The Flanders Darts Trophy 2026 in Antwerp delivered a night of upsets and thrilling contests as several top contenders, including Dutch sensation Michael van Gerwen and Germany’s Gabriel Clemens and Niko Springer, were eliminated. Meanwhile, darts heavyweights Gerwyn Price and James Wade showcased their class, securing their spots for the final day. Prepare for an exhilarating Sunday as the tournament heads towards its climax, with new and established stars vying for the coveted title.
The Drama Unfolds: Major Exits Shake Up the Tournament
German Hopes Dashed: Springer & Clemens Eliminated
Saturday night saw the departure of the last two German participants, Gabriel Clemens and Niko Springer, from the Flanders Darts Trophy. While Clemens put up a commendable fight, Springer faced a challenging defeat.
- Niko Springer’s Tough Night: It was a difficult performance for Niko Springer against a red-hot Nathan Aspinall. After a brief feeling-out period, Aspinall found his rhythm, playing a blistering game with an impressive 106-point average, leading to a dominant 6-1 victory. Springer missed crucial checkouts early on, including a 152 finish opportunity, allowing Aspinall to capitalize and storm to a 3-0 lead. Aspinall continued his strong play, finishing legs in 13 and 12 darts, and closing out with a 74 checkout.
- Gabriel Clemens’ Valiant Effort: Gabriel Clemens delivered a strong performance, but Gian van Veen proved merciless in punishing his few errors, securing a 6-3 win. Clemens started promisingly with a 107 finish and held his next throw. Van Veen, however, missed break chances but remained solid in his own legs. A crucial 143 checkout seemed to shift momentum, but Clemens responded with a stunning 146 finish to level the match at 3-3. The “German Giant” then narrowly missed the bullseye, allowing van Veen to seal an 11-dart leg with 82 and then another with 84. Clemens had two more chances at 88 but couldn’t convert, and van Veen clinically closed out the match with 64.
Shock Exit: Michael van Gerwen’s Early Departure
In what’s becoming a concerning trend, Michael van Gerwen’s performance saw him exit the tournament. Damon Heta significantly raised his game in the closing stages, triumphing over the full distance.
- The first six legs were evenly split, with both players needing at least six darts to finish. Van Gerwen produced a highlight with a 79 finish.
- Heta then elevated his game with a 13-dart leg, matched by MvG’s 124 finish for a 12-darter.
- After holds on both sides, van Gerwen struggled in the deciding leg, hitting only one big triple. Heta seized the opportunity, securing his quarter-final ticket in 13 darts.
Powerhouses Prevail: Price and Wade Advance
Not all top seeds faltered; some of darts’ biggest names demonstrated why they are considered elite.
- Gerwyn Price’s Dominant Start: Gerwyn Price had an excellent start to his campaign, achieving an average of over 103 points in his 6-3 victory over Bradley Brooks. Price broke his opponent in the very first leg with a 10-darter and never relinquished his lead. Brooks missed an opportunity to level at 3-3 but otherwise struggled to make an impact on Price’s throws. The Welsh number one concluded his impressive performance by checking out 116 for a 12-darter.
- James Wade’s Clinical Performance: James Wade, known for his consistency, once again showed his mettle. Despite almost identical averages, he comfortably defeated Jim Long 6-2. “The Machine” secured an early break in 12 darts, which Long initially managed to equalize. However, Wade then checked out 68, and after Long missed two chances to level again, he conceded another break. Wade then confidently closed out the match to advance.
Other Thrilling Encounters
The night was filled with other compelling matches, showcasing both rising talents and seasoned campaigners.
- Wessel Nijman’s Breakthrough: Wessel Nijman faced the expected tough opponent in Sebastian Bialecki but managed to secure a 6-4 win. The match was level after eight legs, with Nijman showcasing his finishing prowess with checkouts of 170, 93, 115, and 110. Despite missing chances to gain an earlier lead, Nijman broke at the crucial moment with a 13-darter and then held his nerve to close out the match. Notably, thanks to earlier results, Bialecki had already secured his debut qualification for the World Grand Prix, and Joe Cullen also confirmed his spot, completing the major field.
- Stephen Bunting’s Narrow Escape: Stephen Bunting survived a scare against Brendan Dolan, who arguably played one of his best stage games in years but couldn’t quite seal the win. Bunting took three of the first four legs, including finishes of 94 and 101. Dolan then claimed the next three, including a 14-darter, but missed three crucial break opportunities. In the dramatic closing stages, both players hit 12-darters, with Bunting checking out 128 to make it 5-5. In the deciding leg, Dolan missed a match dart at 93, allowing “The Bullet” to step in and win in 15 darts.
- Ryan Joyce’s Clinical Doubles: Both players had twelve chances at a double, but Ryan Joyce was far more clinical than Josh Rock, securing a 6-3 victory. “Relentless” had a much better start, breaking twice in the fifth leg, while Rock missed the desired double three times. “Rocky” then claimed the next three legs, including an 86 finish, but missed the bullseye for an equalizer. Joyce then cleared 80 to go 5-3 up. After two more missed attempts from the Northern Irishman on the outer ring, his exit was sealed.
Looking Ahead: The Finals Day Schedule
The Flanders Darts Trophy 2026 culminates on Sunday, September 13, 2026, with an action-packed final day.
Sunday, September 13, 2026:
- Afternoon Session (from 1:00 PM CEST):
- Round of 16 Matches:
- Gian van Veen vs. Kevin Doets
- Ryan Searle vs. Chris Dobey
- Ryan Joyce vs. Jermaine Wattimena
- Gerwyn Price vs. Ross Smith
- James Wade vs. Rob Cross
- Danny Noppert vs. Wessel Nijman
- Damon Heta vs. Luke Woodhouse
- Stephen Bunting vs. Nathan Aspinall
- Evening Session (from 7:00 PM CEST):
- Quarter-finals
- Semi-finals
- Final
The Stakes: Prize Money at the Flanders Darts Trophy
The tournament boasts a total prize fund of £230,000, with the winner taking home a substantial £35,000.
It’s important to note that all 32 pre-qualified players (via the PDC Order of Merit and Pro Tour Order of Merit) must win their opening match for their prize money to count towards the respective rankings. If they lose their first game, they still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to the main PDC Order of Merit, the European Tour Order of Merit, or the Pro Tour Order of Merit.
Prize Money Breakdown:
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-finalists: £10,000
- Quarter-finalists: £8,000
- Last 16: £5,000
- Last 32 (2nd Round): £3,500
- Last 64 (1st Round): £2,000
- Total Prize Fund: £230,000
How to Watch the Action
Darts enthusiasts can follow all the excitement of the Flanders Darts Trophy live. In many regions, sports streaming services provide comprehensive coverage of major darts tournaments, including European Tour events. These services typically offer high-definition streams accessible on various devices such as smart TVs, smartphones, PCs, laptops, and tablets. Viewers can often choose between monthly or annual subscription plans to access live events, replays, and a wide array of other sports content. Additionally, some events may be available on free-to-air sports channels or specific dedicated darts channels offered by streaming platforms, ensuring fans don’t miss any of the thrilling action.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
