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Raymond van Barneveld rolled back the years to dump world No 1 Luke Humphries out of the NEO.bet European Open.
The 57-year-old Dutchman took advantage of an off night for the reigning world champion and claimed a 6-4 victory in front of a raucous German crowd.
Van Barneveld produced five 180s and defied a brace of ton-plus finishes from the top seed to progress to the last 16 of a European Tour event for the first time in 2024.
“To beat the world number one is an amazing feeling,” reflected Van Barneveld, who will play his compatriot Gian van Veen for a place in the quarter-finals. “Luke is an amazing player. When you’re the World Champion, you have a target on your back, but Luke doesn’t deserve that.”
Dirk van Duijvenbode powered past reigning champion Gerwyn Price in a repeat of last year’s final, reeling off five consecutive legs from 2-1 down to reach the last-16 and boost his hopes of a World Matchplay return.
Van Duijvenbode can still qualify for the World Matchplay next month
The 2023 runner-up averaged 102 and pinned six of his nine attempts at double to topple the Welshman, having also hit six of his seven attempts in Friday’s first-round win against Gabriel Clemens.
“My confidence is not there yet, but I feel like I’m getting back to where I used to be,” declared Van Duijvenbode. “I feel determined to show people that Dirk is not done. I feel like I’m getting closer, but I’m not done, I promise you!”
Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen joined his fellow countrymen in Sunday’s last 16, after kicking off his bid for a record-extending sixth European Darts Open crown with a battling 6-4 success against Dylan Slevin.
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Richard Ashdown questions if Michael van Gerwen has lost the ‘desire and fire’ to play darts ahead of the World Cup
German No 1 Martin Schindler preserved home hopes with a 6-4 victory over Karel Sedlacek and Michael Smith completed a whitewash win against an out-of-sorts Rob Cross to set up a meeting against Peter Wright, who won five straight legs in overturning a 3-1 deficit against Ritchie Edhouse.
Josh Rock produced a ton-topping average to open his challenge for a second straight European Tour title, taking out a spectacular 160 checkout to wrap up a 6-3 win against Dimitri Van den Bergh, as Owen Bates continued his breakthrough run in Leverkusen by recovering from 5-3 down to stun sixth seed Danny Noppert.
What happens next?
The third round of the NEO.bet European Darts Open will take place on Sunday afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a bumper evening session at the Ostermann-Arena.
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