The second round of the International Darts Open concluded with nail-biting finishes and incredible comebacks on Saturday evening. Michael van Gerwen famously survived an astonishing seven match darts against Madars Razma in a dramatic decider, while Germany’s Martin Schindler also secured his spot in the final day with a hard-fought 6-5 victory. Other notable winners included Kim Huybrechts, Stephen Bunting, and Gian van Veen, setting the stage for an electrifying finals day.
Match Highlights: Surviving the Storm
Michael van Gerwen’s Great Escape
In arguably the most dramatic match of the night, three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen found himself on the brink of elimination against Latvia’s Madars Razma. Razma, who had beaten “Mighty Mike” twice previously, started incredibly strong, racing to a 3-0 lead and hitting a superb 116 checkout. Van Gerwen, however, showed his championship pedigree, responding with a breathtaking 164 finish and a 127 checkout to narrow the gap to 3-4.
Despite Van Gerwen’s fightback, Razma regained control, moving to a dominant 5-3 advantage, needing just one more leg for victory. What followed was pure theatre: Razma had an incredible seven match darts to seal the win, but each attempt agonizingly missed its target, compounded by some whistling from a section of the crowd. Van Gerwen, seizing his lifeline, eventually closed out the decider to clinch a remarkable 6-5 victory, leaving both players and fans stunned.
Schindler Secures Home Advantage
Following Ricardo Pietreczko’s earlier qualification, Martin Schindler became the second German player to reach the Last 16 in Riesa. “The Wall” faced a tough challenge from Karel Sedlacek, ultimately triumphing 6-5. Schindler started brightly, taking the first leg with a 90-finish and extending his lead to 3-0 with two sixth-round checkouts. However, Sedlacek, nicknamed “Evil Charlie,” staged a strong comeback, hitting a 104 finish to make it 2-3 and then leveling the score on the crucial ‘Madhouse’ double.
The match remained tight, with Schindler holding his throw with a Shanghai finish. A missed opportunity saw Schindler broken, but he immediately responded with a 104 checkout to force a decisive leg. In the decider, Sedlacek missed a crucial double 12 for a 144 finish, allowing Schindler to step in and seal the victory in 18 darts, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Other Key Results
- Stephen Bunting delivered a dominant performance, comfortably defeating Krzysztof Ratajski 6-2 with an impressive 103 average, controlling the match from start to finish.
- Kim Huybrechts clinched a dramatic 6-5 victory over Chris Dobey in a decider, mirroring his win against Dobey just two weeks prior. The Belgian “Hurricane” played superbly with a 105 average, building a 4-1 lead before Dobey fought back, only to miss two match darts in the final leg.
- James Wade handed Dave Chisnall a shocking 6-0 whitewash defeat, with Chisnall failing to even register a single dart at a double.
- Ryan Searle overcame Charlie Manby 6-3. Manby struggled significantly on the doubles after the score reached 3-3.
- Gian van Veen comfortably secured his spot in the Last 16 with a 6-3 win over Connor Scutt, showcasing a solid 96 average.
- Ryan Joyce defeated Christian Kist 6-2, proving more consistent on his doubles.
Looking Ahead: Finals Day Schedule
The International Darts Open 2026 culminates on Sunday, May 24, 2026, with an action-packed final day.
Afternoon Session (13:00 CEST) – Round of 16
- Gian van Veen vs Kevin Doets
- Ryan Searle vs Kim Huybrechts
- Stephen Bunting vs Rob Cross
- Ryan Joyce vs Jermaine Wattimena
- Michael van Gerwen vs Damon Heta
- Ricardo Pietreczko vs Ross Smith
- James Wade vs Wessel Nijman
- Cameron Menzies vs Martin Schindler
Evening Session (19:00 CEST) – Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, & Final
The tension will build throughout the evening as the remaining players battle it out:
- Quarter-finals: Winners of the Last 16 matches will compete.
- Semi-finals: The four best players will vie for a spot in the final.
- Final: The ultimate showdown to crown the International Darts Open champion.
Prize Money Breakdown
A substantial prize fund of £230,000 is on offer for this tournament. The winner will take home a grand prize of £35,000.
It’s important to note that for prize money to count towards a player’s official ranking (PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, Pro Tour Order of Merit), the 32 pre-qualified players must win their opening match. If they lose their first game, they still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to their ranking points.
Here’s the full prize money distribution:
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-finals: £10,000
- Quarter-finals: £8,000
- Last 16: £5,000
- Second Round: £3,500
- First Round: £2,000
- Total: £230,000
Where to Watch
Fans can typically watch major darts tournaments like the International Darts Open live and in high definition on sports streaming services such as DAZN and Pluto TV. These platforms often offer extensive coverage of darts events, allowing viewers to follow all the action on various devices.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
