Michael Van Gerwen wins European Darts Open

Wim Blokpoel - This weekend the fifth PDC European Tour event of the year was played in Leverkusen: The European Darts Open. 5 Dutchmen started in round 1.

Luc Peters made his second European Tour appearence as he played against Darren Penhall in round 1. Unfortunately, Penhall played one of the best games of his career ans there was nothing Peters could do, as he lost 0-6 to Penhall who averaged over a ton. Kevin Doets started the evening sessionl as he made his Eurotour debut against South African Devon Petersen. Doets was 2-4 down, but ‘Hawkeye’ fought back and won the next 3 legs as he led 5-4. However it became 5-5, and in the 11th leg it was Petersen who got over the line as Doets lost 5-6.

Maik Kuivenhoven took on Stephen Bunting in round 1. Bunting couldn’t get going at all as Kuivenhoven took a comfortable 4-1 lead. However, Kuivenhoven then collapses himself as Bunting came back and Kuivenhoven only led 5-4. In leg 10, it were 3 missed matchdarts from Kuivenhoven, as we went into a 11th and deciding leg. There was more drama there as Kuivenhoven missed another 6 matchdarts, and Bunting missed 4 himself but in the end it was Kuivenhoven who fell over the line, won 6-5 and went through to round 2. An all Dutch first round was played between Jermaine Wattimena and Berry van Peer. Wattimena took a 4-2 lead, but ‘The Machine Gun’ then missed loads and loads of doubles, and ‘Bionic’ Van Peer punished him and made it 4-4. Van Peer then won leg 9 as well, and also won leg 10 to win it 6-4! 

4 Dutchmen left in round 2, and we started the last 32 with an all Dutch clash between Dirk van Duijvenbode, and Maik Kuivenhoven. 2 great mates, and as often that resulted in a not so great game. Especially Kuivenhoven couldn’t get going at all, and Van Duijvenbode rushes into a 6-1 victory while only averaging 88,2. Berry van Peer took on James Wade, who once again showee the great form he is in, as he blew Van Peer away who lost 1-6 with Wade averaging 102,3. 

In the evening session, Michael van Gerwen started his tournament against Daryl Gurney, MVG was in good form having already won 2 Eurotours this year. Van Gerwen saw himself go 0-2 down, but then he woke up and hit a 14-darter, a 104-finish and an 11-darter and levelled at 3-3. In leg 7 Van Gerwen hit 8 perfect darts! Unfortunately he missed double 12 for the 9, but a 10-darter will do. 4-3 became 5-3, and another 11-darter in leg 9 saw Van Gerwen beat Gurney 6-3 with an enormous average of 113,8!!

In the last 16, Van Duijvenbode took on Masters Champion Joe Cullen. It was an incredible game for Van Duijvenbode who hit a 13-darter to break Cullen, a 130-finish and eventually won 6-4 with an average of 106,9!! Van Gerwen also had a great last 16 victory, as at 4-4 he won the last 2 legs to beat Jonny Clayton 6-4.

In the quarter-finals, Van Duijvenbode and Van Gerwen played against each other. At 5-4, Van Duijvenbode got 5 matchdarts to beat MVG but he missed them all!! Van Gerwen made 5-5, and in the deciding leg it were 2 more missed matchdarts from Van Duijvenbode, as Van Gerwen punished him and escaped with a 6-5 victory! In the semi-finals, MVG played Look Humphries, who beat him 7-0 the last time they met. At 2-2, we knew that wouldn’t happen again and indeed it did not: Van Gerwen dominated and won five legs in a row for a 7-2 win!!

Into the final, where Dutch number one Van Gerwen played against Belgian number one Dimitri van den Bergh. Van Gerwen hit a 164-finish in the start of the game, and after 8 legs it was 4-4. It was Van Gerwen who managed to break the throw, and take a 6-4 lead. 6-4 became 7-5, and ‘Mighty Mike’ held throw to win the final 8-5 and become the European Darts Open Champion for the fifth time already, picking up his third Eurotour title of the year!