HUMPHRIES TO FACE VAN DUIJVENBODE OR KRCMAR IN GOTTINGEN
Luke Humphries will take on either Dirk van Duijvenbode or Boris Krcmar in the opening round of the 2025 Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy, as the PDC European Tour returns to Gottingen this weekend.
The year’s second European Tour event will see a star-studded 48-player-field battling it out for silverware at the Lokhalle from March 21-23, as world number one Humphries takes centre stage.
Michael van Gerwen prevailed on the European Tour’s last visit to Göttingen in 2019, and the Dutch superstar will also feature this weekend, as he targets a return to his blistering best.
Friday’s first round will feature 16 matches across two sessions, with Germany’s premier player Martin Schindler one of eight Host Nation representatives in action on Day One.
Schindler – fresh from winning his maiden Players Championship title on Tuesday – takes on Adam Hunt in Friday’s penultimate tie, while Ricardo Pietreczko and Daniel Klose collide in an all-German affair.
Emerging star Niko Springer plays two-time TV title winner Daryl Gurney in an intriguing first round tussle, with Paul Krohne handed a tough assignment against explosive Dutch star Wessel Nijman.
Michael Unterbuchner and Dominik Gruellich will face Ross Smith and Luke Woodhouse respectively, while Laurin Welk makes his European Tour debut against Ryan Searle.
World Youth Champion Gian van Veen takes on Connor Scutt in one of Friday’s stand-out fixtures, as Ryan Joyce and a revitalised Joe Cullen go head-to-head for a place in round two.
Cameron Menzies and Alan Soutar lock horns in an all-Scottish encounter, while World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker meets Grand Slam finalist Martin Lukeman.
Elsewhere, Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld faces former UK Open semi-finalist Ricky Evans, with European Champion Ritchie Edhouse pitted against an in-form Kevin Doets.
The 16 PDC Order of Merit Qualifiers will enter the fray in Saturday’s second round, as world number one Humphries kicks off his title bid against either Van Duijvenbode or Krcmar.
Van Gerwen – a winner of 37 European Tour titles – will play Gurney or Springer, while third seed Rob Cross opens his challenge against former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding or Callan Rydz.
Welsh duo Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price face potential second round showdowns against Schindler and Searle respectively, with fifth seed Dave Chisnall awaiting Van Barneveld or Evans in round two.
Damon Heta is assured of Scottish opposition in the shape of Menzies or Soutar, as two-time World Champion Peter Wright prepares to take on De Decker or Lukeman for a place in the last 16.
Van Veen and Scutt will compete for the right to play Northern Ireland’s number one Josh Rock, while 2022/23 World Champion Michael Smith faces Pietreczko or Klose on German soil.
Following Saturday’s second round, the last 16 do battle on Sunday afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a bumper evening session.
Live coverage from the European Darts Trophy will be streamed on DAZN for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and through the DAZN Darts channel on Pluto TV.
Coverage will also be shown on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers’ worldwide.
2025 Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy
March 21-23, Lokhalle, Göttingen
Tournament Draw Bracket (Second Round Onwards)
(6) Damon Heta v Cameron Menzies/Alan Soutar
(11) Peter Wright v Mike De Decker/Martin Lukeman
(3) Rob Cross v Andrew Gilding/Callan Rydz
(14) Dimitri Van den Bergh v Ryan Joyce/Joe Cullen
(7) Gerwyn Price v Ryan Searle/Laurin Welk
(10) Danny Noppert v Wessel Nijman/Paul Krohne
(2) Michael van Gerwen v Daryl Gurney/Niko Springer
(15) Josh Rock v Gian van Veen/Connor Scutt
(5) Dave Chisnall v Raymond van Barneveld/Ricky Evans
(12) James Wade v Ross Smith/Michael Unterbuchner
(4) Jonny Clayton v Martin Schindler/Adam Hunt
(13) Gary Anderson v Luke Woodhouse/Dominik Gruellich
(8) Nathan Aspinall v Ritchie Edhouse/Kevin Doets
(9) Chris Dobey v Jermaine Wattimena/Marko Kantele
(1) Luke Humphries v Dirk van Duijvenbode/Boris Krcmar
(16) Michael Smith v Ricardo Pietreczko/Daniel Klose
(Players seeded based on PDC Order of Merit position)
Schedule of Play
Friday March 21
First Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 GMT)
Jermaine Wattimena v Marko Kantele
Cameron Menzies v Alan Soutar
Andrew Gilding v Callan Rydz
Ritchie Edhouse v Kevin Doets
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Boris Krcmar
Wessel Nijman v Paul Krohne
Ross Smith v Michael Unterbuchner
Luke Woodhouse v Dominik Gruellich
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 GMT)
Daryl Gurney v Niko Springer
Ricardo Pietreczko v Daniel Klose
Ryan Joyce v Joe Cullen
Ryan Searle v Laurin Welk
Raymond van Barneveld v Ricky Evans
Mike De Decker v Martin Lukeman
Martin Schindler v Adam Hunt
Gian van Veen v Connor Scutt
Saturday March 22
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 GMT)
Danny Noppert v Nijman/Krohne
James Wade v R Smith/Unterbuchner
Rob Cross v Gilding/Rydz
Damon Heta v Menzies/Soutar
Chris Dobey v Wattimena/Kantele
Michael Smith v Pietreczko/Klose
Josh Rock v Van Veen/Scutt
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Joyce/Cullen
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 GMT)
Gary Anderson v Woodhouse/Gruellich
Gerwyn Price v Searle/Welk
Dave Chisnall v Van Barneveld/Evans
Peter Wright v De Decker/Lukeman
Michael van Gerwen v Gurney/Springer
Luke Humphries v Van Duijvenbode/Krcmar
Jonny Clayton v Schindler/Hunt
Nathan Aspinall v Edhouse/Doets
Sunday March 23
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 GMT)
Third Round
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Sunday’s games played in Draw Bracket order
NB: From the original list of entries, Stephen Bunting withdrew before the Tour Card Holder Qualifier. Michael Smith moved into the seeded positions, with Ryan Joyce becoming a ProTour Order of Merit Qualifier. Belgian Darts Open winner Luke Littler did not enter the European Darts Trophy.
——ENDS—–
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