The opening day of the Belgian Darts Open 2026 was packed with thrilling action, setting the stage for an unforgettable tournament. Niels Zonneveld, fresh from a strong run, kicked off his campaign with a dominant win, while other stars like Luke Woodhouse, Ricky Evans, and Cameron Menzies also secured victories. However, the day also saw dramatic comebacks, a tense rivalry match where Mickey Mansell defeated former World Champion Michael Smith, and the unexpected struggles of some fan favorites. Get ready for more darts drama as the second round approaches!
Dutch Dynamo Dominates & English Contingent Advances
Fresh off a magnificent semi-final appearance at the European Darts Trophy, Dutch sensation Niels Zonneveld, affectionately known as “Triple Z,” continued his impressive form at the Belgian Darts Open. He delivered a **flawless and technically superb performance** in his opening match in Wieze. Zonneveld showcased his skill with an average score of over 100 points per three darts, punctuated by an impressive **five maximums (180s)**, to comfortably defeat Nordic and Baltic qualifier Jani Haavisto. While the Finnish thrower put up a commendable fight, he simply couldn’t match Zonneveld’s sustained high scoring. Triple Z now looks ahead to a compelling second-round encounter on Saturday evening against Belgium’s top player, Mike De Decker.
A Trio of English Triumphs
The subsequent three matches all saw English players emerge victorious, though with varying degrees of effort:
- Luke Woodhouse’s Easy Ride: Woodhouse effortlessly navigated his match against Belgian qualifier Pascal Devroey. He quickly established a commanding 5-0 lead, appearing to be in complete control. Devroey managed to salvage a couple of legs to make the scoreline slightly more respectable, but Woodhouse rarely needed to push himself. He will undoubtedly need to elevate his game when he faces the formidable Danny Noppert in the next round.
- Ricky Evans’ Clinical Finish: “Rapid Ricky” Evans overcame compatriot Scott Williams in a match where Williams seemed a subdued version of his usual flamboyant self. Interestingly, Williams created more opportunities to hit a double for the win, but **Evans demonstrated superior clinical precision** in the crucial moments, securing the victory. The speedster from Kettering now faces a much tougher challenge against Ryan “Heavy Metal” Searle.
- Ryan Joyce’s Gritty Win: Completing the English hat-trick, Ryan Joyce battled hard to secure a tough win over Adam Gawlas. Both players hovered around mid-80 averages, indicating a less spectacular but still tense contest. Joyce built a seemingly comfortable 5-2 lead before the young Czech rallied to narrow the gap to just one leg. However, Gawlas couldn’t capitalize on his turn to throw, allowing Joyce to close out the match. Joyce now prepares to meet Nathan Aspinall in round two, assuming Aspinall successfully overcomes his reported travel delays.
Smooth Progressions and Sudden Shifts
Other players also made their way through the first round with relative ease:
- Cameron Menzies’ Composed Victory: Cameron Menzies safely advanced, securing a composed and largely untroubled victory over Sietse Lap. The Dutchman offered minimal resistance, allowing the Scot to complete his task efficiently and conserve energy for his upcoming clash with Ross Smith.
- William O’Connor’s Routine Success: Similarly, William O’Connor enjoyed a routine success, comfortably dispatching European Tour debutant Tyler Thorpe. The Irishman now advances to face Martin Schindler in Saturday’s evening session.
Belgian Hopes Dashed by Resilient Meikle
For a brief period, the Belgian crowd had reason to celebrate as their representative, Francois Schweyen, surged into a **commanding 4-1 lead** against Ryan Meikle. However, the Englishman demonstrated admirable resilience, systematically chipping away at the deficit before **rattling off five consecutive legs to secure a stunning comeback victory**. Schweyen’s visible frustration at the dramatic shift in momentum highlighted the cruel and unpredictable nature of darts.
A Tense Showdown: Mansell vs. Smith
The session concluded with a match steeped in tension, as Mickey Mansell overcame former World Champion Michael Smith. Their previous encounter had been far from amicable, and the **conspicuous absence of a pre-match handshake** suggested that any lingering animosity had not entirely disappeared. Despite Smith statistically outperforming his opponent in average score, checkout percentage (the rate at which players finish their legs), and maximums, he crucially **proved incapable of breaking Mansell’s throw**. With “The Clonoe Cyclone” having the advantage of throwing first in the deciding legs, that singular factor ultimately proved decisive. Mansell now progresses to face another Alexandra Palace icon in Michael van Gerwen, promising another electrifying contest.
What’s Next?
Action in Wieze resumes at 7pm GMT, where the remaining first-round fixtures will be completed, setting the stage for an increasingly compelling weekend of darting theatre. Stay tuned for more upsets, dominance, and rivalries!
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
