Darts Fever Hits Belgium! Belgian Darts Open 2026: Your Ultimate Guide to Stars, Schedule & Surprises
Get ready for an electrifying weekend as the Belgian Darts Open 2026, the third European Tour event of the season, kicks off in Wieze! This highly anticipated tournament marks the return of darts superstars Luke Littler and Luke Humphries. Alongside these giants, local Belgian talents like Kim Huybrechts have battled through qualifiers, setting the stage for thrilling encounters. Dive in for a complete overview of the schedule, key players, prize money, and how to catch all the darting drama.
Tournament Overview: Stars Return and Local Heroes Shine
The Belgian Darts Open 2026 promises high-octane action from Friday in Wieze. Darts fans are particularly excited to see the return of reigning world champion Luke Humphries and teenage sensation Luke Littler, both back in action after a short break. The event will also feature several intriguing matchups right from the start, including Belgian fan-favourite Kim Huybrechts taking on Germany’s Niko Springer in a prime Friday evening clash. Another German talent, Lukas Wenig, faces a tough challenge against the formidable Dirk van Duijvenbode in the first round.
Belgian Qualification: Who Made It Through?
The host nation qualifiers delivered plenty of drama and propelled several local players into the main draw. Here’s a look at the standout qualifiers:
- Kim Huybrechts (“The Hurricane”): After a strong performance, including a perfect 100-point average in his final qualifying match, Huybrechts secured his spot. He’ll be hoping to make a deep run on home soil against Niko Springer.
- Andy Baetens (“The Beast”): Baetens clinched victory in a top-tier final against Mario Vandenbogaerde, winning 6-4. Known for his high scoring, he’s set to face Joe Cullen.
- Pascal Devroey: The 55-year-old provided a major surprise, overcoming experienced players like Geert De Vos and Mylo Michiels to earn his spot. He’s now poised to challenge Luke Woodhouse.
- Francois Schweyen (“Mister HNQ”): This marks Schweyen’s fourth qualification in five editions of the tournament. Despite his consistent qualifying success, he’s still searching for his first main stage victory. He defeated Jeroen Caron 6-3 to qualify and will play Ryan Meikle.
Key Absences and Replacements
The tournament draw has seen some notable changes due to withdrawals:
- Gian van Veen, Gary Anderson, and Gerwyn Price have all withdrawn from the event.
- As a result, several players have moved up in the seeding and draw:
- Martin Schindler benefits with a higher seeding position.
- Damon Heta, Jermaine Wattimena, and Mike De Decker will now bypass the first round and start their campaigns in Round 2.
- Ricky Evans, Mickey Mansell, and Ian White enter the main draw as replacements, securing a minimum of £2,000 in prize money and a chance for more.
The Full Schedule: Don’t Miss a Dart!
The Belgian Darts Open spans three days of intense competition:
Friday, March 20th, 2026
Afternoon Session (from 1:00 PM CET)
- Niels Zonneveld vs Jani Haavisto
- Luke Woodhouse vs Pascal Devroey
- Scott Williams vs Ricky Evans
- Ryan Joyce vs Adam Gawlas
- Cameron Menzies vs Sietse Lap
- William O’Connor vs Tyler Thorpe
- Ryan Meikle vs Francois Schweyen
- Michael Smith vs Mickey Mansell
Evening Session (from 7:00 PM CET)
- Dave Chisnall vs Thibault Tricole
- Krzysztof Ratajski vs Cristo Reyes
- Joe Cullen vs Andy Baetens
- Wessel Nijman vs Sebastian Bialecki
- Raymond van Barneveld vs Boris Krcmar
- Daryl Gurney vs Ian White
- Niko Springer vs Kim Huybrechts
- Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Lukas Wenig
Saturday, March 21st, 2026 (Second Round)
The top 16 seeded players enter the tournament on Saturday.
