Michael van Gerwen has already been eliminated in the eighth finals at the Dutch Darts Championship in Zwolle on Sunday. The three-time world champion lost to Callan Rydz. Danny Noppert stunted in his own country by beating reigning world champion Peter Wright.
For a long time, 33-year-old Van Gerwen went hand in hand with Rydz, who was ten years younger, but in the penultimate leg it went wrong for the leader of Dutch darts. He missed a double five times, after which the number 26 of the Order of Merit broke him. Van Gerwen couldn’t undo that break arrears.
Van Gerwen reached the eighth finals in Zwolle by beating Jelle Klaasen on Saturday. De Brabander refused to shake his compatriot’s hand because he “doesn’t like him to the bone”. That is because Klaasen had sent nude photos to the sister of Van Gerwen’s wife. He was sentenced to community service for this in 2012. He also had to pay 400 euros in damages.
For Van Gerwen, the defeat against Rydz does not come completely out of the blue. After a strong spring, he has struggled with his form in recent weeks. Five of his last six matches have been lost. He is already on five tournament victories this year and won three Premier League rounds.
Later in the day Dirk van Duijvenbode will be in action in Zwolle. The Dutch number sixteen in the world ranking will compete in the eighth finals against Dave Chisnall, who reached the semi-finals of the World Cup a year ago.
Danny Noppert stunted against Peter Wright.
Danny Noppert stunted against Peter Wright. Photo: Getty Images
Noppert stunt against Wright
Noppert caused a resounding surprise in the capital of Overijssel by beating Wright in the eighth finals. De Fries was 6-5 too strong for the reigning world champion in a blistering match.
The 31-year-old Noppert took a 1-4 lead and looked like he was on his way to a humiliating win over Wright, but the Scotsman fought his way back into the game and even took a 5-4 lead. Then Noppert took the last two legs against the number one in the world.
For Noppert, the victory over Wright is a new high point in the season of his big breakthrough. In March, he won the prestigious UK Open, which was his first major title of his career. In Zwolle he plays in the quarterfinals against Boris Krcmar from Croatia.