The Zwaantje Masters always seems to lure a few big names through its doors, and this year’s edition looks set to be no different.
The draw took place last Friday at Café Zaal ’t Zwaantje in Eindhoven – proof, if ever it were needed, that darts draws are far more fun than football ones. Who knows, perhaps one day we’ll get Dion Dublin conducting the FA Cup third round from a McDonald’s in Leicester Square.
Anyway, back to this Dutch darting banquet. Co-organiser, Ruud Kuijten oversaw proceedings with Bas Engelen, confirming seven groups and 42 players for the main event.
The line-up has more quality than a well-aged Gouda. Defending champion Wessel Nijman returns to guard his crown, but he won’t have it easy with Danny Noppert, Scott Williams, Wesley Plaisier, Andy Hamilton, Devon Petersen, Darryl Fitton, Marvin van Velzen and Jimmy van Schie all circling.
Fitton finds himself in Group One alongside Jurjen van der Velde and Damian Mol. Williams, meanwhile, has been paired with Jamai van den Herik – who’s been making a racket on the Challenge Tour this year. Hamilton faces Jeffrey Sparidaans, while Devon Petersen will have to keep Corne Groeneveld at bay.
Then there’s Group Seven. Danny Noppert – one of the few Tour Card holders on show and currently world number 15 – has landed in what can only be described as the darting equivalent of a booby trap. Alongside him? Jimmy van Schie, world number one in the WDF rankings, plus Michael van de Ven, Willem Mandigers, Dennis van der Steen and René Smits. Group of Death? More like Group of Dutch Despair.
The format is straightforward enough. Admittedly, when I first noticed there were seven groups – a prime number no less – I did raise an eyebrow. But fear not, the organisers have done the maths. The top two players from each group qualify for the last 16, with the two best third-place finishers sneaking in as well. From there it’s a straight knockout all the way to the final, where on Saturday 23rd August 23, the 2025 Zwaantje Masters champion will be crowned. Expect drama, missed doubles, and plenty of excited Dutch commentators.
Complete Draw – Zwaantje Masters 2025
Group 1
Darryl Fitton
Jurjen van der Velde
Damian Mol
Dennis Zwaga
Rowan van Alebeek
Roy Hamers
Group 2
Scott Williams
Jamai van den Herik
Dennis Beeren
Stan Vos
Davy Verkooijen
Mark van Uden
Group 3
Andy Hamilton
Jeffrey Sparidaans
Tim van Rijsingen
Luuk van Moll
Niels Strijbosch
Anneke Kuijten
Group 4
Wesley Plaisier
Danny van Trijp
Maikel Verberk
Mike Jansen
Han Colen
Steven Jansen
Group 5
Devon Petersen
Corné Groeneveld
Jan van den Broek
Jan-Willem van Hout
Tim Verhagen
John Heijnen
Group 6
Wessel Nijman
Marvin van Velzen
Willem van de Ven
Wouter Bijnen
Ruud Kuijten
Desley Hommersom
Group 7
Danny Noppert
Jimmy van Schie
Michael van de Ven
Willem Mandigers
Dennis van der Steen
René Smits
——ENDS—–
Images: PDC
