As the 2025 Dutch Darts Championship rolls into Rosmalen, the home-grown hopefuls are set to flex their tungsten with varying degrees of experience, form, and good old-fashioned belief. After a busy day of qualifying, the field is locked in for the event, which kicks off on Friday 22nd May at the Autotron.
First out of the gate – and second on stage in the afternoon session – is Berry van Peer, the 28-year-old Bionic Dutchman. It’s his first Euro Tour appearance since the 2024 Belgian Darts Open, where he got the better of Germany’s Daniel Klose before falling to Jonny Clayton. This time, it’s a domestic duel as he takes on fellow Dutchman Wessel Nijman, with Peter Wright waiting in the wings. Talk about easing back in gently.
A couple of games later, it’s time for the return of the Black Cobra. Jeffrey de Zwaan confirmed his spot with a gutsy 6–5 win over Ziggy Schenk, clawing back from 5–2 down in a high-quality contest with both players averaging in the 90s. De Zwaan has never been past a Euro Tour quarter-final – that lone run came back in 2019, when he was halted by Ian White en route to the title. He faces Ryan Joyce in round one, with a possible meeting against Michael Smith if he gets through. It doesn’t get much tougher than that.
Later in the afternoon session, Jeffrey Sparidaans, affectionately known as Jefke, makes just his third Euro Tour appearance. At 31, he’s still hunting that breakthrough moment. His only scalp so far is Callan Rydz – respectable, but he’ll need more to win over the home crowd. First up: the unpredictable Andrew Gilding. If Jefke can navigate that, he earns a showdown with the Aussie number one and Euro Tour walking pantomime, Damon Heta.
And wrapping things up in the evening session, Jerry Hendriks booked his spot the hard way – coming from 5–3 down to beat Marc Vleghert in a gritty last-leg decider. Next up? Only Raymond van Barneveld. It’s the darting equivalent of climbing into a lion’s den with a Pepperami. Should Jerry pull off the upset, Ross Smith will be waiting.
The action kicks off 12pm BST.
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Images: WDF/NDB
