The Titan, Dirk van Duijvenbode, currently finds himself perched just inside the darts world’s top 32 and, as such, missed out when it came to the composition of the Netherlands side for the recent World Cup of Darts.
But was missing out ultimately a blessing in disguise or a lamentable missed opportunity? Or in other words – a boost or a burden.
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As we know, it was Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen who donned the famous orange colours in Frankfurt. For the Aubergenius to have forced his way into that pairing would have required an extraordinary sequence of events. Yet, with the 33-year-old finally appearing to have consigned the injury woes that blighted much of the previous two seasons to the history books, perhaps World Cup absence will prove a blessing in disguise.
Van Duijvenbode’s performances on the Players Championship circuit this season have provided ample evidence that the Dutchman’s renaissance is gathering momentum. A runners-up finish in Leicester, coupled with a pair of quarter-final appearances over the past month, suggests that the six-time floor title winner is rediscovering the consistency which once propelled him into the sport’s upper echelons.
There has also been encouragement on the European Tour, with a quarter-final appearance to his name. However, Van Duijvenbode will feature in Slovakia this weekend for the nation’s inaugural European Tour event and a draw versus Latvian Madars Razma may illustrate the boost vs burden of World Cup participation debate quite nicely.
More significantly, the Titan has already all but secured his passage to Blackpool, sitting comfortably inside the qualification places for the World Matchplay courtesy of his position on the ProTour Order of Merit.
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Naturally, Van Duijvenbode would relish what would be a fourth appearance for his country at the World Cup of Darts. For the moment, though, there may be considerably larger prizes demanding his attention.
Reclamation of a place amongst the sport’s elite top 16 must surely come first?
Judging by recent signs, the Titan may finally be stirring from his prolonged slumber.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
