in an amazing game of darts and at 3-5, it was Dobey who had 93 left and got 2 darts on double 18, but he missed them both as Van Gerwen made 4-5. 4-5 became 5-5, after an 11-darter from Mighty Mike. In leg 11 it was Van Gerwen who took out 93 as he won 6-5 after surviving two matchdarts! In the last 16, MVG will play against reigning two time European Champion Rob Cross.

Last game of the night, saw Berry van Peer take on Worlds finalist Michael Smith. At 3-3, Van Peer missed darts at doubles for a 4-3 lead, as he saw himself go 3-4 down. This is when Smith woke up, as he hit an 11-darter and a 13-darter and it was a 3-6 defeat for Van Peer, but he still had a great European Tour debut.