Darts Drama in Krakow: Rising Stars and Local Heroes Gear Up for Poland Darts Open!
The European Tour 2026 season ignites this Friday with the inaugural Poland Darts Open in Krakow! This marks the first time a European Tour event will be held in Poland, promising high-octane action. The final four local qualification spots have been secured, and the main draw is set. Expect thrilling encounters, with German talents Niko Springer and debutant Marvin Kraft facing challenging opening matches, while Martin Schindler awaits his second-round opponent. Local hero Krzysztof Ratajski also has a potentially blockbuster clash on his path.
Poland’s Darts Debut: A New Chapter for the European Tour
Krakow is buzzing as it hosts its first-ever European Tour event, kicking off the 2026 season. The excitement began with the Host Nation Qualifier (HNQ), where 37 local players battled fiercely for just four coveted spots.
Among the successful qualifiers was **Krzysztof Kciuk**, a two-time World Championship participant. As expected, Kciuk dominated his way through, dropping only a single leg across three matches – a testament to his experience and skill.
The other three players making it through the HNQ and set to debut or return to the European Tour stage are:
- **Miroslaw Grudziecki**: A player with previous European Tour experience, who also impressed with strong performances.
- **Dawid Robak**: Making his European Tour debut after a consistent run, securing his spot with comfortable wins.
- **Piotr Maciejczak**: Another debutant, who caused a stir by eliminating two favourites, Radek Szaganski and Sebastian Steyer, in the early rounds. He notably sealed a 6-4 victory against Szaganski with a spectacular 136 checkout.
The Absence of Polish Tour Card Holders
Interestingly, some Polish players holding a PDC Tour Card, such as Sebastian Bialecki, did not participate in the Host Nation Qualifier. While Tour Card holders are generally allowed one home European Tour Qualifier per year, logistical challenges prevented their participation. Qualifiers for other events were held in Wigan just the day before, making travel to Krakow practically impossible. This was particularly unfortunate for Bialecki, who had qualified for three out of four European Tour events but missed out on his home tournament.
A Near Fairytale for Karolina Ratajska
The qualifier also saw a notable performance from **Karolina Ratajska**, wife of top Polish player Krzysztof Ratajski. She recorded the highest average of the first full round (84) and came close to reaching the final qualifying match, only to be defeated by Wojciech Brulinski after a suspected match dart.
Key Matchups and German Hopes in Krakow
The draw has revealed some compelling clashes for the opening rounds, featuring German talents and local favourites.
- **Niko Springer vs. Cristo Reyes**: This is undoubtedly one of the highlight matches for Friday evening. **Cristo Reyes** has made a remarkable return to the tour, playing at his best form and qualifying for multiple European Tour events. Springer, whose start to the year has been inconsistent, will need to bring his A-game against the in-form Spaniard to build momentum.
- **Marvin Kraft’s Debut**: German debutant **Marvin Kraft** will face Belgium’s **Mike De Decker**. De Decker’s form has been on the upswing, evidenced by a recent Players Championship quarter-final, promising a challenging opener for Kraft.
- **Martin Schindler’s Path**: **Martin Schindler** completes the German trio. He will enter the competition in the second round on Saturday, facing the winner of the match between Ryan Joyce and Boris Krcmar.
- **Krzysztof Ratajski’s Local Challenge**: From a local perspective, all eyes will be on **Krzysztof Ratajski**. Should the Polish star overcome Mickey Mansell in his opening match, a potential blockbuster clash against world-class player **Luke Humphries** awaits him on Saturday.
Poland Darts Open 2026: The Schedule
Friday, February 20, 2026 – Afternoon Session (starting 13:00 CET)
The first session features a mix of established players and qualifiers:
- Cameron Menzies – Ritchie Edhouse
- William O’Connor – Andreas Harrysson
- Ryan Joyce – Boris Krcmar
- Luke Woodhouse – Carl Sneyd
- **Niels Zonneveld – Piotr Maciejczak (HNQ Debutant)**
- Andrew Gilding – Jeffrey de Graaf
- **Jermaine Wattimena – Miroslaw Grudziecki (HNQ Qualifier)**
- Dave Chisnall – Darryl Pilgrim
Friday, February 20, 2026 – Evening Session (starting 19:00 CET)
The evening promises more high-stakes encounters, including the German headline matches:
- Wessel Nijman – Thomas Lovely
- **Daryl Gurney – Dawid Robak (HNQ Debutant)**
- Damon Heta – Connor Scutt
- **Krzysztof Ratajski – Mickey Mansell (Local Hero in action)**
- Dirk van Duijvenbode – Adam Gawlas
- **Niko Springer – Cristo Reyes (Highlight Match)**
- **Joe Cullen – Krzysztof Kciuk (HNQ Star)**
- **Mike De Decker – Marvin Kraft (German Debut)**
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
