Geert Nentjes was the first Dutchman to qualify for the second phase of the PDC Home Tour on Monday. The Flevolander became the winner of group 4 in the new digital darts tournament thanks to three victories.
Nentjes consecutively beat Mickey Mansell (5-4), Lisa Ashton (5-3) and Ross Smith (5-3) and averaged over 95 points in all his games and against Mansell even 100. He still had lucky that Mansell missed a match dart against him.
The number 71 in the world, who fears that he will lose his Tour card at the PDC after this year because he has to end up in the top 64, was the third Dutchman to play on the Home Tour. Niels Zonneveld and Jan Dekker finished fourth and last in groups 1 and 3 respectively.
Nentjes is the fourth player to advance to the second phase of the tournament, after Jamie Lewis (group 1 winner), Luke Woodhouse (group 2 winner thanks in part to a nine-darter) and Dave Chisnall (group 3 winner). Nentjes, Woodhouse and Chisnall also did that without losing points.
Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price failed to live up to their favorite status. The world champion and global number three came second in groups 1 and 2. Both may not have been eliminated yet and may be admired again in the coming weeks, as not all 128 Tour card holders have signed up.
The Home Tour is an alternative during the corona crisis. In the first phase, groups of four players are played 32 days in a row. All group winners reach the second phase, the format of which is still unknown, because it is not clear when it will be possible to play again in real life.
Final score group 4
- 1. Geert Nentjes 3-6 (+5)
- 2. Ross Smith 3-2 (0)
- Mickey Mansell 3-2 (-1)
- 4. Lisa Ashton 3-2 (-4)
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