Photo credit: www.skysports.com
Exciting Matches Unfold at the Lecot Belgian Darts Open
The opening day of the Lecot Belgian Darts Open showcased thrilling performances, with Ryan Searle setting the stage for a highly anticipated match against reigning world champion Luke Littler. In another exciting development, home favorite Mike De Decker secured his spot in the second round, where he will face world No. 1 Luke Humphries.
Searle made a strong start to his campaign with a decisive 6-2 victory over Darryl Pilgrim, earning him a chance to compete against Littler, who claimed the title in his debut at the tournament last year. This upcoming match promises to be a highlight of the weekend’s events.
Meanwhile, De Decker experienced a dramatic match against Thomas Lovely. Despite finding himself in a challenging position, having been down 5-4 and facing two match darts against him, he managed to rally back and secure a victory in the final leg. This triumph sets the stage for a rematch against Humphries, who De Decker bested in the BoyleSports World Grand Prix last October, marking their first encounter on this grand stage since then.
Reflecting on his performance, De Decker expressed his gratitude for the support from the crowd, stating, “This crowd have been amazing for the last four years, and I’m so happy I could get through for them tonight. I just wanted to play well.” He also mentioned looking for ways to enhance his confidence as he prepares for the showdown with Humphries.
Among the standout players on Friday was Daryl Gurney, who delivered an impressive average of 106 and executed two significant finishes to defeat Thibault Tricole 6-1. He is set to face Danny Noppert in the next round.
In notable comebacks, Dutch players Dirk van Duijvenbode and Gian van Veen overcame 4-1 deficits against their opponents Darius Labanauskas and James Hurrell, respectively. Michael Smith also made waves with a spectacular 125 finish on the bull while edging out Ryan Joyce 6-5. Additionally, Raymond van Barneveld continued his strong performance, moving on to face UK Open runner-up James Wade.
The European Champion, Ritchie Edhouse, displayed his prowess by defeating Owen Bates 6-4, earning him a clash against Nathan Aspinall in the next round. The action continues on Saturday across two sessions as players aim for a place in the last 16.
Friday’s Results
Afternoon session: Luke Woodhouse 6-4 Cedric Waegemans, Matt Campbell 6-5 Cameron Menzies, Gian van Veen 6-4 James Hurrell, Ritchie Edhouse 6-4 Owen Bates, Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 Matthew Dennant, Wessel Nijman 6-5 Francois Schweyen, Daryl Gurney 6-1 Thibault Tricole, Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Darius Labanauskas.
Evening session: Ross Smith 6-5 Sybren Gijbels, Ryan Searle 6-2 Darryl Pilgrim, Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Patrick De Backer, Boris Krcmar 6-3 Josh Rock, Michael Smith 6-5 Ryan Joyce, Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Cam Crabtree, Mike De Decker 6-5 Thomas Lovely, Martin Schindler 6-3 Jim Long.
Saturday’s Schedule and Second-Round Draw
Afternoon Session (12pm)
Danny Noppert vs Daryl Gurney
Gary Anderson vs Luke Woodhouse
Dave Chisnall vs Ricardo Pietreczko
Jonny Clayton vs Wessel Nijman
Rob Cross vs Ross Smith
Damon Heta vs Michael Smith
Stephen Bunting vs Jermaine Wattimena
Nathan Aspinall vs Ritchie Edhouse
Evening Session (6pm)
James Wade vs Raymond van Barneveld
Peter Wright vs Matt Campbell
Gerwyn Price vs Gian van Veen
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Schindler/Long
Luke Humphries vs Mike De Decker
Luke Littler vs Ryan Searle
Michael van Gerwen vs Boris Krcmar
Chris Dobey vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
Sunday, March 9
Afternoon Session (12pm)
Third Round
Evening Session (6pm)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Where Does the Premier League Head Next?
The Premier League will continue at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on Thursday, March 13, featuring a clash between Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action starting at 7pm.
Source
www.skysports.com