SIX years after attending it fort he first time, last night was the start of my sixth World Series of Darts finals at the AFAS Live in Amsterdam. It is starting to feel like a second home now!
After taking the familiar trip by train and underground, and hearing the iconic Snowwhite, seven dwarfs and carrots sing their chants at the Bijlmer Arena Station, it was time for the first eight matches!
Or well, first it was a bit of a longer walk than expected as apparently some sort of festival is being built next to the venue which cost me a five minute longer walk to get to the press entrance.
Before the first game I went to the main arena as I knew it would be the only time during the night that I got the chance to do just that. But also did it give me the chance to see the first two players, who both happened to be Dutch, walk on.
Jermaine Wattimena even had an iconic Dutch classic sang by André Hazes although it didn’t give him the luck he hoped for. In a slow starter for the tournament it was Wattimena who missed four matchdarts in the decider as Kevin Doets pinned double 15 to beat him 6-5. During my first interview of the night ‘Hawkeye’ told me the wind, which we usually only see in Rotterdam Ahoy, affected them during the opening game but apart from that he is used to playing in the opening game of a tournament at this point!
Josh Rock then continued his fine form by seeing off the always dangerous Krzysztof Ratajski. Rock had no clue why but his record against ‘The Polish Eagle’ was now extended to 10-2 in favour of ‘Rocky’ who also said he will try his best to make sure he gets in the Premier League for 2025.
Damon Heta then proved too strong for an out of sorts Joe Cullen, to Heta’s own surprise as Cullen always used to beat him on tv and only a few days ago won his second title of the year.
Mike de Decker then beat Gabriel Clemens but was not too happy with his own performance. The Belgian told me and the viewers how he does not feel any extra pressure despite being the number one of a booming darts country. Maybe a win over Damon Heta in round two, who he also beat in his World Grand Prix title run, could boost his confidence.
Luke Humphries then survived two matchdarts and won an absolute thriller against 2018 champion James Wade. The World Number One admitted James Wade is always a tough opponent. In round 2 Humphries is set to play a Dutchman in Kevin Doets, but it was me who had to confirm to him that Doets is in fact Dutch!
‘Cool Hand Luke’ was convinced that the Dutchman, who lives in Sweden, was fully Swedish. He then followed my advice and told the viewers that Kevin is in fact Swedish so that the crowd can still choose the side of the Darts World Columnist.
In the game of the evening it was Michael van Gerwen who was the third player to win after surviving a matchdart as he edged out Wessel Nijman 6-5. MVG admitted the crowd was on his side and that his experience or the lack of that from Wessel probably got him the victory.
Danny Noppert caused a bit of a surprise as the 2019 runner-up dumped out number one seed Stephen Bunting. Noppert admitted in his interview that he expected Bunting to play a lot better there and that he himself would have to play better against Rock in round two.
In the final game of the night it was Rob Cross who beat New Zealand’s Haupai Puha with both players averaging over 98. Cross spoke well about his opponent as well as his next opponent in MVG who according to Cross seems to get back to his best. ‘Voltage’ did also admit he was yet to receive the Dutch Darts Masters trophy which he won back in January, but was told just after the interview that he will receive that one very soon.
After a long night it was time to go back home. But not before helping a lost Vincent van der Voort find his way to the exit door, after the ‘Dutch Destroyer’ was probably just as tired as myself, having been busy with his pundit work and most likely giving his honest views as always.
My honest view? The first night of this year’s World Series Finals was the best one we’ve had thus far. The expectations for the rest of the tournament are pretty high now but we do still have four super sessions of darts to make those expectations become reality!
——ENDS—–
Words: Wim Blokpoel
Images: Kelly Deckers/PDC
