Dirk van Duijvenbode with Fireworks at the German Darts Championship
Dirk van Duijvenbode with Fireworks at the German Darts Championship
Dirk van Duijvenbode continued his sensational start to the Elten Safety Shoes German Darts Championship in Hildesheim with one of the most electrifying performances of his career. The Dutch star delivered a breathtaking 117.74 average on Saturday – the highest of his professional career on a televised stage – as he brushed aside Chris Dobey 6–2 to advance to the final day of competition.
Just 24 hours earlier, van Duijvenbode had thrilled the packed Halle 39 crowd with a spectacular nine-darter against Karel Sedlacek. His momentum carried through emphatically into Round Two, where he dismantled Dobey in a match of the highest quality. Despite the Englishman averaging over 105 and producing world-class legs of 11 and 13 darts, he was left powerless against the relentless scoring and precision finishing of his opponent.
A Ruthless Performance
From the very first dart, van Duijvenbode set the tone for an extraordinary display. He raced into a 3–0 lead, stringing together legs of 12, 11, and 15 darts, before landing a clinical 123 checkout to tighten his grip on the contest. A 14-darter moved him 5–1 ahead, and moments later he sealed the victory in style with a 13-dart leg that had the crowd roaring in approval.
The 31-year-old’s performance drew widespread praise from pundits and fans alike, not just for the raw scoring power, but for his composure and rhythm throughout. His average of 117.74 ranks among the best ever recorded in European Tour history and cements his reputation as one of the sport’s most explosive talents.
Van Duijvenbode will now face Germany’s number one, Martin Schindler, in Sunday’s third round, setting up a highly anticipated showdown. Schindler, a three-time European Tour champion, battled past William O’Connor 6–4 on Saturday evening. O’Connor, who averaged over 101 himself, saw his hopes of qualifying for the Machineseeker European Championship end with that narrow defeat.
Chisnall, Ratajski, and Wright Advance
Elsewhere, Dave Chisnall reignited his season with a crucial 6–4 victory over Gabriel Clemens, firing in ten 180s to end a nine-match losing streak on the European Tour. The win moved Chisnall back into the provisional qualification places for next week’s major in Dortmund, displacing Andrew Gilding in the process.
Krzysztof Ratajski also confirmed his qualification with a convincing 6–3 victory over Ryan Searle, averaging over 102 in another high-quality encounter. However, former world champion Rob Cross still faces uncertainty, after being swept aside 6–1 by Cameron Menzies, who produced one of the day’s biggest upsets.
Defending champion Peter Wright began his title defence in solid fashion, defeating 2023 winner Ricardo Pietreczko 6–4. Remarkably, Wright won each of his six legs in exactly 15 darts, a testament to his consistency and control.
Dutch Dominance Continues
It was another strong showing for the Netherlands, as Gian van Veen edged out Niels Zonneveld in an all-Dutch affair, averaging just under 99 to progress. Van Veen will next meet either Jonny Clayton or Raymond van Barneveld after both Welsh and Dutch veterans produced impressive performances of their own.
Wessel Nijman lit up the stage with a stunning ten-dart finish during his commanding 6–2 win over Belgium’s Mike De Decker, who had narrowly missed double 12 for a nine-darter earlier in the contest. Meanwhile, Jermaine Wattimena continued the Dutch dominance by defeating James Wade 6–3 in another high-class encounter, with both players averaging over 106.
High Drama Elsewhere
Ireland’s Steve Lennon survived a nerve-shredding battle with Damon Heta, clawing back from the brink by saving six match darts to snatch victory in a final-leg decider. Lennon’s reward is a Round Three clash with Nathan Aspinall, who remains in formidable form after averaging 107.53 to defeat Ross Smith 6–4. Aspinall, the current European Tour Rankings leader, will look to continue his hot streak as he aims to add another title to his growing resume.
Ricky Evans also kept his qualification hopes alive, dispatching Josh Rock 6–2 with a clinical display that included six successful doubles from just eight attempts. Both Evans and Lennon must win the Hildesheim title outright to secure their places in next week’s European Championship lineup.
Final Day Awaits
As the final day approaches, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the Winamax European Tour season. Sunday’s afternoon session will feature Round Three matches, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the championship decider in the evening.
With van Duijvenbode producing historic numbers, Wright defending his crown, and several big names fighting to qualify, the finale in Hildesheim promises to deliver another unforgettable day of darts drama.
Dirk van Duijvenbode with Fireworks at the German Darts Championship
2025 Elten Safety Shoes German Darts Championship
Saturday October 18
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Gian van Veen 6-4 Niels Zonneveld
Steve Lennon 6-5 Damon Heta
Danny Noppert 6-3 Luke Woodhouse
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Ryan Searle
Wessel Nijman 6-2 Mike De Decker
Cameron Menzies 6-1 Rob Cross
Peter Wright 6-5 Ricardo Pietreczko
Dave Chisnall 6-4 Gabriel Clemens
Evening Session
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Ross Smith
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Raymond van Barneveld
Gerwyn Price 6-1 Christian Kist
Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 James Wade
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2 Chris Dobey
Martin Schindler 6-4 William O’Connor
Ricky Evans 6-2 Josh Rock
Ryan Joyce 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Sunday October 19
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Round Three
Gerwyn Price v Danny Noppert
Jonny Clayton v Gian van Veen
Steve Lennon v Nathan Aspinall
Jermaine Wattimena v Wessel Nijman
Cameron Menzies v Peter Wright
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Martin Schindler
Ricky Evans v Dave Chisnall
Ryan Joyce v Krzysztof Ratajski
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
