Raymond van Barneveld rolled again the years to dump world No 1 Luke Humphries out of the NEO.wager European Open.
The 57-year-old Dutchman took benefit of an off night time for the reigning world champion and claimed a 6-4 victory in entrance of a raucous German crowd.
Van Barneveld produced 5 180s and defied a brace of ton-plus finishes from the highest seed to progress to the final 16 of a European Tour occasion for the primary time in 2024.
“To beat the world number one is an amazing feeling,” mirrored Van Barneveld, who will play his compatriot Gian van Veen for a spot in the quarter-finals. “Luke is an amazing player. When you’re the World Champion, you have a target on your back, but Luke doesn’t deserve that.”
Dirk van Duijvenbode powered previous reigning champion Gerwyn Price in a repeat of final yr’s last, reeling off 5 consecutive legs from 2-1 down to achieve the last-16 and increase his hopes of a World Matchplay return.
The 2023 runner-up averaged 102 and pinned six of his 9 makes an attempt at double to topple the Welshman, having additionally hit six of his seven makes an attempt in Friday’s first-round win in opposition to Gabriel Clemens.
“My confidence is not there yet, but I feel like I’m getting back to where I used to be,” declared Van Duijvenbode. “I feel determined to show people that Dirk is not done. I feel like I’m getting closer, but I’m not done, I promise you!”
Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen joined his fellow countrymen in Sunday’s final 16, after kicking off his bid for a record-extending sixth European Darts Open crown with a battling 6-4 success in opposition to Dylan Slevin.
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Richard Ashdown questions if Michael van Gerwen has misplaced the ‘need and fireplace’ to play darts forward of the World Cup
German No 1 Martin Schindler preserved house hopes with a 6-4 victory over Karel Sedlacek and Michael Smith accomplished a whitewash win in opposition to an out-of-sorts Rob Cross to arrange a gathering in opposition to Peter Wright, who received 5 straight legs in overturning a 3-1 deficit in opposition to Ritchie Edhouse.
Josh Rock produced a ton-topping common to open his problem for a second straight European Tour title, taking out a spectacular 160 checkout to wrap up a 6-3 win in opposition to Dimitri Van den Bergh, as Owen Bates continued his breakthrough run in Leverkusen by recovering from 5-3 right down to stun sixth seed Danny Noppert.
What occurs subsequent?
The third spherical of the NEO.wager European Darts Open will happen on Sunday afternoon, earlier than the match concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and last in a bumper night session on the Ostermann-Arena.
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