No Dutch quarter-finalists in PC27

Wim Blokpoel - Friday this week’s Super Series was ended with Players Championship 27.

Michael van Gerwen started the day against Mark McGeeney. The Dutch number one came in danger, but still went through as he won 6-5. Round 2 went easier for MVG as he averaged 106,8 in a 6-1 demolition of David Evans. In his board final Van Gerwen had a 6-5 win again, this time against ‘Relentless’ Ryan Joyce. Into the last 16, Van Gerwen waa looking for his very first quarter-final of the week. However, an average of 98,9 was not enough as he lost 2-6 against Belgian Kim Huybrechts, who beat Van Gerwen for the first time in 5 years. Not a single quarter-final for MVG this week, very disappointing for him.

MVG’s World Cup partner Dirk van Duijvenbode did have a great week so far, which he continued with a 6-3 win against Nick Kenny. An all Dutch clash in the last 64 between DVD and JDZ (Jeffrey de Zwaan) next, which Van Duijvenbode won 6-2 with an average of 98. In round 3 ‘Aubergenius’ had an impressive 6-3 win over Austrian Mensur Suljovic. In round 4 Van Duijvenbode also lost though, 3-6 to Australian Damon Heta. 

Another quarter-finalist yesterday, Vincent van der Voort, also started great: he whitewashed Darren Webster 6-0 in round 1! A round later a ton average saw VVDv win 6-3 against Irish Ciaran Teehan. In the last 32 ‘The Dutch Destroyer’ averaged 101,8 and that was just enough to beat Callan Rydz 6-5, who averaged 102,7 himself! Round 4 was the end for Dutchman nr 3 as Van der Voort lost 4-6 to Brendan Dolan.

Maik Kuivenhoven and five time world champ Raymond van Barneveld played each other in round 1. A poor game, as both Dutchmen averaged just over 80, was won by Kuivenhoven 6-3. In the last 64 Kuivenhoven comfortably beat Gary Blades 6-2 going into his board final. Here he played eventual champion Michael Smith who won 6-1 against Kuivenhoven while averaging 100,9. Still a very good week for Maik Kuivenhoven though who we will see at the World Series Finals in Amsterdam!

Bsfore his defeat to Van Duijvenbode, De Zwaan averaged 95,7 in a 6-2 win against the legendary Steve Beaton. Danny Noppert just edged out Willie O’Connor 6-5 in round 1, before he ended a very disappointing week by losing 5-6 to Ricky Evans, having missed multiple matchdarts. Dutch talent Kevin Doets averaged 97,3 while beating Peter Jacques 6-3! In the last 64 Doets lost 3-6 to Scotty 2 Hotty Waites. Jermaine Wattimena from Westervoort had a very important first round win, as he edged out Keegan Brown 6-5 to bring himself closer to the 2022 World Championship! In round 2 Wattimena lost 5-6 himself to Scott Mitchell. In an all Dutch first round Geert Nentjes edged out Berry van Peer 6-5. Round 2 was the end for Nentjes though as he also lost 5-6, to Scottish Jim McEwan. Final Dutch win of the week came from Almere’s Ron Meulenkamp who averaged 96 in a 6-4 win against Belgian Mike de Decker. A third 5-6 defeat in round 2 was from Meulenkamp, as he lost to Suljovic.

Martijn Kleermaker also ended a disappointing week. He lost 5-6 to Belgian Geert de Vos in round 1. More first round Dutch defeats came from: Derk Telnekes (3-6 against Martin Schindler), Jelle Klaasen (3-6 against Martin Thomas), Niels Zonneveld (3-6 against Aaron Beeney) and Luc Peters (4-6 against Nathan Aspinall).