Luke Woodhouse hits incredible nine-Dart finish to win European Darts Championship Opener

Luke Woodhouse produced a sensational nine-dart finish in the opening match of the European Darts Championship in Dortmund on Thursday, defeating Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 to secure his place in the second round.

The perfect leg came with Woodhouse leading 2-1 while throwing against Van Duijvenbode. Two consecutive 180s left the Englishman with 141 to finish, which he spectacularly checked out on double 12.

The nine-darter proved to be the only break of throw in the match, with Woodhouse sealing victory by taking out 89 on the bullseye.

Speaking to ITV Sport after the match, Woodhouse reflected on his achievement and stressed the importance of securing the win rather than focusing solely on the perfect leg.

“I had a chance at the Worlds, and that didn’t go very well,” Woodhouse said.

He added that remaining composed was crucial to avoiding a repeat of previous disappointments.

“I know it is a cliché, but the important thing is the win, so I tried to keep myself calm and crack on with the game. I didn’t want to be one of those people who hit a nine-darter then lost the game.”

Noppert Pays the Price for Missed Doubles

Danny Noppert suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 defeat against Stephen Bunting, with missed opportunities on the doubles proving costly at crucial moments.

Noppert outscored Bunting in the opening leg but missed four darts at a double on his own throw, allowing Bunting to break and gain an early advantage.

The match went down to a deciding leg, where Noppert had a chance to finish on 100. He hit double 20 with his first dart but missed the target with his second.

Bunting capitalised on the opportunity, producing a magnificent 160 checkout to complete the comeback and claim a dramatic victory.

Menzies Eliminates Recent PDC Title Winner

Niels Zonneveld was another early casualty, exiting the tournament just days after winning his first Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) title in Maastricht.

Zonneveld made an impressive start against Cameron Menzies, breaking in the opening leg with a 109 checkout on tops.

However, Menzies responded strongly, winning six of the next eight legs to secure a 6-3 victory. He sealed the match with an excellent 87 checkout on the bullseye.

Price Dominates Former World Champion Cross

Former world champion Gerwyn Price delivered an impressive performance to defeat Rob Cross 6-2 in a clash between two of darts’ biggest names.

Price immediately set the tone by breaking throw in the opening leg with a spectacular 127 checkout on the bull.

Cross struggled to build momentum after a dart bounced out just as he appeared to be finding his rhythm. The Englishman then missed two darts at double 16 while trailing 3-1, allowing Price to extend his lead to 4-1.

The Welshman eventually wrapped up the victory with a brilliant 135 checkout, underlining his status as a serious contender for the title.

Heta Survives Wade Scare in Thriller

Damon Heta edged past James Wade in a tense 6-5 encounter, despite Wade producing what was arguably the checkout of the night.

Wade landed a superb 121 finish, hitting treble 20, single 11 and the bullseye. He also produced a 103 checkout to break throw and establish a 5-3 lead.

However, the match took a dramatic turn when Wade missed two match darts at double tops in the ninth leg.

Heta seized the opportunity, forced a deciding leg and held his nerve to complete the victory on double four.

Huybrechts Takes Full Advantage of Late Opportunity

Kim Huybrechts made the most of a late call-up after Luke Humphries withdrew from the tournament because of illness.

The Belgian initially lost the opening leg against Ryan Searle, but responded emphatically by winning six consecutive legs to claim a convincing 6-1 victory.

Huybrechts averaged an impressive 103.81 and produced back-to-back 180s during a dominant performance that secured his place in the second round.

Defending Champion Van Veen Survives Gilding Challenge

Defending champion Gian van Veen was forced to dig deep before overcoming Andrew Gilding 6-4 in a closely contested encounter.

Gilding started aggressively, opening two consecutive legs with 180s and breaking throw twice to establish a 3-2 lead.

Van Veen responded by regaining control of the match, putting the pressure back on his opponent as the contest entered its closing stages.

Gilding had an opportunity to force a deciding leg but missed a chance to finish 70 in the 10th leg. Van Veen capitalised, breaking on double eight to complete the victory and keep his title defence alive.

Top Seed Ross Smith Survives Late Scare

Top seed Ross Smith finished the evening with a 6-4 victory over Karel Sedlacek, although his finishing nearly cost him a place in the next round.

Smith generally outscored his opponent throughout the match, but both players struggled to find their doubles at key moments.

Every leg from the third through the ninth went against the throw before Smith finally secured a break to move 5-4 ahead.

The final leg proved equally tense, with the pair missing a combined eight darts at doubles before Smith eventually hit double two to seal the win.

Big Names Set to Enter the Competition on Friday

The European Darts Championship continues on Friday, with several of the sport’s biggest stars scheduled to begin their campaigns.

Among those expected to take to the stage are Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton and Nathan Aspinall, setting up another exciting day of action in Dortmund.

With Woodhouse already producing a memorable nine-darter and several seeded players facing difficult opening-round battles, the tournament has made a thrilling start.