Dirk van Duijvenbode has advanced to the quarter-finals of the European Darts Championship in Dortmund, following a strong performance. After defeating Martin Schindler 6-3, he continued his winning streak with a 10-5 victory over Daryl Gurney.
This win is particularly significant for Van Duijvenbode, who has been recovering from a shoulder injury sustained late last year. It’s his first appearance in the quarter-finals of a ranking major since November 2022. Two years ago, he reached the semi-finals of the European Darts Championship, and he aims to defend that achievement in this edition.
The match against Gurney hinged on finishing, with both players struggling on the doubles. However, Van Duijvenbode managed to capitalize on Gurney’s missed opportunities. In the fourth leg, Gurney missed six chances to hold his throw, allowing Van Duijvenbode to convert his fourth break opportunity for a 3-1 lead. He then extended his advantage to 4-1 with a 13-darter and maintained a 5-2 lead with a 90 checkout in the seventh leg. Van Duijvenbode secured another break in the eighth leg, taking advantage of Gurney’s continued struggles on the doubles.
Before the break, Gurney narrowed the gap to 6-4 with a 15-darter and a 13-darter. After the interval, Van Duijvenbode needed a 21-darter to make it 7-4 but missed four chances to deliver the knockout blow, allowing Gurney to come back to 7-5 with a 19-darter. However, Van Duijvenbode quickly responded, hitting another 13-darter to make it 8-5, followed by another to extend his lead to 9-5. He clinched the match with a 75 finish in the fifteenth leg.
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Van Duijvenbode will face Luke Woodhouse in the quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon. Woodhouse secured his spot after defeating Ross Smith and Ryan Searle.
