Day two of the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel delivered a mix of breathtaking performances and stunning upsets. Newly crowned World Grand Prix champion Luke Humphries survived a thrilling battle, while European Champion Gian van Veen showcased absolute dominance with a whitewash win. Jonny Clayton also impressed with a stellar average. However, the biggest shock saw darting legend Michael van Gerwen eliminated by Mensur Suljovic. Former champions Stephen Bunting and Martin Schindler also crashed out, setting the stage for an unpredictable Finals Day as many top contenders advanced.
Day of Drama: Favorites Face the Heat
The second day of competition saw several top players deliver exceptional performances, cementing their status as contenders.
- Luke Humphries: The reigning World Grand Prix champion kicked off his campaign with a nail-biting victory over Kevin Doets. Humphries initially surged ahead with a 3-0 lead, including fantastic 122 and 121 checkouts. Doets mounted a furious comeback, but Humphries ultimately triumphed in a breathless finale. He finished with an impressive 103 average and hit 67% of his doubles, denying Doets’ own strong 105.64 average.
- Gian van Veen: European Champion Gian van Veen delivered a sensational performance, completely overwhelming Niko Springer in a 6-0 whitewash that lasted less than ten minutes. Van Veen showcased incredible finishing, hitting three checkouts over 100 points, including a spectacular 164 finish on the bullseye following a 107 checkout.
- Jonny Clayton: Also stole the spotlight with a blistering display, achieving a 108.81 average in his 6-1 demolition of Maik Kuivenhoven. Clayton started his title bid in style, hitting two bullseye finishes. His dominant victory sets up an exciting third-round clash against Rob Cross, who secured his spot by halting Luke Woodhouse’s mid-match fightback in a hard-fought 6-4 win.
Shocks and Surprises: Champions Crash Out
Saturday proved to be a day of upsets, with several high-profile players exiting the competition.
- Michael van Gerwen: The biggest shock came as darting icon Michael van Gerwen was defeated 6-4 by Mensur Suljovic. This marked Suljovic’s fourth consecutive victory over the Dutchman, a significant achievement against one of the sport’s legends.
- Stephen Bunting & Martin Schindler: Adding to the drama, former champions Stephen Bunting and Martin Schindler were also eliminated. Swedish star Jeffrey de Graaf put on a clinical display of doubling to overcome reigning champion Bunting 6-4. Meanwhile, Tom Bissell will make his first-ever appearance on Finals Day of a PDC European Tour event after defeating Martin Schindler by the same scoreline.
Rising Stars and Resurgent Forces
Beyond the top seeds and upsets, several players delivered standout performances and advanced to Sunday’s action.
- Michael Smith: The 2022/23 World Champion delivered one of his best performances since announcing his injury issues, securing a sensational 6-4 win over Jermaine Wattimena. He delighted the Basel crowd with consecutive 116, 124, and 144 checkouts, achieving a near-103 average and keeping his hopes alive for the 2026 PDC European Championship. He now faces Dirk van Duijvenbode, who recorded his fifth straight win against James Wade, ending Wade’s hopes for back-to-back European Tour titles.
- Karel Sedlacek & Josh Rock: Czechia’s Karel Sedlacek also remains in contention for a place in Dortmund, earning a hard-fought 6-4 win over Wessel Nijman. This victory sets him up for a challenging encounter with sixth seed Josh Rock, who narrowly edged out Dave Chisnall in a gruelling last-leg decider.
- Ross Smith: Currently ranked #1 on the PDC European Tour, Ross Smith reinforced his status with an emphatic 6-4 win over William O’Connor, defying the Irishman’s impressive 104+ average.
- Damon Heta: Continued his strong Euro Tour form, reaching four semi-finals this year and now eyes a fifth after a convincing 6-3 win against former UK Open champion Danny Noppert. Heta will face Cristo Reyes on Sunday afternoon, after the Spanish player staged a remarkable comeback, winning four straight legs from 4-2 down to defeat Ryan Searle.
- Bradley Brooks: Mirrored Reyes’ comeback, punishing Chris Dobey’s struggles on the doubles with a four-leg burst to book a last 16 tussle against De Graaf.
- Krzysztof Ratajski: Completed the line-up for Sunday afternoon’s third round, ending Swiss hopes for a home-nation winner with a comprehensive 6-2 victory over Swiss number one Stefan Bellmont. Ratajski now faces top seed Luke Humphries for a spot in the quarter-finals.
The Road to Glory: Sunday’s Showdown
The 2026 Swiss Darts Trophy culminates on Sunday with an action-packed Finals Day in Basel. The afternoon session, featuring the third round, kicks off at 12:00 CEST (11:00 BST). The evening session, starting at 18:00 CEST (17:00 BST), will see the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and ultimately crown a new champion.
Key Third Round Matchups to Watch:
- Josh Rock vs Karel Sedlacek
- Jonny Clayton vs Rob Cross
- Jeffrey de Graaf vs Bradley Brooks
- Gian van Veen vs Tom Bissell
- Mensur Suljovic vs Ross Smith
- Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Michael Smith
- Damon Heta vs Cristo Reyes
- Luke Humphries vs Krzysztof Ratajski
Get ready for a thrilling conclusion to the Swiss Darts Trophy!
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
