Luke Woodhouse Delivers Stunning Nine-Darter at European Championship

In an exhilarating start to the European Championship, Luke Woodhouse made headlines by achieving a stunning nine-darter against Dirk van Duijvenbode. This remarkable feat propelled him to a 6-3 victory, paving his way into the last 16 of the prestigious tournament.

A Confident Woodhouse

Woodhouse, who reached the semi-finals in 2024, reflected on his performance, saying, “That felt really good.” He emphasized the importance of the win, acknowledging prior missed opportunities at the World Championship last year. With an average just over 99, he expressed optimism for the upcoming matches, stating, “I’m feeling really good at the moment. I’ve probably had the best 12 months of my life darts wise, so let’s hope it’s my weekend!”

Defending Champion in Action

In subsequent matches, 2022 champion Gian van Veen showcased his skills, becoming the first defending champion to secure a victory since 2018. His match against Andrew Gilding ended in a nail-biting 6-4, with Van Veen recovering from an early deficit. He later commented, “Andrew put me under pressure every leg, but I took my chances and the defence is up and running.”

Van Veen was relieved to avoid the fate of previous champions who lost in their opening rounds, stating that not knowing about this trend before the match helped him stay relaxed. “It’s going to be a tricky game against Luke, but it’s a match I’m looking forward to and thankfully I got this one out of the way,” he added.

Impressive Performances from Other Competitors

Another standout performance on the opening night came from Gerwyn Price. The Welsh player dominated Rob Cross with a convincing 6-2 victory, highlighted by impressive checkouts of 127 and 135. His average of 99.26 only added to an outstanding night.

However, the tournament saw a major upset as James Wade, the 2018 winner, was eliminated after failing to convert four match darts against an inspired Damon Heta. Heta managed to claw back from a 5-3 deficit, sealing his place in the next round.

Top seed Ross Smith managed to avoid a similar fate, securing a 6-4 win over Karel Sedlacek. His victory sets up a fascinating match against Heta in the next round. Additionally, Stephen Bunting had a thrilling contest against Danny Noppert, pulling off a jaw-dropping 160 checkout to eliminate the fifth seed.

In an eventful night, Bunting will face Kim Huybrechts, who made a strong debut after being drafted in as a last-minute replacement. Huybrechts dismantled Ryan Searle 6-1, marking his first European Championship win since 2015.

Not to be overlooked, Scottland’s Cameron Menzies defeated newly crowned Dutch Darts Champion Niels Zonneveld 6-3, setting up a challenging match against Price.

European Championship Results Summary

• (1) Ross Smith 6-4 Karel Sedlacek (32)
• (16) James Wade 5-6 Damon Heta (17)
• (8) Gian van Veen 6-4 Andrew Gilding (25)
• (9) Luke Woodhouse 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode (24)
• (4) Niels Zonneveld 3-6 Cameron Menzies (29)
• (13) Gerwyn Price 6-2 Rob Cross (20)
• (5) Danny Noppert 5-6 Stephen Bunting (28)
• Kim Huybrechts* 6-1 Ryan Searle (21)

*Note: Kim Huybrechts replaced Luke Humphries, who withdrew due to illness.

The tournament continues with more exciting matches scheduled in the coming days, and fans are eagerly anticipating who will advance further in this competitive event.