On the second stage of the Players Championship Finals, Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode faced Latvian opponent Madars Razma in what turned out to be a tense and controversial encounter.
During the match, Van Duijvenbode became visibly frustrated with the referee, as shown in the circulating footage. The disagreement stemmed from an earlier decision that the Dutchman strongly contested. Despite his efforts, Van Duijvenbode was unable to turn the tide on stage and ultimately exited the tournament following Razma’s 6–3 victory.
Dirk van Duijvenbode is not happy… 😤
He's deemed to throw an illegal dart before Madars Razma sweeps up a 6-3 victory to progress.
📺 https://t.co/SPmnf5chNR #PCFinals | R1 pic.twitter.com/uu97lTFc3l
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 21, 2025
Even after the match concluded, the tension had not fully dissipated. Van Duijvenbode returned to address the referee directly, seeking clarification on the disputed call. A second official, positioned to the right of the main referee, eventually stepped in to de-escalate the situation.
The Dutchman was not the only player from the Low Countries to bow out on Friday. Niels Zonneveld, Wessel Nijman, Raymond van Barneveld, Kevin Doets, and Wesley Plaisier also saw their tournaments come to an end. Belgian contenders Mike De Decker and Mario Vandenbogaerde were similarly unable to progress on the opening day.
As a result, only Richard Veenstra, Danny Noppert, Gian van Veen, and Jermaine Wattimena remain in the competition representing the Netherlands and Belgium heading into Saturday morning. This tournament marks the final major PDC event before the highly anticipated 2026 World Darts Championship.
The draw for the World Championship will take place on Monday evening, officially kicking off preparations for what many consider the most exciting period of the darts calendar. For the first time, the tournament will feature 128 participants, making it the longest edition in history.
The 2026 PDC World Championship begins on Thursday, 11 December, with the final scheduled for 3 January. Players will compete for a record-breaking £5 million prize fund, including an unprecedented £1 million for the champion.
Recent champions include Gerwyn Price (2021), Peter Wright (2022), Michael Smith (2023), Luke Humphries (2024), and Luke Littler (2025). The last Dutch world title dates back to 2019, when Michael van Gerwen claimed his third crown. Before him, Raymond van Barneveld’s legendary 2007 triumph is still widely regarded as one of the greatest World Championship finals ever played.