The opening day of the European Darts Grand Prix (ET5) in Sindelfingen delivered a cascade of shocks and thrilling encounters. Underdogs seized their moment, with Latvian debutant Valters Melderis setting the tone with an unexpected victory. The biggest headlines, however, came from the elimination of three darting legends: former World Champions Rob Cross, Raymond van Barneveld, and Peter Wright all crashed out, setting up a wide-open tournament as the top seeds prepare to enter the fray.
Underdogs Stun in Afternoon Session
The Sindelfingen crowd witnessed immediate drama as the tournament kicked off with a major upset. **Valters Melderis**, making his European Tour debut, secured a memorable **6-5** win against Karel Sedlacek. Melderis held his nerve to hit D10 after his opponent missed a crucial bullseye.
Meanwhile, **Wessel Nijman** continued his impressive run of form, comfortably defeating 2019 German Darts Grand Prix winner Ian White **6-2**. He now progresses to a second-round clash against Ryan Searle.
Another significant upset saw **Keane Barry** halt **Niels Zonneveld’s** excellent streak of reaching multiple semi-finals and quarter-finals. Barry showcased clinical finishing, converting impressive **124 and 130 checkouts** to seal a **6-3** victory, earning him a challenging match against Premier League star Josh Rock.
**Kevin Doets** maintained his strong performances, fending off a spirited comeback from fellow Dutchman Jurjen van der Velde to win **6-4**. Doets now faces Jermaine Wattimena in another all-Dutch encounter.
The afternoon session also saw the first former World Champion fall. **Mickey Mansell** produced a superb **100.32 average** to defeat **Rob Cross 6-2**, setting up a second-round match with seventh seed Stephen Bunting.
Other notable results from the afternoon included:
- **Dave Chisnall** battled to a tough **6-4** win over Petr Krivka, and will now face Gerwyn Price in a highly anticipated second-round match.
- **Krzysztof Ratajski** and **Andrew Gilding** both secured **6-3** victories against Host Nation Qualifiers Michael Hurtz and Paul Krohne, respectively.
Evening Session Sees More Champions Fall
The evening session mirrored the afternoon’s excitement, with the home crowd ignited by **Host Nation Qualifier Michael Unterbuchner**. He delivered a stunning performance, including **three 100+ checkouts**, to defeat William O’Connor **6-5**. This significant win, his second ever on the PDC European Tour, earns him a blockbuster clash against darting titan Michael van Gerwen on Saturday evening.
The biggest story of the evening, and arguably the day, was **Cameron Menzies’** exceptional performance. He produced a **104.5 average** to defeat **five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld 6-3**. Menzies’ dominant display, which included legs of 11, 13, and 13 darts, marked his fifth consecutive victory over the iconic Dutchman. After the match, Menzies expressed his respect for Van Barneveld but acknowledged it was arguably his best game of the year.
The trend of former champions being eliminated continued as **Jeffrey de Zwaan** overcame **Peter Wright 6-3**. De Zwaan will now face the newly crowned German Darts Grand Prix champion Nathan Aspinall in the next round.
Elsewhere in the evening:
- **Kim Huybrechts**, enjoying a fantastic start to 2026, defeated Dirk van Duijvenbode **6-3**. Huybrechts is aiming to reclaim the European Darts Grand Prix trophy he last won in 2015.
- **Joe Cullen** found his composure after a mid-match wobble to secure a comfortable **6-1** victory.
- **Oskar Lukasiak** claimed his maiden PDC European Tour victory in a tense **6-5** battle against Daryl Gurney, requiring ten match darts to seal the win. He now faces Danny Noppert.
- **Damon Heta** survived a tricky opening-round draw to beat Madars Razma **6-4**.
- **Niko Springer** triumphed in the only all-German clash, defeating Robin Masino **6-1**.
Looking Ahead to Day 2: Top Seeds Enter the Arena
The European Darts Grand Prix (ET5) promises more thrilling action on Saturday as the top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit join the competition. With only three players (the ‘Lukes’) withdrawing, a host of darting superstars, including six Premier League talents and defending champion Gary Anderson, will arrive in Sindelfingen, eager to capitalize on the early exits of some major contenders. Get ready for another day of high-stakes darts!
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
