The Belgian Darts Open witnessed a thrilling start as defending champion Luke Littler kicked off his campaign with a dominant victory. Local favorites Andy Baetens and Kim Huybrechts delighted the home crowd by securing their spots on the crucial final day, showcasing impressive form. While Mike De Decker faced a narrow exit, other top players like Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Cristo Reyes also advanced, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament where significant prize money and ranking points are on the line.
Littler Fires Warning Shot with Blistering Performance
The reigning champion, Luke “The Nuke” Littler, wasted no time asserting his dominance at the Belgian Darts Open. His opening match against Boris Krcmar was nothing short of spectacular, ending in a 6-2 victory. Littler started at a phenomenal pace, building a commanding 5-0 lead with legs of 13, 11, 12, and 15 darts. He showcased his clinical finishing with impressive checkouts, including a 94 via double-19, double-19, and a brilliant 119 on double-13 after Krcmar missed his own opportunities. Although a couple of slightly weaker legs towards the end brought his average down from a potential 110+, he still finished with a superb 105 average, underlining his intent to defend his title.
Humphries Survives Scare, Belgian Hopes Soar
Humphries Holds Off Van Duijvenbode’s Comeback
World Champion Luke “Cool Hand Luke” Humphries also secured his passage to the next round, though not without a late challenge. He defeated Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 in a match that saw him initially take firm control. Van Duijvenbode struggled early with missed doubles, allowing Humphries to build a significant lead. However, “The Titan” mounted a spirited comeback, winning three consecutive legs with 13, 14, and 14 darts to close the gap to 5-4 and even had a dart at double-16 to force a deciding leg. Humphries, however, held his nerve to seal the victory.
Home Heroes Light Up the Stage
The Belgian crowd had plenty to cheer about as two of their own advanced to the final day.
- Andy Baetens Triumphs Over Bunting: Andy Baetens capitalized on a somewhat inconsistent performance from Stephen Bunting to secure a 6-4 win. Both players struggled with their finishing accuracy, but Baetens maintained an early lead thanks to a crucial break. Despite Bunting fighting back to level at 4-4, Baetens showed resilience, breaking throw again and sealing the match after Bunting missed key doubles. Baetens now faces Martin Schindler in the next round.
- Kim Huybrechts Stuns Josh Rock: In a thrilling encounter, Kim “The Hurricane” Huybrechts delighted the home fans by coming from behind to defeat Premier League contender Josh Rock 6-4. Rock had initially taken a 3-1 lead, even missing a dart for 4-1. However, Huybrechts found his rhythm, producing two strong scoring legs to level the match at 4-4. Rock struggled to regain his scoring touch and ultimately missed five darts at double-20 in the final leg, allowing Huybrechts to snatch a memorable victory.
Mixed Fortunes for Other Contenders
- Mike De Decker’s Heartbreaking Exit: Local player Mike De Decker faced a tough battle against Niels Zonneveld, ultimately losing 5-6 in a tightly contested match. De Decker’s play was inconsistent; he had been clinical early on but then struggled to close out legs. Zonneveld found his form at a crucial moment, hitting a strong 11-dart break to deny De Decker a match dart and secure his own spot in the next round. This defeat is particularly bitter for De Decker, as it means he will have to re-enter qualification rounds for future European Tour events starting from the fifth tournament.
- Michael van Gerwen Advances: “MvG” secured a 6-4 win over Mickey Mansell. After an early exchange of leads, Van Gerwen’s decisive break to make it 3-2 proved crucial. He narrowly avoided a 161 checkout from Mansell and then closed out the leg in 11 darts. Despite Mansell missing a 121 checkout on double-14 later, Van Gerwen sealed the match with a superb 114 checkout, avoiding a potential deciding leg where he would have thrown second.
- Cristo Reyes Continues Strong Run: “The Spartan” Cristo Reyes made it to the last 16 for the second time this season, defeating a subdued James Wade 6-2. Reyes consistently punished Wade’s missed doubles with key checkouts of 87 and 97. After missing a 135 on the bullseye, Reyes closed out the match in the next leg with two 180s and a 12-dart finish.
- Jonny Clayton Secures Spot: Jonny “The Ferret” Clayton defeated Sebastian Bialecki 6-3. Bialecki initially broke throw to lead 3-2 but then squandered five darts at a double in the sixth leg. Clayton seized the opportunity, turning the match around to lead 4-3 and then securing another break with an 11-darter, leaving Bialecki with too much to do.
The Road to the Finals: Schedule and Prize Money
The Belgian Darts Open culminates on Sunday, March 22nd, 2026, with an action-packed final day.
Sunday’s Schedule:
- Afternoon Session (from 13:00 CET): The Last 16 matches will be played. Key matchups include Luke Littler vs. Niels Zonneveld, Andy Baetens vs. Martin Schindler, and Kim Huybrechts vs. Chris Dobey.
- Evening Session (from 19:00 CET): The tournament will conclude with the Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and the Grand Final.
Prize Money Breakdown:
A total of £230,000 is up for grabs at the Belgian Darts Open. Here’s how it’s distributed:
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-finalists: £10,000
- Quarter-finalists: £8,000
- Last 16: £5,000
- Second Round: £3,500
- First Round: £2,000
Important Note: For prize money to count towards the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, and Pro Tour Order of Merit, players must win their first match. If they lose their opening game, they still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to their ranking points.
How to Watch the Action
Fans can follow all the thrilling action from major darts tournaments, including the European Tour events, live. These events are typically broadcast in high definition through various leading sports streaming services, accessible on smart TVs, smartphones, PCs, laptops, and tablets. Many services also offer the option to watch missed games on-demand, ensuring you don’t miss any of the drama.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
