Van Gerwen showed a high level against his compatriot, especially in the first legs of the second session. He quickly walked away from Van Veen, 13 years younger, who was not quite there happy seemed to be on the oche. At the end of the second session, when it was only 6-4 for Van Gerwen, he even seemed to indicate that things were not going well due to a wound on his index finger.
Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen and Danny Noppert to the European Championship quarter-finals, Luke Littler already eliminated
After a short break, Van Veen seemed to appear fresher again in the third session. But he had to make up a break against the excellent thrower Mighty Mike. Van Veen succeeded in this because he continued to raise his level. But immediately after making it 7-7, Van Gerwen struck again with a break. Van Veen’s answer came just as quickly, because Van Gerwen failed to make it 9-7 with two arrows on double-16.
Van Gerwen impressed a little later with a 156 finish, but because Van Veen had started he needed a break to reach the final. The tension was noticeable among the Vlijmen resident, who did not have a happy evening with his doubles anyway. At 9-9 he missed three chances to finish it off. Van Veen then finished it off with a break.
Danny Noppert in semi-finals
Noppert was the third Dutchman in the semi-finals. He met the number 1 in the world: Luke Humphries. The Englishman showed why he is at the top of the rankings. Because although he didn’t even throw his best game, he fatally ran away to 5-0 in the first session.
TheFreeze had to change his approach and did an excellent job in the second session by winning the first three legs in a row. So after the second session there was suddenly a not hopeless 6-4 (for Humphries) on the board. Noppert continued happily after the second break with a few impressive finishes above 100. He walked away to an 8-6.
But Humphries also showed he could fight. Just like in the beginning, the 2024 world champion won five legs in a row and secured a place in the final.