Day one of the Austrian Darts Open in Graz delivered a captivating mix of upsets, comebacks, and stellar performances, culminating in a triumphant moment for local favorite Mensur Suljovic. While some matches saw favorites advance, significant surprises included Patrik Kovacs defeating Ricardo Pietreczko, Cristo Reyes overcoming Dave Chisnall, and Ian White stunning former World Champion Michael Smith. The evening session truly came alive, providing plenty of drama and setting the stage for an exciting second day.
A Mixed Bag: The Afternoon Session
The opening session of the Austrian Darts Open proved to be a day of mixed fortunes, with some expected results alongside a notable upset. The darting quality, at times, left fans wanting more, but the drama was certainly present.
Joyce Breaks His Losing Streak
The tournament kicked off with a crucial match for Ryan Joyce against Gabriel Clemens. Joyce, who had faced a challenging run of four consecutive ranking losses, finally found his form. He secured an important 6-3 victory over the German Giant, averaging 87.70. Acknowledging his recent struggles, Joyce candidly stated, “I feel like I am just fighting to keep my Tour Card at the moment, I am playing that badly.” This win sets up an intriguing clash with Belgium’s Mike de Decker on Saturday afternoon.
Pikachu’s Struggles and Kovacs’ Upset
Perhaps the most unexpected result of the afternoon saw Hungary’s Patrik Kovacs defeat Germany’s number two, Ricardo Pietreczko. The match itself wasn’t a classic, with both players averaging below 84. Pietreczko, affectionately known as “Pikachu,” visibly struggled with his form, battling what appeared to be dartitis. Despite these difficulties, he showed flashes of brilliance, including hitting six perfect darts in an attempt at a 150 checkout with three bullseyes. However, his valiant efforts weren’t enough to stop Kovacs, who secured a 6-4 win.
Consistent Form Continues
- Niels Zonneveld continued his strong 2026 season, clinching a last-leg deciding victory over England’s James Hurrell.
- Andrew Gilding, “Goldfinger,” navigated a tricky encounter against host-nation qualifier Nick Zwittnigg, winning 6-4 despite an average of just 80.37.
- William O’Connor also showcased his fine form, defeating Sweden’s Anton Ostlund 6-3 to set up a second-round match with Rob Cross.
Ratajski’s Revenge and Doets’ Dominance
Another host-nation qualifier, Aaron Hardy, put in a respectable performance but ultimately fell 6-3 to the “Polish Eagle,” Krzysztof Ratajski, who averaged 91.31. Ratajski’s win is particularly significant as it sets up a rematch against Michael van Gerwen, whom he had surprisingly beaten earlier in the week at Players Championship 13. Ratajski expressed his excitement, saying, “We all know he is one of the best players in the world, so it is never easy with him. I lose many times before [to Michael van Gerwen] and this was my first win so it was very exciting, it was something huge for me.”
The afternoon session concluded with two more 6-3 victories: Niko Springer defeated Nick Kenny, and Kevin Doets delivered the performance of the session, beating Chris Landman with an impressive 99.35 average.
Evening Excitement: Upsets and Home Glory
The evening session picked up the pace, delivering more compelling narratives, including a few high-profile upsets and a memorable moment for the home crowd.
Chizzy’s Checkout Woes
The evening began with a minor upset as Dave Chisnall, “Chizzy,” suffered a 6-3 defeat to Spain’s Cristo Reyes. Despite Chisnall scoring significantly better and hitting two maximums to Reyes’ zero, his struggles on the outer ring proved costly, converting only 3 of his 19 checkout attempts.
Cullen’s Comeback Falls Short
Joe Cullen found himself in deep trouble against Robert Owen, trailing 4-1 after five legs. “The Rockstar” mounted a spirited comeback, forcing a last-leg decider, but ultimately succumbed to the Welshman.
Huybrechts’ Remarkable Resurgence
Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts continued his strong 2026 European Tour form with an impressive 6-3 win over Karel Sedlacek. Averaging just over 94 and hitting two maximums, this victory edges him closer to a provisional World Matchplay spot. Reflecting on his dramatic turnaround, Huybrechts shared, “January, my goal was keeping my tour card, that was the only goal I had. 3 months later, people are saying to me ‘oh you’re close to the matchplay, you’re close to the grand prix, you’re close to this, you’re close to that,’ how life can change in six months it’s crazy.” His win sets up a second-round encounter with Chris Dobey.
Wright Finds His Form
Former World Champion Peter Wright took to the stage against host-nation qualifier Zoran Lerchbacher. While Lerchbacher took the opening leg with a 13-darter, “Snakebite” quickly asserted his dominance, winning six of the next seven legs to secure a comfortable 6-2 victory. Wright, who averaged 90.16 and hit four 180s, expressed his renewed enjoyment for the game, stating, “I’m enjoying darts again, and that’s the main thing,” after clinching his first European Tour win of the year.
The Roar for Mensur Suljovic: Hometown Hero Delivers
The atmosphere in the arena reached a fever pitch as the most anticipated host-nation qualifier, darting legend Mensur Suljovic, stepped up to face Scotland’s number two, Cameron Menzies. The crowd erupted with chants of “Mensur, Mensur, Mensur,” creating an electrifying environment. Suljovic’s famously deliberate pace of play seemed to disrupt Menzies, and the “Hometown Hero” delivered a superb performance. Averaging 94.19 and hitting two 180s on home soil, Suljovic clinched a massive victory over “Cammy,” setting up a clash with James Wade on Saturday. This result also casts further doubt on Cameron Menzies’ qualification hopes for the World Matchplay. A jubilant Suljovic thanked the crowd, saying, “Absolutely brilliant, look at this crowd, this is my family, thank you,” before sharing a few words in German.
Razma’s Resilience
In a hard-fought battle, Madars Razma overcame Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4. Despite Van Duijvenbode winning the first two legs and ultimately posting the only ton-plus average of the day (100.08), Razma showed immense resilience, winning six of the next eight legs, including two maximums, and finishing with an average of 98.76.
White Stuns Smith in Closing Match
Day one concluded with a rare upset as Ian White defeated former World Champion Michael Smith 6-4. “The Bully Boy” fought back valiantly from a 4-1 deficit to level the score at 4-4, but White held his nerve to close out the match. Ian White’s impressive win sets up an exciting encounter with Daryl Gurney on Saturday, completing the lineup for day two of the Elten Safety Shoes Austrian Darts Open.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
