Michael van Gerwen and Cor Dekker land historic nine-darters at the Hungarian Darts Trophy
Jamie Shaw in European Tour 21 Sep 2024
Michael van Gerwen celebrates his nine-darter (Photo credit: PDC Europe)
Michael van Gerwen and Cor Dekker landed sensational nine-darters on an historic Saturday at the Hungarian Darts Trophy in Budapest.
For the first time in the 12-year history of the European Tour, two perfect legs were hit on the same day as Van Gerwen and Dekker raised the roof at the MVM Dome.
Van Gerwen achieved the feat in the opening leg of his 6-2 victory over Martin Lukeman, before adding checkouts of 157 and 154 to cap off a majestic display with a 104.5 average.
“I’m here to do something special. I think this crowd deserved it,” said Van Gerwen, fresh from winning his first ranking title of 2024 at Players Championship 21 on Wednesday.
“I really under-performed here last year, but the most important thing was to win this game with a solid performance.
“I think there’s still a lot more in the tank because I feel good, I feel sharp, and there’s a lot more to fight for tomorrow.”
Van Gerwen will now face Gabriel Clemens in the Last 16 on Sunday after the German number two continued his resurgence with a thrilling last-leg victory over world number one Luke Humphries.
Clemens defied a 101.8 average and five maximums from Humphries to prevail in a high-quality contest, sealing his progress with a 14-dart break of throw in the decider.
The 41-year-old averaged 107 to defeat Van Gerwen at the Flanders Darts Trophy a fortnight ago, and he is hoping to repeat the feat when he takes on the three-time World Champion tomorrow afternoon.
“I’ve been playing really good darts in the last few weeks,” reflected Clemens, who is still battling to secure qualification for next month’s World Grand Prix.
“I know I can beat the top players, and at the moment, Luke is the best player in the world, so this fills me with confidence.”
Dekker landed the day’s first nine-darter during his clash against Stephen Bunting, delivering the moment of magic in the penultimate leg, but it was not enough to avert a 6-2 defeat.
The Norwegian celebrated his maiden European Tour victory on Friday, before etching his name into the history-books against Bunting, who ran out a convincing winner despite Dekker’s brilliance.
Reigning champion Dave Chisnall began his bid for back-to-back European Tour titles with a 6-1 rout of Jonny Clayton, reeling off six consecutive legs to triumph with a 101 average.
Chisnall will be joined in Sunday’s Last 16 by second seed Ross Smith – who proved too strong for Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld, averaging 100 and pinning six of his ten attempts at doubles in a 6-2 victory.
Meanwhile, in-form Wessel Nijman reeled off four consecutive legs from 5-2 down to snatch victory over Gerwyn Price, following up a 13-darter with 141, 107 and 71 finishes to inflict another early European Tour exit on the Welshman – who missed a match dart at tops.
Peter Wright maintained his fine form with a ruthless whitewash win over Damon Heta, capitalising on a below-par display from the Australian to canter through to round three in quick-fire fashion.
Birthday boy Rob Cross rounded off Saturday’s second round action with a 6-1 demolition of Andrew Gilding, crashing in four 180s to set up a third round showdown against sixth seed Josh Rock.
Rock denied James Wade in an astonishing contest, overturning a 5-2 deficit and surviving eight match darts to preserve his title hopes in Budapest.
Gian van Veen fired in six 180s during his 6-4 success against Keane Barry, recording the first ton-plus average of the tournament to set up a showdown against his compatriot Danny Noppert.
Fifth seed Noppert fended off a valiant fightback from the returning Nathan Aspinall to seal his progress, producing a brace of ton-plus finishes to race into a 5-1 lead, before eventually closing out a 6-4 victory.
Martin Schindler defied his doubling woes to prevail in a deciding-leg affair against Jim Williams, while Daryl Gurney and Ricardo Pietreczko registered 6-5 wins against Florian Hempel and Niels Zonneveld respectively.
Scott Williams punished a frustrated Chris Dobey to progress to the Last 16, landing four maximums and converting 74, 80, 94 and 122 checkouts to cap off an impressive all-round display.
Ryan Searle ended Hungarian hopes with an emphatic 6-1 success against Alberto Bezjian, and his reward will be a clash against a rejuvenated Wright for a place in the quarter-finals.
Hungarian Darts Trophy 2024 Day Two Results
