Antwerp witnessed a spectacular display of darts mastery as Kirsi Viinikainen and Paul Krohne clinched the prestigious WDF Belgium Open titles. Krohne showcased incredible resilience, bouncing back from a Saturday final loss to secure his third WDF Silver ranking title of the year with a dominant 5-0 victory. Meanwhile, Viinikainen proved unstoppable, achieving a rare double triumph by winning both the Antwerp Open and the Belgium Open, defeating rival Aileen de Graaf in both finals with commanding performances. Their victories underscore their exceptional form and solidify their positions among the sport’s elite.
Krohne’s Comeback King Performance
Paul Krohne capped off an incredible weekend in Antwerp by lifting the WDF Belgium Open title, demonstrating remarkable resilience and skill. He secured his victory with a dominant 5-0 win over Jerry Hendriks in Sunday’s final, sealing the whitewash with an impressive 110 checkout.
This triumph marks Krohne’s third WDF Silver ranking title of the year, adding to his previous wins at the Dutch Open in February and the Swiss Open in June. This consistent performance is significantly narrowing the gap between him and Mitchell Lawrie at the top of the WDF World rankings.
From Disappointment to Dominance
Krohne’s win was particularly impressive as it came just a day after a tough loss. On Saturday, he had reached the final of the Antwerp Open, another Silver event, only to be beaten 5-1 by Jaimy van de Weerd. His ability to bounce back within 24 hours to win another major ranking event speaks volumes about his current form and mental fortitude.
Krohne’s path to the Belgium Open final included a 4-2 semi-final win against Scott Robertson. In the final, he never allowed Hendriks to find his rhythm, closing out the match emphatically. His regular doubles partner, Danny Diller, also had a strong individual weekend, reaching the last 16, after the pair had won Friday’s warm-up event together.
A Year of Milestones for Krohne
The year 2026 has been exceptional for Krohne. His Dutch Open win earlier in the year was a landmark achievement, making him the first German player to win the event. That victory was particularly dramatic, involving a final comeback against Corné Groeneveld where he saved two match darts before closing it out 3-2.
With the Swiss Open in June and now the Belgium Open, Krohne has secured three WDF Silver ranking titles this year, solidifying his position as one of the most consistent and exciting players in the darting world.
Viinikainen’s Unstoppable Double Victory
Kirsi Viinikainen matched Krohne’s success by achieving a spectacular back-to-back double title in Antwerp. She followed up her 5-0 win over Aileen de Graaf in Saturday’s Antwerp Open final with another commanding performance, securing a 5-1 final victory against De Graaf once more in the Belgium Open.
Viinikainen showcased her dominance throughout the weekend. In the semi-finals of the Belgium Open, she comfortably eased past Emillie D’Hondt with a 4-0 victory. While De Graaf also progressed to the final with a 4-0 win in her semi-final, she simply could not find an answer to Viinikainen’s superior play in either final across the weekend. Viinikainen’s consistent high-level performance underscores her status as a formidable force in women’s darts.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
