The Belgian Darts Open delivered a high-octane afternoon session, seeing Germany’s Martin Schindler advance to the Last 16 with a determined performance. While Schindler celebrated, top seeds Damon Heta and Nathan Aspinall faced unexpected early exits, adding drama to the tournament. Danny Noppert stole the show with a sensational 106 average, setting a new benchmark for the day. With £230,000 on the line, including £35,000 for the winner, the stakes are incredibly high, especially for seeded players whose prize money only counts towards rankings if they win their opening match.
Schindler “The Wall” Breaks Through to the Last 16
German darting sensation Martin “The Wall” Schindler has secured his spot in the Last 16 of a European Tour event for the first time this year. In a tightly contested match against Ireland’s William “The Magpie” O’Connor, Schindler emerged victorious with a 6-3 scoreline, largely due to his superior finishing on the doubles and O’Connor’s inability to capitalize on crucial opportunities.
Schindler seized the initiative early, securing a break in the very first leg after O’Connor squandered two chances at a checkout. Despite “The Magpie” having further opportunities, Schindler extended his lead to 2-0 and then defended it to 3-1. A pivotal moment came when O’Connor missed a 121 checkout on his own throw, allowing Schindler to claim another leg. Although O’Connor fought back with two quick 14-darters to narrow the gap to 3-4, he again missed a 101 finish, which Schindler promptly exploited before sealing his 6-3 victory with a clinical 13-dart leg.
Noppert’s Dazzling Performance Sets New Standards
The afternoon session’s most outstanding performance came from Dutchman Danny “The Freeze” Noppert. He delivered a stunning display against Luke Woodhouse, boasting an impressive 106 average and hitting three sensational 11-dart legs. While Woodhouse put up a strong fight against such a high-caliber performance, he ultimately succumbed to a 3-6 defeat.
A particularly frustrating moment for Woodhouse occurred in Leg 7 when he overshot a 33-point checkout by hitting the T17, effectively gifting the leg to Noppert and hindering his comeback.
Favorites Stumble: Heta and Aspinall Face Early Exits
The Belgian Darts Open proved unforgiving for some of the seeded players, with two prominent names making an unexpected early departure:
- Damon Heta vs. Daryl Gurney: “Superchin” Daryl Gurney finally broke his long-standing losing streak against Damon Heta. Having lost all seven previous encounters with the Australian, Gurney delivered a commanding performance to win 6-3. Heta struggled significantly, managing only an 80 average, which was simply not enough against a determined Gurney. Gurney set the tone early, checking out a magnificent 126 on the bullseye in the first leg.
- Nathan Aspinall vs. Ryan Joyce: Nathan “The Asp” Aspinall also faced an early exit, losing to Ryan Joyce. A visibly frustrated Aspinall struggled immensely on his doubles, converting a mere 13% of his checkout attempts. Despite the match being evenly poised at 3-3, Aspinall couldn’t find his rhythm. Post-match, Aspinall’s frustration was evident as he declined to shake hands with the officials, a moment that drew attention.
Other Key Matches from the Afternoon Session
The afternoon session featured several other compelling battles:
- Ryan Searle vs. Ricky Evans: In a remarkably fast-paced match with no breaks of throw, Ryan “Heavy Metal” Searle ultimately prevailed 6-5 against Ricky Evans. Searle’s win was decided by his victory in the pre-match bullseye throw, granting him the advantage in the deciding leg.
- Ross Smith vs. Cameron Menzies: This match was defined by numerous missed checkout opportunities from both players. While it remained tight at 3-3, Menzies’ repeated misses in the later legs allowed Smith to secure a 6-4 victory.
- Jermaine Wattimena vs. Ryan Meikle: Jermaine “The Machine Gun” Wattimena overcame a challenging start to defeat Ryan Meikle 6-3. He demonstrated strong composure, winning the final three legs in five visits each to seal his progression.
- Chris Dobey vs. Dave Chisnall: Chris “Hollywood” Dobey enjoyed a relatively straightforward path to the Last 16, comfortably beating Dave Chisnall 6-3. Chisnall was far from his best, registering a disappointing 84 average, allowing Dobey to cruise through.
What’s Next: Evening Session and Prize Money Stakes
The Belgian Darts Open continues with its highly anticipated evening session, scheduled to begin at 19:00 CET, where the second round will be completed.
Afternoon Session Results (Saturday, March 21, 2026):
- Ross Smith (13) 6-4 Cameron Menzies
- Jermaine Wattimena (15) 6-3 Ryan Meikle
- Chris Dobey (10) 6-3 Dave Chisnall
- Ryan Searle (9) 6-5 Ricky Evans
- Martin Schindler (12) 6-3 William O’Connor
- Damon Heta (14) 3-6 Daryl Gurney
- Danny Noppert (8) 6-3 Luke Woodhouse
- Nathan Aspinall (11) 3-6 Ryan Joyce
Evening Session Matches (Starting 19:00 CET):
- James Wade (6) – Cristo Reyes
- Jonny Clayton (4) – Sebastian Bialecki
- Stephen Bunting (5) – Andy Baetens
- Mike De Decker (16) – Niels Zonneveld
- Luke Littler (1) – Boris Krcmar
- Luke Humphries (2) – Dirk van Duijvenbode
- Michael van Gerwen (3) – Mickey Mansell
- Josh Rock (7) – Kim Huybrechts
The tournament boasts a substantial total prize fund of £230,000, with the champion taking home a handsome £35,000. It’s important to note a key rule for the 32 pre-qualified seeded players: their prize money only contributes to their PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, and Pro Tour Order of Merit rankings if they win their opening match. While they still receive the prize money if they lose, it won’t impact their ranking positions, adding significant pressure to these initial games.
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
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
