The opening session of the Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp is complete, and it was a rollercoaster of comebacks and upsets. Niko Springer, Bradley Brooks and Kevin Doets were the pick of the winners, while Andrew Gilding was dumped out and other top names struggled to make their mark.
Niels Zonneveld kicked off the session with a 6-3 win over Petr Tous, but the scoreline didn't tell the full story. Tous pinned double 20 for an opening break of throw and then hit 103 for 2-0. A 121 checkout from Tous made it 3-0, but Zonneveld fought back. An 89 checkout made it 3-1, and he hit 116 for 3-2. Tous lost his throw with a 56 checkout, and Zonneveld hit the front with 78 for 4-3. He broke again on double 19 for 5-3 and held for the win on double 20.
Bradley Brooks took down Mickey Mansell 6-3. Brooks broke in leg one for 1-0, and he pinned 64 and followed that with 104 for 2-0. Gilding held for 2-1, so Brooks was set to throw for 3-1. Brooks held on double 10, and then the break came in handy for a 60 checkout for 4-2 after Mansell had held on 76. Double 12 for Brooks to go one away at 5-3. Mansell missed 128 on the bull but returned for 25 to go 5-4 down. That break was enough as he pinned double five after initially missing 52 for the match.
Andrew Gilding was one of the main names to fall, beaten by Chris Landman, who survived a comeback from 'Goldfinger'. Landman broke with a 56 checkout for 3-1 and held for 4-1. Landman, though, was soon broken. It was 4-3, and now Gilding was set to throw for 4-4. Gilding held on double 20, but Landman went one away. Landman pinned double 20 after Gilding missed 99, and the Dutchman managed to win through.
Kevin Doets eased through in one of the best performances of the session, seeing off James Hurrell 6-1. He broke with double 18 then 46 to hold. Hurrell finally got on the board but was broken again for 5-1 on double five. Doets won with a 111 checkout to claim it. After going out early last week, he has a bit of an easier time this time around against Hurrell, who continues to play despite tearing a muscle.
Karel Sedlacek survived against Michael Hansen, with the Danish qualifier putting in some good work against 'Evil Charlie'. Sedlacek led 2-0, but Hansen broke with a 48 checkout to make it 2-1 down, only for Sedlacek to break straight back on double 20 for 3-1. Sedlacek broke again with a 44 checkout after the Czech ace missed 60 to hold. An 82 checkout for Sedlacek after double 12 to break again, and Sedlacek sat 5-2 up. Sedlacek averted a potential problematic tie against Hansen by winning 6-2. He breaks on 76.
Jeffrey de Graaf averted Jeroen Caron winning 6-4. Caron went 2-1 up, but the Swede turned the tables, and he led 4-3 on double 16, then the same target for 5-4. Then double 10 for the win.
Ryan Joyce also turned it around against Stephen Burton. He went 4-2 up initially, hitting 76 to break, but Burton hit straight back with a 70 checkout to make it 4-3. Burton hit double 20 to level. A 78 checkout, though, for Burton, sees him break again for 5-4, and he was now throwing for the win. Joyce put in an incredible leg to break back for a 130 checkout and make it 5-5 and won 6-5 on double 20.
Finally, Niko Springer prevailed, taking down Jaimy Jacobs easily 6-1. He broke with a 52 checkout and again on double 16 for 4-0. Jacobs claimed a first leg on the board, albeit only after Springer missed chances to go 5-0 up. But with a 180 and 94, Springer broke again for 5-1. Before completing it on double 10.
