Darts results: Raymond van Barneveld to face Michael van Gerwen in the Dutch Darts Masters
Raymond van Barneveld raised the roof with a 6-3 victory over Michael Smith at the Dutch Darts Masters as he set up a last 16 clash with Michael van Gerwen.
The second day of the seventh European Tour event of 2019 in Zwolle saw Dutch legend Van Barneveld continue his quest for a final ranking title in the Netherlands before his retirement at the end of the year.
The five-time World Champion delighted the thousands of adoring fans packed into the Ijsselhallen arena with a first big-stage win against Michael Smith in over two years.
"Of course it's special, this crowd is amazing - the best crowd ever in Holland," said Van Barneveld, who sealed victory with a 100 finish.
"They make it easy for me to perform, I love them all. It’s my last time here in The Netherlands, ranking wise, and tonight was absolutely phenomenal.
"Michael has just won the Premier League, he’s a phenomenal player, but we’re ready for the fight tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it."
Van Barneveld will now face former World Cup of Darts partner Van Gerwen in Sunday afternoon's Last 16, after Van Gerwen got his campaign for a sixth consecutive Dutch Darts Masters title off to the perfect start.
The newly-crowned five-time Premier League Champion also received an overwhelming ovation from the Dutch crowd, as Van Gerwen landed finishes of 148 and 134 in a 6-2 victory over William O'Connor.
"I don't need motivation to play in front of a crowd like this, they are amazing," said world number one Van Gerwen, who averaged 106.88 to O'Connor's 103.51.
"I played well, I didn't make any mistakes and I'm glad to have performed.
"I'm happy because my wife is here to see me play and now I will enjoy this moment before looking forward to tomorrow."
Following Friday's first round of the £140,000 PDC European Tour event, a dramatic Saturday saw the 16 seeded players enter the tournament to face the winners from Day One.
Jermaine Wattimena, who will partner Van Gerwen in June's World Cup of Darts, ran out a 6-4 winner over Danny Noppert in an engrossing all-Dutch affair.
Wattimena will now meet European Darts Grand Prix Champion Ian White, who survived five match darts from Mickey Mansell to run out a relieved 6-5 winner and begin his bid for a fourth successive European Tour final.
Vincent Van der Voort became the fourth Dutchman to advance to the Last 16 with a 6-3 victory over Mensur Suljovic, and he will face German number one Max Hopp, who ruthlessly secured the only whitewash win of the day against Joe Cullen.
In-form fourth seed Gerwyn Price stormed through with a 103.07 average in a 6-1 demolition of rival Krzysztof Ratajski to set up a meeting with Brendan Dolan, who fended off a spirited fight back from Stephen Bunting to win 6-4.
Sixth seed Peter Wright defied a comeback from Ritchie Edhouse to secure a 6-4 triumph and begin his bid for a first Dutch European Tour title, and he will play Simon Whitlock after the Australian number one produced a 103.51 average to see off the challenge of impressive German debutant Florian Hempel 6-3.
German Darts Championship runner-up Ricky Evans landed three ton-plus finishes, including a 125 using two bullseyes, to claim a 6-2 victory over Dutch youngster Danny van Trijp, and he will take on Dave Chisnall, who ran out a comfortable 6-2 winner over Steve Beaton.
A royal display from Mervyn King saw him dump out third seed Daryl Gurney with an emphatic 6-1 victory to set up a tie with Rowby-John Rodriguez, as the Austrian backed up Friday's 108.79 first round average with another eye-catching display in his 6-2 defeat of Darren Webster.
Sweden's Dennis Nilsson, who won his first European Tour match since September 2017 on Friday, battled his way to a 6-5 win over 12th seed Jonny Clayton.
Nilsson will face two-time ProTour event winner Glen Durrant, who received a Bye into the Third Round due to James Wade's withdrawal.
Sunday's third and final day of the Dutch Darts Masters will see the last 16 matches take place in the afternoon session, before the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in the evening.
Saturday results & Sunday schedule
Saturday May 25
Second Round (Best of 11 legs)
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
- Brendan Dolan 6-4 Stephen Bunting
- Simon Whitlock 6-3 Florian Hempel
- Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 Danny Noppert
- Ricky Evans 6-2 Danny van Trijp
- Dennis Nilsson 6-5 Jonny Clayton
- Gerwyn Price 6-1 Krzysztof Ratajski
- Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-2 Darren Webster
Evening Session
- Dave Chisnall 6-2 Steve Beaton
- Ian White 6-5 Mickey Mansell
- Max Hopp 6-0 Joe Cullen
- Michael van Gerwen 6-2 William O'Connor
- Mervyn King 6-1 Daryl Gurney
- Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Michael Smith
- Peter Wright 6-4 Ritchie Edhouse
- Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Mensur Suljovic
- (Glen Durrant receives a Bye into the Third Round due to James Wade's withdrawal)
Sunday May 26
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 11 legs)
- Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
- Dave Chisnall v Ricky Evans
- Glen Durrant v Dennis Nilsson
- Gerwyn Price v Brendan Dolan
- Ian White v Jermaine Wattimena
- Vincent van der Voort v Max Hopp
- Peter Wright v Simon Whitlock
- Mervyn King v Rowby-John Rodriguez
Evening Session (1815 GMT)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 11 legs)
- Van Gerwen/Van Barneveld v Chisnall/Evans
- Durrant/Nilsson v Price/Dolan
- White/Wattimena v Van der Voort/Hopp
- Wright/Whitlock v King/Rodriguez
Semi-Finals (Best of 13 legs)
- Two matches, played in draw bracket order
Final (Best of 15 legs)
- Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2
Related Darts Content
MOST READ
Next Off
Fixtures & Results
