The Flanders Darts Trophy 2026 kicked off with a bang in Antwerp, delivering a mix of nail-biting finishes and surprising upsets. Rising star Beau Greaves almost pulled off a sensational victory against Damon Heta, battling back from a significant deficit to force a deciding leg. Alongside this thrilling encounter, hometown hero Andy Baetens defeated Premier League star Joe Cullen, while darting legends Raymond van Barneveld and Andrew Gilding were knocked out by Jim Long and Chris Landman respectively. Rob Cross delivered the day’s highest average, setting the stage for an exciting weekend as seeded players prepare to join the fray.
Greaves’ Gritty Performance Almost Stuns Damon Heta
Beau Greaves, who arrived in Antwerp with unprecedented attention, pushed world-class player Damon Heta to the brink in a thrilling 6-5 contest. Greaves demonstrated incredible resilience, fighting back from a seemingly insurmountable 5-2 deficit to force a deciding 11th leg. This performance continued her impressive run on the European Tour, where she has increasingly shown she can compete with the sport’s elite.
Just two weeks prior, Greaves took Rob Cross to a deciding leg, with both players averaging over 100. Then, at the Czech Darts Open, she made history as the first woman to win a match on the PDC European Tour, recovering from 3-1 down to beat Daryl Gurney 6-4. Her ability to stay in a match and mount comebacks was evident once more against Heta.
Despite Heta ultimately stopping the comeback to win 6-5, Greaves finished with a higher average of 92.96 compared to Heta’s 90.62 and registered a stunning 121 checkout. While denied another landmark win, this second successive deciding-leg battle against high-level opposition firmly underlined her significant progress on the European stage.
Homegrown Talent and Major Upsets Light Up Antwerp
Andy Baetens Dominates Joe Cullen
One of the headline results of the day saw Belgium’s own Andy Baetens secure a convincing 6-3 victory over Joe Cullen. Baetens had already turned heads with a standout performance in Thursday’s Host Nation Qualifier, where he averaged over 103 and even defeated fellow Belgian star Dimitri Van den Bergh on his way to the main draw. Against Cullen, Baetens maintained his high level, averaging 102.70, hitting four 180s, and converting six of 12 attempts at double. Cullen, despite a brilliant 160 checkout, couldn’t match Baetens’ scoring power, finishing with a 93.98 average. This continued a challenging period on the European Tour for Cullen, who had also faced a first-round exit a week earlier.
Legends Fall: Van Barneveld and Gilding Bow Out
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Jim Long’s Shock Win Over Raymond van Barneveld: The Canadian delivered another major talking point with a 6-2 victory over five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld. Long has a history of upsetting established names, previously beating Josh Rock at the US Darts Masters. While statistically less spectacular, with Long averaging 85.70 to Van Barneveld’s 82.04, it was equally valuable. The Dutchman struggled immensely on his doubles, converting only two of 15 attempts, allowing Long to build an unrecoverable advantage.
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Chris Landman Edges Andrew Gilding: In an afternoon upset, Chris Landman defeated former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding 6-5. Gilding showcased stronger scoring, averaging 92.50 and hitting four maximums, but his doubles proved to be his downfall, converting just five of 21 attempts. Landman, more clinical with six from 14 doubles, also added a crucial 124 checkout to seal his victory.
Other Notable First-Round Results:
- Kevin Doets registered the afternoon’s best average (99.29) in a dominant 6-1 victory over James Hurrell.
- Niels Zonneveld averaged 98.24 in his 6-3 success against Petr Tous.
- Bradley Brooks defeated Mickey Mansell 6-4, despite Mansell posting a higher average.
- Karel Sedlacek beat Michael Hansen 6-2.
- Jeffrey de Graaf edged Jeroen Caron 6-5.
- Ryan Joyce survived another decider, converting six of eight doubles in a 6-5 win over Stephen Burton.
- Niko Springer completed the afternoon with a 6-1 victory over Jaimy Jacobs.
- Gabriel Clemens beat Cameron Menzies 6-4.
- William O’Connor defeated Kevin Lankhuizen 6-2.
Top Performances and Clutch Finishes
Rob Cross Delivers Highest Average
Former world champion Rob Cross, looking to bounce back after an early exit in Prague, delivered the highest average of the day at 104.64 in a superb 6-3 victory over Cristo Reyes. Reyes himself posted an excellent 102.68, making this one of Friday’s highest-quality contests. Both players hit three 180s, but Cross was exceptionally clinical on his doubles, taking six of nine attempts. This dominant display sends Cross into a challenging second-round match against Martin Schindler.
Sebastian Bialecki’s Stunning 170 Checkout
One of the most memorable moments of the night came from Sebastian Bialecki, who survived a deciding leg against Kim Huybrechts in the Belgian’s hometown. On his way to a thrilling 6-5 victory, Bialecki produced a sensational 170 checkout. A 170 checkout, often considered the ‘Big Fish’ in darts, is the highest possible finish, achieved by hitting two treble 20s followed by a bullseye, showcasing incredible precision under pressure.
Brendan Dolan then closed the opening day by beating Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3.
All 16 first-round spots are now decided, setting the stage for an electrifying Saturday as the seeded players enter the tournament, with the second round split across afternoon and evening sessions.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
