The Belgian Darts Open exploded into action on its opening day in Wieze, delivering a mix of thrilling upsets and intense rivalries. German hopefuls Niko Springer and Lukas Wenig both faced early exits, while local favorite Kim Huybrechts delighted the home crowd with a strong victory. Last week’s champion, Wessel Nijman, surprisingly crashed out, and a highly anticipated grudge match saw Michael Smith defeated by Mickey Mansell. Day one set a high bar for drama, promising an electric continuation to the tournament.
Darts Drama Unfolds: German Hopes Dashed and a Grudge Match Ignites
The first day of the Belgian Darts Open in Wieze kicked off with immediate drama, as two German players, Niko Springer and Lukas Wenig, were eliminated in the opening round.
Perhaps the most anticipated match of the afternoon session was the clash between former World Champion Michael Smith and Mickey Mansell. The atmosphere was thick with tension, following Smith’s previous critical remarks about Mansell after recent floor tournaments. True to form, there was no handshake between the players, with Mansell pointedly ignoring Smith. The “Clonoe Cyclone” then proceeded to dominate, securing a 6-3 victory despite Smith posting a respectable 98 average and even hitting seven perfect darts en route to a 10-darter. Mansell’s focused performance proved too much for the “Bully Boy.”
Earlier, Cameron Menzies and William O’Connor comfortably booked their spots in the second round, each sweeping aside debutants Sietse Lap and Tyler Thorpe with convincing 6-1 wins. Belgian qualifier Pascal Devroey, despite a 6-2 loss to Luke Woodhouse, celebrated his two leg wins with an infectious enthusiasm, as if he’d won the entire tournament!
Afternoon Highlights: Strong Averages and Missed Opportunities
The afternoon session also showcased some high-quality darts:
- Niels Zonneveld delivered the best performance of the afternoon, boasting a 101 average in a tight 6-4 victory over the returning Jani Haavisto. Haavisto proved he’s ready to shake up the Scandinavian tour once again.
- Ricky Evans comfortably beat an out-of-form Scott Williams 6-2, whose 83 average fell well below expectations.
- Local player Francois Schweyen suffered another early exit, failing to secure a win in his sixth European Tour event. Despite having control of his match against Ryan Meikle, he missed numerous chances to take a 5-2 lead, ultimately losing 6-4.
- Ryan Joyce rounded off the afternoon with a 6-4 win against Adam Gawlas, a match highlighted by three 180s from Gawlas.
German Challengers Fall: Springer and Wenig’s Battles
The evening session saw the remaining German players fight for survival, but ultimately, both were defeated.
The match between Niko Springer and local hero Kim Huybrechts was undoubtedly one of the day’s best in terms of quality. Playing in front of his home crowd, Huybrechts was inspired, rolling back the years with an impressive 102 average. While Springer scored well, his 30% success rate on doubles proved costly, leading to a 6-3 defeat. Despite breaking Huybrechts to go 3-2 up, Springer couldn’t capitalize on several crucial chances, including five missed darts for a 5-3 lead, allowing the Belgian to close out the match.
In the final match of the day, Lukas Wenig faced a formidable opponent in the in-form Dirk van Duijvenbode, ultimately losing 6-3. Wenig showed flashes of brilliance, including a superb 122 checkout to take a 2-1 lead. However, “The Titan” quickly leveled with a 111 checkout and then surged ahead, securing a 5-2 lead with legs in 12 and 15 darts. Despite Wenig snatching one more leg, Van Duijvenbode’s consistent 98 average was simply too powerful.
More Upsets and Dominant Displays on Day One
The opening day also saw other significant results:
- Last week’s tournament winner, Wessel Nijman, was surprisingly eliminated early in Wieze, losing 6-3 to Sebastian Bialecki, who sealed the win with a 12-darter.
- Darts legend Raymond van Barneveld suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat against Boris Krcmar. Krcmar played outstandingly with a 101 average, 12 points higher per throw than “Barney,” who narrowly avoided a whitewash.
- Daryl Gurney secured a dominant 6-1 victory over Ian White, who managed only three checkouts darts throughout the match.
Evening Session Climax: Close Encounters and Big Finishes
The evening session provided its share of thrilling finishes:
- Dave Chisnall started his campaign with a solid 6-2 win against Thibault Tricole, overcoming an early deficit with a 95 average.
- Cristo Reyes delivered a strong performance against Krzysztof Ratajski, securing a 6-4 win with an impressive 102 average and a crucial 160 checkout in the tenth leg, denying Ratajski a chance at a deciding leg.
- The most dramatic match saw Joe Cullen and Andy Baetens battle all the way to a deciding leg. “The Rockstar” held a 4-2 lead but missed too many doubles, allowing Baetens to claw back. In the eleventh leg, Cullen missed a 38 finish, and Baetens seized the opportunity, checking out in 17 darts to claim a thrilling victory.
Looking Ahead: The Seeds Join the Fray on Saturday
The second day of the Belgian Darts Open will see the 16 seeded players enter the tournament, joining the first-round winners. The action will be split across two sessions, starting at 13:00 CET and 19:00 CET.
Some of the highly anticipated second-round matches include:
- World Champion Luke Littler facing Boris Krcmar.
- World Number One Luke Humphries taking on Dirk van Duijvenbode.
- Three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen battling Mickey Mansell.
- Local hero Kim Huybrechts challenging Josh Rock.
Prize Money Breakdown
The tournament offers a total prize fund of £230,000, with the winner taking home a substantial £35,000.
It’s important to note that for players who qualified via the PDC Order of Merit and Pro Tour Order of Merit, their prize money only counts towards the rankings if they win their opening match. If they lose, they still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to their standing in the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, or Pro Tour Order of Merit.
- 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 48 (1st Round): £2,000
How to Watch the Belgian Darts Open
Fans can follow all the action from the Belgian Darts Open live and in HD. In regions where available, DAZN broadcasts all major tournaments, European Tour events, and World Series events. Viewers can stream the action on Smart-TVs, smartphones, PCs, laptops, and tablets. Additionally, in some territories, the event is also available for free on the DAZN Darts X Pluto TV Channel.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
