Dirk van Duijvenbode produced a stunning comeback to dump out Luke Humphries 10-9 and reach the quarter-finals of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, completing a double Dutch delight on Saturday afternoon at the AFAS Live.
Humphries looked likely to win for the most part, but a late break for Van Duijvenbode proved the catalyst for a deciding-leg victory. Van Duijvenbode hit double 20 for 1-0 before double six made it 1-1. He left 25 and hit it for 2-1, then led 3-2 with an 80 checkout, only for Humphries to respond with an 81 checkout for 3-3. Humphries surged, breaking for 4-3 on double 18 after Van Duijvenbode missed 81, and held on double 10 for 5-3. He broke again for 6-3, pinning 65, but missed chances for 7-3, and Van Duijvenbode broke back for 6-4. Van Duijvenbode held on double 10 for 6-5 down, but Humphries pinned 94 to go 7-5 up and three away from the finish. A 35 checkout made it 8-6, but Van Duijvenbode levelled with a 64 checkout and double 16 for 8-8. He went one away at 9-8, and in the decider he hit double 16 to win 10-9, sending Humphries out.
Gian van Veen also delighted the home fans by surging past Karel Sedlacek 10-7. The pair began at 1-1, with Sedlacek hitting double 16 for 1-0 before Van Veen backed it with a 160. Sedlacek hit a 121 checkout for 2-1, but Van Veen held with an 80 checkout for 2-2. An exquisite 147 checkout from Van Veen made it 3-3, and he broke for 4-3, pinning 60. Sedlacek broke back on double 20, but Van Veen broke again on double 12 for 5-4. After continued breaks, Van Veen pinned 72 for 7-5 and held throw. He pinned 25 after missing 121 to sit at 8-6, then held on double eight for 9-7 and broke again for 52 after initially missing 90 to win, sealing it from there.
Ross Smith continued his exceptional form by seeing off Daryl Gurney 10-5. Smith put the 180s on a pinhead, but Gurney led early, breaking on double 13 for 2-1. Smith broke back with a 112 checkout for 2-2, went 3-2 up with a 56 checkout, but Gurney came back with 106. Smith led 4-3 on double 16, broke again, went 6-4 up on double eight and held on 41 for 7-4. He broke again for 8-4 on 52, went one away on double eight, and sealed the deal on the same target for 10-5. Smith averaged 100.3 compared to Gurney's 94.57, threw 13 100+ scores to Gurney's 17, 12 140+ to Gurney's 11, and six 180s to Gurney's one. Smith's highest checkout was 112, while Gurney's was 164. Smith had no checkout 100+, while Gurney had two. Smith's checkout percentage was 62.5 (8/14), while Gurney's was 50 (3/6).
Josh Rock also booked his spot with a 10-7 win over Ryan Searle. Searle broke with double seven to start, held on double 20, but Rock made it 2-2 with an 88 checkout. Rock held on 47 for 3-2, but Searle hit double 18 for 3-3. Rock hit 109 for 4-3; Searle responded on double 20 before Rock hit 66 for 5-4. Searle made it 5-5 with 52, Rock hit 70 for 6-5, and Searle pinned double 14 for 6-6. After the break, Rock surged, hitting 146 for 7-6 and breaking through after a protracted leg where both had chances. Searle couldn't hold, and Rock hit double four for 8-6. Searle hit double 10 to make it 9-7, but Rock won, pinning double 16 to seal it 10-7.
