Raymond van Barneveld is overwhelmed by Dimitri Van den Bergh, whereas Gary Anderson suffers an upset loss to Roman Benecky; elsewhere, Steve Beaton defeats Kim Huybrechts and Daryl Gurney advances with win over Ricardo Pietreczko
Final Up to date: 28/04/23 11:39pm
Gary Anderson was overwhelmed on his return to the European Tour (Jonas Hunold/PDC Europe)
Raymond van Barneveld and Gary Anderson suffered defeats on the opening day of the Dutch Darts Championship in Leeuwarden on Friday.
Competing on residence soil, Van Barneveld went down 6-3 to Premier League star Dimitri Van den Bergh, whereas Gary Anderson suffered a shock 6-2 loss to Czech teenager Roman Benecky on his first European Tour look in virtually seven years.
Dutch legend Van Barneveld was unable to please the partisan crowd at WTC Leeuwarden, as Van den Bergh posted a elegant 105.62 common to advance to spherical two.
“This win means so much to me in opposition to among the finest gamers on the planet,” stated Van den Bergh, who will tackle Ryan Searle in Saturday’s second spherical.
“He’s the person who introduced darts to life within the Netherlands, I’ve a lot respect for him and I watched him play since I used to be a child.
“To play him right here is not straightforward; the ‘Barney Military’ have been unbelievable as all the time however I had a job to do tonight and I am glad I did it.”
Roman Benecky celebrates his win over Gary Anderson (Jonas Hunold/PDC Europe)
In the meantime, a disappointing show from Anderson noticed him common simply 87.66 as Benecky took full benefit to arrange a second-round assembly with Martin Schindler.
The opening day of the yr’s sixth European Tour occasion noticed 16 first-round ties performed throughout two classes, with the winners progressing to face one of many 16 seeded gamers in Saturday’s second spherical.
A ruthless show from European Champion Ross Smith noticed him publish a ton-plus common in whitewashing Jermaine Wattimena on residence soil.
Berry van Peer was the only Dutch winner on the opening day, as he overcame Alan Soutar 6-2 in a powerful show.
Steve Beaton got here by means of a high-quality affair with Kim Huybrechts, closing out a 6-4 victory to arrange a conflict in opposition to fourth seed Damon Heta.
Final weekend’s European Tour semi-finalist Daryl Gurney continued his resurgence as he averaged 101 and landed three ton-plus finishes in dispatching Ricardo Pietreczko 6-2.
A medical show from Gabriel Clemens noticed the German No 1 edge out Gian van Veen in a last-leg decider to arrange a conflict with Michael van Gerwen in spherical two.
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Latest Gamers Championship occasion winner Krzysztof Ratajski defeated Andy Boulton 6-4 to arrange a gathering with Peter Wright, whereas Irish teenager Dylan Slevin whitewashed Marcel Hausotter 6-0 to file his first European Tour win.
2018 Dutch Darts Championship winner Ian White ran out a 6-2 winner in opposition to Arron Monk, whereas Stephen Bunting whitewashed Adam Smith-Neale to maneuver by means of to a second-round conflict in opposition to Joe Cullen.
Madars Razma averaged 103 to defeat John O’Shea and declare his first European Tour win of 2023, whereas Graham Corridor loved a dream debut in Leeuwarden, whitewashing UK Open semi-finalist Adam Gawlas.
Elsewhere, Jim Williams averaged over 104 to finish a 6-1 success in opposition to George Killington, whereas Keane Barry and Martin Lukeman dumped out Marko Kantele and Martijn Dragt respectively.