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
Last Updated: 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 dwelling 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 loads to me towards the most effective gamers on the planet,” stated Van den Bergh, who will tackle Ryan Searle in Saturday’s second spherical.
“He is 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 simple; the ‘Barney Army’ have been incredible as all the time however I had a job to do tonight and I’m glad I did it.”
Roman Benecky celebrates his win over Gary Anderson (Jonas Hunold/PDC Europe)
Meanwhile, 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 dwelling 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 way of a high-quality affair with Kim Huybrechts, closing out a 6-4 victory to arrange a conflict towards fourth seed Damon Heta.
Last 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 scientific 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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Recent Players 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 document his first European Tour win.
2018 Dutch Darts Championship winner Ian White ran out a 6-2 winner towards Arron Monk, whereas Stephen Bunting whitewashed Adam Smith-Neale to maneuver by way of to a second-round conflict towards Joe Cullen.
Madars Razma averaged 103 to defeat John O’Shea and declare his first European Tour win of 2023, whereas Graham Hall 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 towards George Killington, whereas Keane Barry and Martin Lukeman dumped out Marko Kantele and Martijn Dragt respectively.
