Get ready for a thrilling weekend at the Flanders Darts Trophy! This year’s event sees significant changes with defending champion Luke Littler, World Champion Luke Humphries, Jonny Clayton, and Gary Anderson all withdrawing. Their absence opens the door for exciting replacements like Gabriel Clemens, James Hurrell, Kim Huybrechts, and Brendan Dolan. This also elevates players like Martin Schindler to a seeded position, giving him a bye into Saturday’s play. Beyond the player reshuffle, the tournament is a crucial last chance for many to secure a coveted spot in the upcoming World Grand Prix, promising high-stakes drama from the very first dart.
Major Shake-Up: Top Players Withdraw, New Stars Emerge
The third edition of the Flanders Darts Trophy is set for an electrifying weekend, but not without some unexpected twists. Fans will notice some familiar faces missing, creating exciting opportunities for others.
Who’s Out and Who’s In?
- Out: Defending champion Luke Littler, World Champion Luke Humphries, Jonny Clayton, and Gary Anderson.
- In: Gabriel Clemens, James Hurrell, Kim Huybrechts, and Brendan Dolan step in as replacements.
This reshuffle has a significant impact on the tournament draw, elevating several players to seeded positions. Jermaine Wattimena, Luke Woodhouse, Martin Schindler, and Krzysztof Ratajski now bypass the first round, entering the competition on Saturday.
German Hopes: Schindler, Clemens, and Springer Ready to Shine
Germany will be well-represented, with a strong trio aiming for glory in Belgium:
- Martin Schindler: As Germany’s number one, Schindler benefits from the withdrawals, moving into a seeded position. He will begin his campaign on Saturday against the winner of a tricky first-round clash between Rob Cross and Cristo Reyes.
- Gabriel Clemens (“The German Giant”): Joining as the first reserve, Clemens faces a challenging opener against Cameron Menzies. Should he advance, a formidable second-round encounter with top seed Gian van Veen awaits.
- Niko Springer: Springer will kick off his tournament against one of the four Host Nation Qualifiers, potentially Mike De Decker. A victory would likely set up a tough second-round match against Nathan Aspinall.
The Race for the World Grand Prix: High Stakes in Flanders
The Flanders Darts Trophy isn’t just about winning a title; it’s the final opportunity for many players to qualify for the prestigious World Grand Prix. Every dart thrown could have major implications for their season.
Who Needs What?
- Dave Chisnall: Appears safe and can watch from home.
- Joe Cullen and Cristo Reyes: Face anxious waits, as their qualification spots are under threat.
- Kim Huybrechts and Sebastian Bialecki: Lurking just behind, ready to capitalize on any slip-ups.
- Karel Sedlacek and Martin Schindler: Need at least a quarter-final run to secure their spots.
- Beau Greaves: Requires an exceptionally deep run in the tournament to make a significant impact on her qualification chances.
Host Nation Qualifiers: Local Heroes Battle for Spots
Before the main event kicks off, four crucial spots are up for grabs in the Host Nation Qualifiers (HNQ). Local talents will battle it out for a chance to compete on the big stage. Notable participants include Belgian stars Dimitri van den Bergh and Mike De Decker, who will be hoping to secure their place in front of a home crowd.
Tournament Schedule: Don’t Miss a Dart!
Here’s a breakdown of the action across the weekend:
Friday, September 11, 2026 (First Round)
Afternoon Session (Starts 1:00 PM CEST)
- Niels Zonneveld vs. Petr Tous
- Mickey Mansell vs. Bradley Brooks
- Andrew Gilding vs. Chris Landman
- Kevin Doets vs. James Hurrell
- Karel Sedlacek vs. Michael Hansen
- Jeffrey de Graaf vs. Host Nation Qualifier 3
- Ryan Joyce vs. Stephen Burton
- Niko Springer vs. Host Nation Qualifier 1
Evening Session (Starts 7:00 PM CEST)
- Rob Cross vs. Cristo Reyes (A key match with WGP implications!)
- Joe Cullen vs. Host Nation Qualifier 4
- Cameron Menzies vs. Gabriel Clemens
- William O’Connor vs. Host Nation Qualifier 2
- Raymond van Barneveld vs. Jim Long
- Damon Heta vs. Beau Greaves
- Sebastian Bialecki vs. Kim Huybrechts (Another crucial WGP qualifying match!)
- Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Brendan Dolan
Saturday, September 12, 2026 (Second Round – Seeded Players Enter)
Afternoon Session (Starts 1:00 PM CEST)
- Krzysztof Ratajski (16) vs. Doets/Hurrell
- Jermaine Wattimena (13) vs. Sedlacek/Hansen
- Martin Schindler (15) vs. Cross/Reyes winner
- Danny Noppert (7) vs. Gilding/Landman
- Ryan Searle (8) vs. Cullen/HNQ4
- Chris Dobey (9) vs. Zonneveld/Tous
- Luke Woodhouse (14) vs. O’Connor/HNQ2
- Ross Smith (12) vs. De Graaf/HNQ3
Evening Session (Starts 7:00 PM CEST)
- Josh Rock (4) vs. Joyce/Burton
- Gerwyn Price (5) vs. Mansell/Brooks
- James Wade (2) vs. Van Barneveld/Long
- Gian van Veen (1) vs. Menzies/Clemens winner
- Michael van Gerwen (3) vs. Heta/Greaves
- Nathan Aspinall (11) vs. Springer/HNQ1 winner
- Stephen Bunting (6) vs. Van Duijvenbode/Dolan
- Wessel Nijman (10) vs. Bialecki/Huybrechts winner
Sunday, September 13, 2026 (Final Day)
Afternoon Session (Starts 1:00 PM CEST)
- Third Round and Quarter-Finals (In draw bracket order)
Evening Session (Starts 7:00 PM CEST)
- Semi-Finals
- Final
Full Draw Bracket (First Round Matchups with Potential Second Round Opponents)
Here’s a full look at the potential paths through the tournament:
- Gian van Veen (1) vs. Cameron Menzies/Gabriel Clemens
- Krzysztof Ratajski (16) vs. Kevin Doets/James Hurrell
- Ryan Searle (8) vs. Joe Cullen/Host Nation Qualifier 4
- Chris Dobey (9) vs. Niels Zonneveld/Petr Tous
- Josh Rock (4) vs. Ryan Joyce/Stephen Burton
- Jermaine Wattimena (13) vs. Karel Sedlacek/Michael Hansen
- Gerwyn Price (5) vs. Mickey Mansell/Bradley Brooks
- Ross Smith (12) vs. Jeffrey de Graaf/Host Nation Qualifier 3
- James Wade (2) vs. Raymond van Barneveld/Jim Long
- Martin Schindler (15) vs. Rob Cross/Cristo Reyes
- Danny Noppert (7) vs. Andrew Gilding/Chris Landman
- Wessel Nijman (10) vs. Sebastian Bialecki/Kim Huybrechts
- Michael van Gerwen (3) vs. Damon Heta/Beau Greaves
- Luke Woodhouse (14) vs. William O’Connor/Host Nation Qualifier 2
- Stephen Bunting (6) vs. Dirk van Duijvenbode/Brendan Dolan
- Nathan Aspinall (11) vs. Niko Springer/Host Nation Qualifier 1
Player List: Who’s Competing?
Here’s a breakdown of the participants:
Top 16 PDC Tour Order of Merit (Seeded Players)
- Gian van Veen
- James Wade
- Michael van Gerwen
- Josh Rock
- Gerwyn Price
- Stephen Bunting
- Danny Noppert
- Ryan Searle
- Chris Dobey
- Wessel Nijman
- Nathan Aspinall
- Ross Smith
- Jermaine Wattimena (Moved to seeded)
- Luke Woodhouse (Moved to seeded)
- Martin Schindler (Moved to seeded)
- Krzysztof Ratajski (Moved to seeded)
*Note: Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Jonny Clayton, and Gary Anderson withdrew, making way for the asterisked players to become seeded.
Pro Tour Order of Merit Qualifiers
- Kevin Doets
- Andrew Gilding
- Rob Cross
- William O’Connor
- Niko Springer
- Niels Zonneveld
- Ryan Joyce
- Dirk van Duijvenbode
- Joe Cullen
- Cameron Menzies
- Damon Heta
- Sebastian Bialecki
Tour Card Holder Qualifiers
- Bradley Brooks
- Cristo Reyes
- Jim Long
- Stephen Burton
- Jeffrey de Graaf
- Beau Greaves
- Raymond van Barneveld
- Karel Sedlacek
- Mickey Mansell
- Chris Landman
- Gabriel Clemens (Replacement)
- James Hurrell (Replacement)
- Kim Huybrechts (Replacement)
- Brendan Dolan (Replacement)
Other Qualifiers
- Eastern Europe Qualifier: Petr Tous
- Nordic & Baltic Qualifier: Michael Hansen
- Host Nation Qualifiers: 4 players (to be determined on September 10, 2026)
Prize Money: What’s at Stake?
A substantial prize fund of £230,000 is on offer at the Flanders Darts Trophy, with the winner taking home a lucrative £35,000.
Prize Money Breakdown:
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-Finalists: £10,000 each
- Quarter-Finalists: £8,000 each
- Last 16: £5,000 each
- Second Round: £3,500 each
- First Round: £2,000 each
Important Note on Ranking Points: For prize money to count towards the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, and Pro Tour Order of Merit, the 32 pre-qualified players (those from the PDC Order of Merit and Pro Tour Order of Merit) must win their first match. If they lose their opening game, they still receive the prize money, but it will not contribute to their ranking totals.
How to Watch the Flanders Darts Trophy
Darts fans can catch all the action live! The entire tournament will be broadcast by the sports streaming service DAZN.
- DAZN Coverage: DAZN provides live and HD coverage of all major darts tournaments, including all European Tour events and World Series events. You can stream on various devices like Smart TVs, smartphones, PCs, laptops, and tablets.
- Subscription Options: DAZN offers different subscription packages. The “Unlimited” package typically costs around €34.99 per month (with an an annual subscription) or €44.99 per month (monthly cancellable). This package includes a wide range of other live sports like football (Bundesliga, Champions League), NFL, and NBA. A more affordable “Super Sports” package is also available, usually around €19.99 per month (annual) or €24.99 per month (monthly), offering a selection of live rights. A key benefit of DAZN is the ability to watch missed games on-demand.
- Free Option: Additionally, some darts events are available for free on the DAZN Darts X Pluto TV Channel, accessible via Pluto TV.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
