The Belgian Darts Open delivered high drama and unexpected turns in its Last 16 session. Young sensation Luke Littler’s dominant run came to a surprising end, while local favourite Andy Baetens thrilled the home crowd by advancing to his first-ever European Tour quarter-final. Darts legend Michael van Gerwen edged out a thrilling encounter, setting the stage for an electrifying final day in Wieze as the tournament heads towards its climax.
Belgian Hero Andy Baetens Storms into Quarter-Finals
The home crowd erupted as Host Nation Qualifier Andy Baetens secured a sensational victory over Martin Schindler, reaching his maiden European Tour quarter-final. In a nail-biting encounter that went down to the wire, Baetens, known as “The Beast,” held his nerve in the deciding leg. The match saw both players trading blows, with the first four legs going with the darts. Schindler briefly took the lead with an impressive 88-finish in 12 darts, but Baetens immediately responded with a 104-checkout. After two consecutive 11-dart legs, Baetens was on the brink of victory, but missed four match darts, allowing Schindler to force a decider. However, Schindler’s scoring faltered in the final leg, giving Baetens a clear path to seal the win in 16 darts and keep Belgian hopes alive.
Shock Exit: Luke Littler’s Streak Halted by Niels Zonneveld
The highly anticipated “triple” triumph for Luke Littler at the Belgian Darts Open was dramatically cut short by a stunning performance from Niels Zonneveld. After Littler took an early 3-1 lead, including a brilliant 122-finish, Zonneveld fought back relentlessly, levelling the score at 3-3. The tension mounted as both players exchanged 15-dart legs. Zonneveld had chances to pull ahead, missing darts for a 5-3 lead. Littler, known as “The Nuke,” then punished Zonneveld’s missed match dart on D19 with a spectacular 136-finish to force a decider. Despite Littler starting the final leg with a 180, he then threw three triple-less visits, opening the door for Zonneveld. “Triple Z” seized the opportunity, closing out the match with a magnificent 147 high-finish, handing Littler his first defeat in Wieze and ending his quest for a third consecutive title.
Van Gerwen Edges Gurney in High-Class Thriller
In arguably the match of the session, 2023 champion Michael van Gerwen showcased his class by defeating Daryl Gurney 6-5. Gurney delivered an exceptional performance, boasting an average of 109.73, yet it wasn’t enough to overcome “Mighty Mike.” The match was a back-and-forth spectacle, with Van Gerwen hitting crucial checkouts like 82 and 129. Gurney kept pace, including a superb 122-finish. The drama peaked in the deciding leg. After Van Gerwen missed a bullseye for a 164-finish, Gurney capitalised with a 64-checkout and then a 140-finish (T20-D20-D20) to force the decider. Despite Gurney having the throw for the match, Van Gerwen produced seven perfect darts and finished the leg with his 12th dart, securing a hard-fought victory.
Other Notable Results from the Last 16:
- Luke Humphries dominated Jermaine Wattimena 6-1, securing his spot in the quarter-finals with a powerful display of scoring and finishing.
- Belgian hopeful Kim Huybrechts’ journey ended as he fell 3-6 to Chris Dobey, who accelerated his game in the middle legs with finishes like 130 on the bull and 118.
- Three matches went the full distance, highlighting the intense competition:
- Danny Noppert overcame Ryan Searle 6-5, recovering from a 2-3 deficit and capitalising on Searle’s missed match dart on the bullseye to hit an 81-checkout in 12 darts.
- Jonny Clayton defeated Ross Smith 6-5 in another decider. Clayton hit a trademark 121 checkout early and a 120 Shanghai finish, but Smith fought back to force the final leg, which Clayton won against the throw.
- Ryan Joyce prevailed 6-5 against Cristo Reyes. Joyce started strong, leading 3-0, but Reyes mounted a comeback to take a 4-3 lead before Joyce ultimately sealed the victory with a 102-finish in the decider.
The Road Ahead: Final Day Schedule
The Belgian Darts Open culminates in an exciting final day of action. Here’s what to expect on Sunday, March 22nd, starting at 19:00 CET:
Quarter-Finals:
- Niels Zonneveld vs. Danny Noppert
- Jonny Clayton vs. Andy Baetens
- Luke Humphries vs. Chris Dobey
- Michael van Gerwen vs. Ryan Joyce
Semi-Finals:
- Winner of Zonneveld/Noppert vs. Winner of Clayton/Baetens
- Winner of Humphries/Dobey vs. Winner of van Gerwen/Joyce
Final:
- Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final 2
Prize Money Breakdown
A total prize fund of £230,000 is on offer at the Belgian Darts Open, with significant rewards for the top performers. It’s important to note that for players to have their prize money count towards the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, and Pro Tour Order of Merit, they 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.
- 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
- Total Prize Fund: £230,000
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
