On the day before the main tournament of the Winmau World Masters got underway, the qualifying rounds produced a remarkable and somewhat awkward moment involving Mervyn King and his opponent.
Viewers have been divided over who was at fault, as can be seen in the circulating footage of the incident. Opinions remain split, adding to the discussion surrounding the match.
In the end, it was Adam Werner who emerged victorious, taking control of the contest and eliminating King. The Englishman also failed to progress in his subsequent match against Beau Greaves, losing a close encounter 3–2 despite posting the higher average.
King’s impressive 96.48 average proved insufficient to overcome the talented Greaves in the battle for a coveted place in the main draw of the Winmau World Masters. Ultimately, neither King, Werner, nor Greaves managed to reach the last eight of the qualifying stage and therefore missed out on qualification.
Those who did succeed in reaching the final eight were Niels Zonneveld, Jeffrey de Graaf, Wessel Nijman, Jimmy van Schie, Madars Razma, Shane McGuirk, Connor Scutt, and James Hurrell. With four Dutch players advancing, it was an excellent result for Dutch darts fans—although the main tournament told a different story.
On the opening day of the main draw, the same number of Dutch representatives were eliminated. Michael van Gerwen, Jermaine Wattimena, Niels Zonneveld, and Wessel Nijman were all knocked out in their first matches, bringing their campaigns to an early end.
Gian van Veen, however, did manage to secure a victory and became the first Dutch player to reach the second round. He may yet be joined by three more compatriots, as Danny Noppert, Jimmy van Schie, and Jeffrey de Graaf are all scheduled to play their opening matches on Friday.
They face tough opposition, with potential matchups against the likes of Ross Smith, Daryl Gurney, and Stephen Bunting. Even if they progress, the challenge may intensify further in the next round—Van Schie, for example, could face Luke Littler if he advances.
In addition, Belgium’s Mike De Decker will also be in action on Friday. The full playing schedule for the day is available to view.