Dirk Slips To Defeat In Decider

Dirk van Duijvenbode slipped to an agonising defeat as Gerwyn Price scooped his seventh PDC European Tour title in the Interwetten European Darts Open in Leverkusen on Sunday, seeing off Duivee 8-7 in a dramatic final.

Van Duijvenbode had survived four missed match darts in an equally dramatic semi-final as he hit back from 6-2 down to deny Rob Cross.

The Dutch star had also defeated European Champion Ross Smith and World Youth Champion Josh Rock on Sunday in an impressive run to the decider.

However, he was denied a third ranking title of the year – having already won two Players Championship events – as he narrowly missed out on a maiden European Tour success.

Reflecting on the final, Van Duijvenbode admitted: “I didn’t play my best game but I should have won anyway.

“It is what it is. I don’t think it should be that close, I could have [had] some bigger distance [between us] at the beginning, and in the end there’s no holding him back.

“That’s just the class he has. He’s never afraid, he takes out the 108.”

Cross’ agonising wait for a first European Tour title continues following his semi-final exit, despite a sensational 110 average in his third round win over William O’Connor.

Cross also ended the hopes of emerging German youngster Ricardo Pietreczko in the quarter-finals in another contest which went to a deciding leg.

Noppert was the day’s other losing semi-finalist, having ended Dave Chisnall’s bid to claim successive European Tour wins in the third round before enjoying a 6-4 quarter-final triumph against Damon Heta.

Pietreczko followed up Saturday’s memorable win over Peter Wright by seeing off Stephen Bunting 6-3 to reach his first European Tour quarter-final.

The PDC European Tour continues from March 31-April 2 with the Interwetten International Darts Open in Riesa, which will see 48 players competing in the year’s third £175,000 tournament.

Coverage will be broadcast through Viaplay, DAZN and PDCTV throughout the weekend.