Price and Smith sent packing on night two of the World Series Finals as Barney and Brown rolled back the years

On an exciting night in Amsterdam, Keegan Brown defeated Gerwyn Price while Raymond van Barneveld defeated World Champion Michael Smith at the Jack’s World Series of Darts Finals on Saturday.

World No. 1 Smith and the defending champion Price were two of the high-profile casualties in the Dutch city on Day Two of the £350,000 competition, which saw the eight seeds enter the ring at AFAS Live.

On Dutch television for the first time since 2019, it was Van Barneveld who made headlines by putting on a classic performance to advance to the quarterfinals.

Despite 130 and 100 checkouts from the St Helens star and a break of 11 darts in leg three, Van Barneveld initially outperformed Smith.

When the world number one went into a 4-3 lead, he started to find his range, but Van Barneveld raised the roof with a signature 156 finish to tie the game at four.

The 56-year-old then took advantage of two missed darts by Smith to go to within 105 outshots of victory, then pin double ten to secure a thrilling victory in front of a raucous AFAS Live audience.

“To beat the World Champion in front of the Orange Army, this is really special,” reflected the five-time World Champion, who now plays Peter Wright in an intriguing last eight tussle.

“I knew I would have to play my A-game. We all know what Michael is capable of. He’s a fantastic player, one of the best in the world.

“It was a quality game. There were fantastic finishes from both of us, and Michael was a real gentleman tonight. This means a lot to me.”

Michael van Gerwen, a fellow countryman who overcame adversity to defeat William O’Connor in a comeback match, joined van Barneveld in the round of eight.

O’Connor took advantage of the Dutch superstar’s tense start to sprint to a 3-0 lead, but Van Gerwen’s miraculous 161 checkout in leg nine changed the tide and gave him a 6-4 victory.

“I had to work really hard for that,” admitted Van Gerwen, who averaged 93 and crashed in three 180s to kick off his bid for a record-extending fifth World Series Finals crown.

“I made too many mistakes early on, and I think William played really well in the beginning of the game. Fair play to him, but I had a lovely 161 finish at the right moment.

“I made it difficult for myself, but the most important thing is that I won, and now I need to focus on tomorrow, because I still have a lot of work to do.”

 

Danny Noppert lost to World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall 6-3 in a thrilling contest, keeping the Dutch contingent’s winning streak at one.

Noppert defeated his fellow countryman Dirk van Duijvenbode on Friday by averaging nearly 106, but Aspinall, who defeated him with a stunning 170 finish, was outstanding.

Elsewhere Brown stunned two-time champion Price by scoring three tonnes or more to go to his first televised quarter-final since 2014.

Former World Youth Champion Brown opened his round with a crisp 111 combination when down 2-0 before hitting the bullseye on shots 101 and 85 to take an improbable 5-3 lead.

The Welshman responded in leg nine, but after missing double 16 to force a decider, he was left stunned as Brown conjured up a magnificent 164 finish to celebrate one of his career’s biggest victories.

“To beat Gezzy in front of this fantastic crowd, I’m absolutely buzzing,” claimed Brown, who now faces Aspinall for a place in the semi-finals.

“I thought I’d blown it, and then the 164 checkout went in as sweet as a nut. It’s one of the best checkouts I’ve ever hit.

“I am doing something that I love doing, and long may it continue. I’m just going to keep grinding away.”

2023 Jack’s World Series of Darts Finals

Saturday September 16

Second Round

Rob Cross 6-3 Jonny Clayton

Luke Humphries 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski

Keegan Brown 6-4 Gerwyn Price

Michael van Gerwen 6-4 William O’Connor

Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Michael Smith

Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Danny Noppert

Peter Wright 6-4 Haupai Puha

Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-1 Ricky Evans

 

Sunday September 17

Afternoon Session (1300 local time)

Quarter-Finals

Rob Cross v Luke Humphries

Michael van Gerwen v Dimitri Van den Bergh

Keegan Brown v Nathan Aspinall

Raymond van Barneveld v Peter Wright

Best of 19 legs

 

Evening Session (1900 local time)

Semi-Finals

Cross/Humphries v Van Gerwen/Van den Bergh

Brown/Aspinall v Van Barneveld/Wright

Best of 21 legs

 

Final

    v

Best of 21 legs