Van Gerwen & Van Veen Advance | World Darts Championship 2024

Michael van Gerwen has qualified for the eighth finals of the World Darts Championship with a simple victory over Arno Merk. In London, third-seeded Van Gerwen defeated the German in five sets: 4-1.

Earlier tonight, Gian van Veen became the first Dutchman to secure a place in the eighth finals. The 23-year-old Van Veen also had no trouble with the Latvian Madars Razma: 4-1.

The only other remaining Dutchman is Kevin Doets, who will meet Englishman Nathan Aspinall in the third round on Monday.

Until tonight, the Dutch darts players in London made a poor turn in the third round. Wesley Plaisier, Niels Zonneveld and Jermaine Wattimena all escaped. Earlier today, Wattimena lost 4-3 to two-time world champion and darts icon Gary Anderson in a true thriller.

On paper, Merk, number 163 in the world, was no match for three-time world champion Van Gerwen (2014, 2017 and 2019) and this also became apparent on stage.

With 3-1 and 3-0, ‘Mighty Mike’ took the first two sets without throwing great. From the third set onwards, Merk threw away his hesitation with a nice finish of 145 in the first leg.

Van Gerwen responded with an eleven-darter, but the set still went to the revived German 3-1. Although Merk played a little better, Van Gerwen was able to limit the damage by winning the third set 3-1, bringing the margin in sets back to two.

“I feel good. That is the most important thing after a match like this. Everyone expects you to win just as easily, so you also want a little self-affirmation. I have had that now,” said Van Gerwen, who will now meet former world champion Gary Anderson. “He’s playing fantastic. I’m looking forward to it.”

With an early break in the fourth set, Van Gerwen then comfortably cruised to victory. The 36-year-old Brabander took the last set and the 4-1 victory with 3-1.

Van Veen won the first set against Razma 3-1 with a decent average of 98. In the second set Van Veen was broken, but the ‘Giant’ broke Razma himself twice, meaning the second set also ended 3-1.

“It didn’t go exactly as expected, but to still throw an average of 98 with a good double percentage, that certainly feels good,” Van Veen said afterwards.

It was not possible for Razma, who defeated Jamai van den Herik and Darren Beveridge in the first two rounds. The third set went with ease to Van Veen, who did not even have to play his best game.

In the fourth set, Van Veen suddenly didn’t hit anything at all. Razma won three legs in a row and came back into the match somewhat.

A comeback was not possible for Razma, because too many arrows flew outside the triple or even in the 1. Van Veen won the fifth set 3-0, with a beautiful 125 finish in the last leg. After an average of 108 in the second round, it now remained at 97.