Sensational Van Barneveld to quarter finals Grand Slam of Darts, overconfident Van Duijvenbode eliminated | Darts

Van Barneveld needed Wednesday to warm up against Australian Simon Whitlock. He faced a 5-2 deficit in no time, but Barney fought his way back into the game sensationally. De Hagenaar, who won three times in the group stage and was in great form, even took the lead (7-6), after which it was tied to 8-8. Van Barneveld then struck hard: 10-8.

Van Barneveld will face Gerwyn Price in the quarterfinals, who kept Danny Noppert out of the last eight after a majestic comeback. The number 1 in the world faced a 7-4 deficit, but then thundered through with masterful play: 10-8. ,,This is part of it”, said Noppert. ,,It didn’t go that bad, but Pryce played very well and I was sloppy at the decisive moment.”

Van Barneveld, winner of the Grand Slam of Darts in 2012, surprised last weekend in the group stage with a victory over Gerwyn Price, the number 1 in the world. The Dutchman, himself the global number 50, had already started the tournament with a victory over Dave Chisnall. In the second match of the evening, Michel Smith also booked a place in the top eight with a win (10-8) over Rob Cross.

Van Barneveld was euphoric after his first quarter-final since 2016 (‘then we still wrote darts with sch…’). “This is unbelievable. Apparently things are never easy in my life, haha”, Van Barneveld started his analysis in front of Viaplay’s camera. “The first legs I really thought: Simon, stop for a while. He went like a rocket. But after 5-5 I dictated the game, of course I sometimes had an angel on my shoulder, but I also enforced that.”

Price realized he had gotten away well against Noppert. ,,Danny was the better player in the beginning of the game and I was lucky that I got through”, said the winner of three of the last four editions. ,,Raymond has been playing at the top level for 30 years. He knows how to win , so I have to improve myself before Friday night, otherwise Raymond will teach me a lesson.” Was in the group stage Barney earlier with 5-4 too strong for Price.

It was not Dirk van Duijvenbode’s evening. The darts player got a good beating from Joe Cullen: 4-10. The scores were close (93.47 to 95.46 in favor of Cullen), but Van Duijvenbode mainly missed his doubles. Not even a quarter hit.

Afterwards he appeared very disappointed in front of Viaplay’s cameras. ,,I thought about it too easily,’ he said. ,,I think Joe is a good player, but I think I am better. I hardly ever lose to him. This is my own fault.’ Aubergenius threw in his own words too rushed. “But I couldn’t stop that feeling. I didn’t have the aggression and the sense to do it right. I was unfairly overconfident. Incredibly stupid.”

Jermaine Wattimena and Michael van Gerwen are at the oche tonight in the knockout phase.

Nathan Aspinall – Jermaine Wattimena
Jonny Clayton – Alan Southar
Michael van Gerwen – Josh Rock
Luke Humphries – Ross Smith
(Best of 19 Legs)