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It was a mixed bag for the big names at the Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp as Saturday night heralded the return of Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen among others to European Tour action.

Littler saw off Dylan Slevin 6-0 at the Flanders Darts Trophy and this was despite it being touch and go whether ‘The Nuke’ would even find his way into action this weekend in Antwerp or whether he would skip it. Albeit unlike others who have decided to have the weekend off. Littler was struggling with toothache and had to seek out an emergency dentist as he looked to play in Antwerp.

But despite it not being his swash buckling best, he made light work of ‘Oceans’ Dylan Slevin. He joined Danny Noppert in the perfection club snaring 6/6 on the outer ring. Littler broke for 2-0 early on in the piece with a 78 checkout before breaking again with a 16-darter with Slevin all at sea as 'The Nuke' surged into a 4-0 lead.

He went on to register the win in double quick time with double 16 pinned. A high checkout of just 96 but perfection on the outer ring aside. He hit a 101 average and four 180’s to move through.

Luke Littler VS Dylan Slevin
101.33 Average (3 Darts) 86.48
7 100+ Thrown 7
0 140+ Thrown 3
4 180 Thrown 1
96 Highest Checkout 0
0 Checkout 100+ 0
100 Checkout percentage 0
6 / 6 Checkout 0 / 3

Van Gerwen dumped out as Bunting shines

But he was not joined by Michael van Gerwen who started well against Gian van Veen but the Double Dutch clash saw the apprentice beat the Master as ‘GVV The Giant’ won five straight legs to move into the final day 6-3.

Van Gerwen hit double 16 for an opening break and consolidated also on the same target. But Van Veen snatched a break back taking advantage of missed darts at double. He hit a 46 checkout and then double four to turn it fully around at 4-3. He soon moved one away.

He did so by hitting double eight with Van Gerwen again missing the chance to hold and Van Veen sealed the deal from there. He hit double 16 from a 70 checkout as the missing piece continues for Van Gerwen who is still not back to his best.

Stephen Bunting very much is though. He hit a 107.46 average, 109 checkout and five 180’s to brush aside Joe Cullen 6-1 in the end with ‘The Rockstar’ not doing much wrong. He just ran into a Bullet who has this week won a title and reached another final.

Bunting hit a 62 checkout to break early. He then pinned a 109 checkout to go 2-0 up. He broke again for 3-0 with a 12-darter and was averaging around 105. Cullen broke back but Bunting did again pinning 89 for 4-1. He then held with a 12-dart 82 checkout and was averaging 108 before claiming it from there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

De Decker thwarted but Vandenbogaerde delights

But it wasn’t a good night mostly for the home hopes as Mike de Decker was dumped out by the German European Tour king Martin Schindler 6-3. It wasn’t a game for the purists but one that saw Schindler seal the pivotal hold of throw after a malaise of breaks.

Coming onto the stage to his familiar Rammstein Ich Will walk-on, Schindler is usually greeted by mass cheers but he was not the darling of the European Tour tonight. He opened on double 12. He led early with multiple holds but Schindler missed an open bull for 132 and De Decker looked at 68. He missed double 20 for 2-2 and 'The Wall' returned for double 10.

An 11-darter saw De Decker break back for 3-2 and he was throwing for 3-3. De Decker missed 130 for 3-3. But Schindler missed three darts for 4-2. De Decker missed more though and Schindler hit double five last dart. De Decker then produced an epic 170 checkout. Schindler silenced the home crowd again with a 13-dart break. De Decker missed 107 for 5-4 and Schindler took out 76 for the win.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kim Huybrechts also started the night with defeat. ‘The Hurricane’ was blown aside by James Wade who was making his return to action after a few weeks off post World Matchplay. He won 6-3 with an 84 average and 6/18 on the outer ring. Not vintage but a solid start. While Ryan Searle produced an act of escapology against Raymond van Barneveld.

‘Barney’ went 5-3 up and seemed to be on his way but Searle hit an 11-dart break for 5-5 and then held throw to seal the win in a decider after it looked to be Barney’s game to win earlier on.

But Mario Vandenbogaerde delighted as 'Super Mario' saw off an off colour Jonny Clayton who made it difficult at the end but looked agitated all the way through. After a 22-dart break, he got better. Using double 20, double 10, Vandenbogaerde held for 3-0. Vandenbogaerde hit double 18 to go 4-0 up as Clayton was still averaging late 70's. 78 checkout for Vandenbogaerde saw him continue to take Clayton to the cleaners in style. Vandenbogaerde was one away from victory but Clayton has found two legs and he nearly sent it the distance but after a 66 checkout, Vandenbogaerde sealed the win to avoid a decider.

Jonny Clayton VS Mario Vandenbogaerde
94.73 Average (3 Darts) 91.52
13 100+ Thrown 8
6 140+ Thrown 8
3 180 Thrown 2
81 Highest Checkout 81
0 Checkout 100+ 0
30 Checkout percentage 75
3 / 10 Checkout 6 / 8

Finally Daryl Gurney is also through taking down Ross Smith in a dramatic decider hitting a 121 checkout to win it. Gurney led early breaking for 2-1 up. He pinned double 16 and was way ahead. But Smith cut the arrears down to 3-2 but he needed a break. Smith held throw with a 46 checkout on double eight to make it 4-3 down. Smith broke for 4-4 but Gurney hit a 121 checkout on the bull for a win in the decider.

This article first appeared on Dartsnews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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