“To hit a 124 finish to win in a last-leg decider, I have no words for that,” claimed Wattimena, who whitewashed 2023 champion Peter Wright in round one.
I was 5-1 down but I told myself to keep fighting.
The smile is not coming off my face this evening! I haven’t played my A-game in the last few years, but I am growing now, and I am confident I can beat the biggest players in the world!” Ricardo Pietreczko maintained home interest with a convincing 10-3 win over Andrew Gilding in Saturday’s finale, as he secured his place in a maiden televised quarter-final.
The German star delighted over 7,000 German fans at the Westfalenhalle with a professional display, landing 142 and 158 finishes to move through to a clash against Danny Noppert.
Noppert was superb in celebrating a 10-6 victory over World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker, averaging over a ton, landing eight 180s and converting a trio of ton-plus checkouts.
The Dutchman took out 124, 116 and 117 to secure a place in his fourth consecutive European Championship quarter-final, ending De Decker’s six-match winning run on the big stage as a result.
Elsewhere, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Luke Woodhouse will collide in Sunday’s opening quarter-final, after overcoming Daryl Gurney and Ryan Searle in their respective second round ties.
Van Duijvenbode defeated Gurney 10-5 to reach a third European Championship quarter-final in four appearances, defying seven 180s from the Northern Irishman to prevail with a 95 average.
Woodhouse, meanwhile, progressed to his second televised quarter-final with a 10-8 victory over Searle, wrapping up proceedings with a superb 12-darter to continue his impressive debut campaign.
The quarter-finals will take place on Sunday afternoon at the Westfalenhalle, ahead of the decisive semi-finals and final on Sunday evening, as the remaining eight players compete for the ÂŁ120,000 top prize.
