'This is the time to catch Van Gerwen' - Vincent van der Voort sees chances for Raymond van Barneveld in Dutch clash

The second day of the 2025 World Matchplay in Blackpool delivered a historic moment for Dutch darts, as no fewer than six players from the Netherlands booked their places in the second round of the prestigious event.

“We’ve never seen this before,” said Vincent van der Voort on the World Matchplay Draait Door podcast, alongside host Damien Vlottes.

Van Duijvenbode’s Grit Shines Through in Emotional Victory

Arguably the most talked-about match of the night came courtesy of Dirk van Duijvenbode, who staged a remarkable comeback from 6–2 down to defeat Rob Cross. Cross looked to be cruising early on, but Van Duijvenbode dug deep despite some serious off-stage concerns—his wife is heavily pregnant, meaning he could be called home at any moment.

“Normally in situations like that, Dirk struggles to let go,” Van der Voort admitted. “But this time he went full steam ahead. Mentally, that was incredibly strong.”

A pivotal moment came with Van Duijvenbode’s sensational 137 checkout—hitting treble 19, double 20, and double 20 again. “That was the turning point,” added Vlottes.

Whether Van Duijvenbode can continue his run in Blackpool depends not just on his form but on events at home. “If I have to go, I’ll go,” he said. “But I wanted to make it through the first round at least, to lock in the ranking money.” That £15,000 prize for reaching round two is crucial in his battle to maintain a strong position in the world rankings.

Wattimena Scrapes Through, Slams Venue Facilities

Jermaine Wattimena also advanced, though not without drama. After taking a solid lead, he allowed Peter Wright to claw back to 8–8 before eventually edging clear.

“He made it a lot harder than it needed to be,” said Van der Voort, who caught up with Wattimena post-match.

But Wattimena wasn’t just talking about the game. He was openly critical of the venue setup. “There are no proper boards to practice on in the hotel. It’s much better arranged on the Euro Tour,” he said.

Van der Voort agreed: “There should be a proper practice area available outside of session times. The PDPA needs to sort that out.”

Peter Wright once again baffled spectators and pundits alike by switching darts mid-match—without much effect. “You just don’t understand his decisions anymore,” said Van der Voort. “He doesn’t look like a man who’s hungry to win.”

That stood in stark contrast to Gary Anderson, who continues to impress despite claiming he never trains.

“We’ve been hearing that for years,” Van der Voort laughed. “But he’s still throwing great darts—and even changed his darts too—while saying he doesn’t care!”

Littler’s Meteoric Rise Continues

Luke Littler was in devastating form once more, opening his match against Martin Schindler with a staggering average of over 120, eventually finishing on 109.

“What can you do against that?” Van der Voort asked. “Unless you’re finishing every leg in 15 darts yourself, you’ve got no chance. And if he’s starting legs with 12-darters, forget it.”

Littler’s freshness and peak performance echo the early years of Michael van Gerwen. Unlike many players, he’s selective about his schedule—and it seems to be working.

“He chooses when to play, and every time he turns up, he delivers,” Van der Voort noted.

Van Barneveld v Van Gerwen: Dutch Duel Lights Up Monday Night

All eyes now turn to the all-Dutch showdown between Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen—a clash rich in history, if not in current form.

“This is the time to catch Van Gerwen,” said Van der Voort. “If you don’t get him now, you might never.”

The rivalry remains fierce. “They really don’t want to lose to each other,” Van der Voort added. “And the fact that it’s a night match favours Raymond. One game a day suits him—that’s always been his strength.”

Still, Van der Voort’s prediction leaned toward MVG: “I’d say 60/40 for Michael. But if Raymond plays his best, it could get really interesting.”

Rock Rising, Premier League Pressure Mounts

Elsewhere, the team looked ahead to the intriguing tie between Ross Smith and Josh Rock. The Northern Irishman is rapidly emerging as a Premier League contender.

“He’s young, he’s a World Cup winner, and he plays exciting darts,” said Van der Voort.

The conversation also turned to the toll the Premier League can take on players.

“Just look at Michael Smith, Dimitri Van den Bergh, and Nathan Aspinall—they’re all struggling,” warned Van der Voort. “You’ve got to keep an eye on your ranking.”

Matchplay Memories: Van Veen’s Close Call and Vincent’s Debut

The hosts wrapped up by reminiscing on past editions. One standout memory was Gian van Veen’s narrow defeat to Rob Cross on debut last year.

“Gian was actually the better player, but still lost. That’s tough—but I think he took a lot away from that,” Van der Voort said.

Vincent also recalled his own introduction to the Matchplay in 2008: “My first match? Against Alan Tabern. I was up 6–2 and lost 10–8.”

Redemption came a year later: “My first win was in 2009, against John Part. You never forget that one.”