Semi-Final for Veenstra at Lakeside

Wim Blokpoel - Last weekend, the 2022 WDF World Championship in Lakeside came to an end.

On friday it was quarter-finals day with two Dutch players in it: Richard Veenstra and Aileen de Graaf!

Richard Veenstra played against Number one seed Belgian Brian Raman. The first det was very tense, but it was Veenstra who narrowly won it 3-2 in legs. The man from Ossenzijl then comfortably won the next set 3-1 to take a 2-0 lead in sets. Raman fought back though, and won set 3 3-1 himself, before hitting a 14-darter in a deciding leg in set 4 to make it back to 2-2. In set 5 it was 2-2 in legs again, but then Veenstra hit a brilliant 13-darter for a 3-2 lead. In set 6 it was another last leg, and now Veenstra even managed to throw a 10-darter, missing the double for a 9-darter! But a 10-darter will do, as Veenstra wins it 4-2 in sets and goes through to his second Lakeside semi-final! 

Richard Veenstra 4-2 Brian Raman (3-2, 3-1, 1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2)

Averages:

Richard Veenstra. 94,8

Brian Raman. 89,1

In the women event, Aileen de Graaf played her quarter-final against 18 year old English talent Beau Greaves. De Graaf won the first leg, but then it was Greaves who rushed into a 3-1 win to go 1-0 up in sets. In set 2, Greaves even won legs in 15, 16 and 18 darts as she won the game 2-0 in sets, winning 6 legs in a row with De Graaf only having won one leg. It is no surprise, that Greaves eventually won the title to become the youngest World Darts Champion ever.

Aileen de Graaf 0-2 Beau Greaves (1-3, 0-3)

Averages:

Aileen de Graaf. 76,4

Beau Greaves. 85,8

Saturday was semi-finals day as Richard Veenstra took on Northern Irish Neil Duff. Veenstra started where he left, with a 13-darter but it was Duff who won the first set 3-1 in legs. Veenstra did win the second set easily 3-0 to level at 1-1 in sets. Duff won set 3 again 3-1 in legs thanks to an 11 and 13-darter! Veenstra did manage to level again, at 2-2 but it was Duff who took the lead once more 3-2. In set 6 it was 2-2 in legs, and it was The Duff Man who hit a 14-darter as Veenstra saw himself 2-4 behind, one set away from going out of the tournament. In set 7 Duff won legs in 12, 14 and 16 darts to knock Veenstra out 2-5, as Neil Duff eventually crowned himself World Champion on sunday.

Richard Veenstra 2-5 Neil Duff (1-3, 3-0, 1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 2-3, 0-3)

Averages:

Richard Veenstra. 89,3

Neil Duff. 93,8