Luke Humphries won through an epic deciding-leg contest against Cameron Menzies to open his bid for Elten Safety Shoes Dutch Darts Championship glory on Saturday.
World number one Humphries produced a stirring fightback to deny Menzies on a thrilling day of action in Rosmalen, overturning a 5-3 deficit to triumph with a 105.76 average and six 180s.
Menzies landed seven maximums in defeat, but the Scot was unable to close out a famous victory, with Humphries producing legs of 12, 13 and 12 darts to cap off a terrific comeback.
“I’m proud of myself there,” reflected top seed Humphries, who will play 2022/23 World Champion Michael Smith for a place in the quarter-finals tomorrow afternoon.
“I didn’t give up, and I managed to fight back and get the win with a decent performance.
“It was nice to get some emotion out and feel that good after winning the game.
“Now I need to build on my performance and be better tomorrow against Michael.”
Elsewhere, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Danny Noppert and Wessel Nijman preserved Dutch hopes with impressive second round wins at the Autotron.
Van Duijvenbode converted four ton-plus checkouts – including sensational 161 and 170 combinations – to defeat ten-time TV title winner James Wade 6-3 in Saturday evening’s opener.
Dutch number two Noppert ran out a resounding 6-2 winner against Mario Vandenbogaerde, while Nijman landed a hat-trick of ton-topping finishes to demolish two-time World Champion Peter Wright 6-1.
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld was unable to join his compatriots in the last 16, succumbing 6-2 to former European Champion Ross Smith, who averaged 99.4 on his way to victory.
Smith’s reward is a third round showdown against 2024 runner-up Jonny Clayton, who averaged just shy of 100 to sweep aside Max Hopp by the same scoreline.
Hopp’s fellow countryman Martin Schindler was one of Saturday’s stand-out performers, averaging 102 in his 6-4 win over Grand Slam runner-up Martin Lukeman.
Schindler will now go head-to-head with his younger compatriot Niko Springer in round three, after the emerging talent conjured up a nerveless 100 checkout to dump out third seed Stephen Bunting.
There was also joy for German number two Ricardo Pietreczko, who dumped out reigning champion Josh Rock to boost his hopes of World Matchplay qualification, sealing his progress with a 6-4 success.
Daryl Gurney also celebrated a precious victory in his bid to qualify for July’s Blackpool showpiece, surviving two match darts to account for Premier League star Chris Dobey.
Fifth seed Damon Heta averaged over a ton to see off Host Nation Qualifier Jeffrey Sparidaans, while 2022 champion Michael Smith won through an extraordinary tussle against Ryan Joyce.
Smith survived ten match darts in the penultimate leg of his clash against Joyce, before producing a clinical 106 kill to set up a fascinating showdown against Humphries.
European Champion Ritchie Edhouse won through his second last-leg shoot-out of the weekend, following up his win over Kim Huybrechts with a narrow victory over 2023 champion Dave Chisnall.
Edhouse will now play William O’Connor in the last 16, after the Irishman capitalised on his late call-up by dumping out Croatian World Cup star Boris Krcmar.
In Saturday’s other second round tie, Ryan Searle prevailed in a high-quality affair against Ryan Meikle, averaging 99 and crashing in six maximums to record a 6-4 victory.
Searle will take on Mickey Mansell for a place in the last eight, after the Northern Irishman received a bye following Michael van Gerwen’s withdrawal from the tournament.
The third round of the Elten Safety Shoes Dutch Darts Championship will take place on Sunday afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a bumper evening session.
Live coverage from the Dutch Darts Championship will be streamed on DAZN for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and through the DAZN Darts channel on Pluto TV.
Coverage will also be shown on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers' worldwide.
Click here for live scores, match stats & results.
Elten Safety Shoes Dutch Darts Championship
Saturday May 24
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Damon Heta 6-3 Jeffrey Sparidaans
Ritchie Edhouse 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Michael Smith 6-5 Ryan Joyce
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Max Hopp
Daryl Gurney 6-5 Chris Dobey
Martin Schindler 6-4 Martin Lukeman
Danny Noppert 6-2 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Ryan Searle 6-4 Ryan Meikle
Evening Session
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 James Wade
William O'Connor 6-3 Boris Krcmar
Ross Smith 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Wessel Nijman 6-1 Peter Wright
Luke Humphries 6-5 Cameron Menzies
Niko Springer 6-5 Stephen Bunting
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-4 Josh Rock
Mickey Mansell Bye (Michael van Gerwen withdrew from the tournament)
Sunday May 25
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Third Round
Luke Humphries v Michael Smith
William O’Connor v Ritchie Edhouse
Jonny Clayton v Ross Smith
Damon Heta v Danny Noppert
Mickey Mansell v Ryan Searle
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Wessel Nijman
Niko Springer v Martin Schindler
Daryl Gurney v Ricardo Pietreczko
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Sunday’s games played in Draw Bracket order