Afternoon Session (from 1:00 PM CET)
- Ross Smith vs Menzies/Lap winner
- Jermaine Wattimena vs Meikle/Schweyen winner
- Chris Dobey vs Chisnall/Tricole winner
- Ryan Searle vs Williams/Evans winner
- Martin Schindler vs O’Connor/Thorpe winner
- Damon Heta vs Gurney/White winner
- Danny Noppert vs Woodhouse/Devroey winner
- Nathan Aspinall vs Joyce/Gawlas winner
Evening Session (from 7:00 PM CET)
- James Wade vs Ratajski/Reyes winner
- Jonny Clayton vs Nijman/Bialecki winner
- Stephen Bunting vs Cullen/Baetens winner
- Mike De Decker vs Zonneveld/Haavisto winner
- Luke Littler vs Van Barneveld/Krcmar winner
- Luke Humphries vs Van Duijvenbode/Wenig winner
- Michael van Gerwen vs Smith/Mansell winner
- Josh Rock vs Springer/Huybrechts winner
Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 (Finals Day)
Afternoon Session (from 1:00 PM CET)
- Third Round (Last 16) matches
Evening Session (from 7:00 PM CET)
- Quarter-Finals
- Semi-Finals
- The Grand Final
The Draw Bracket: Path to Glory
Here’s a look at the potential paths for the top seeds:
- Top Half of the Draw:
- Luke Littler (1) could face Raymond van Barneveld or Boris Krcmar in his opener.
- Danny Noppert (8) awaits Luke Woodhouse or Pascal Devroey.
- Jonny Clayton (4) will play Wessel Nijman or Sebastian Bialecki.
- Stephen Bunting (5) is lined up against Joe Cullen or Andy Baetens.
- Martin Schindler (12) will meet William O’Connor or Tyler Thorpe.
- Bottom Half of the Draw:
- Luke Humphries (2) begins against Dirk van Duijvenbode or Lukas Wenig.
- Josh Rock (7) faces the winner of Niko Springer and Kim Huybrechts.
- Michael van Gerwen (3) will play Michael Smith or Mickey Mansell.
- James Wade (6) awaits Krzysztof Ratajski or Cristo Reyes.
Players to Watch: Who’s Competing?
The field is packed with talent, featuring the world’s best alongside emerging stars and local hopefuls:
- Top 16 Seeded Players (PDC Tour Order of Merit):
- Luke Littler (1), Luke Humphries (2), Michael van Gerwen (3), Jonny Clayton (4), Stephen Bunting (5), James Wade (6), Josh Rock (7), Danny Noppert (8), Ryan Searle (9), Chris Dobey (10), Nathan Aspinall (11), Martin Schindler (12), Ross Smith (13), Damon Heta (14), Jermaine Wattimena (15), Mike De Decker (16).
- Note: Gian van Veen, Gary Anderson, and Gerwyn Price withdrew, leading to adjustments in seeding.
- Pro Tour Order of Merit Qualifiers: Wessel Nijman, Cameron Menzies, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Luke Woodhouse, William O’Connor, Niko Springer, Ryan Joyce, Krzysztof Ratajski, Dave Chisnall, Joe Cullen, Niels Zonneveld, Daryl Gurney, Raymond van Barneveld.
- Tour Card Holder Qualifiers: Sebastian Bialecki, Sietse Lap, Thibault Tricole, Tyler Thorpe, Michael Smith, Lukas Wenig, Adam Gawlas, Scott Williams, Ryan Meikle, Cristo Reyes, Ricky Evans, Mickey Mansell, Ian White.
- International Qualifiers: Boris Krcmar (Eastern Europe), Jani Haavisto (Nordic & Baltic).
- Host Nation Qualifiers: Andy Baetens, Pascal Devroey, Kim Huybrechts, Francois Schweyen.
Prize Money: What’s at Stake?
A substantial £230,000 prize fund is up for grabs at the Belgian Darts Open 2026, with the winner taking home a grand prize of £35,000.
Prize Money Breakdown:
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-Finalists: £10,000
- Quarter-Finalists: £8,000
- Last 16 (Round 3): £5,000
- Last 32 (Round 2): £3,500
- Last 48 (Round 1): £2,000
Important Note on Ranking Points: For seeded players (and those who qualified via the PDC Order of Merit or Pro Tour Order of Merit), their prize money will only count towards the main PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, and Pro Tour Order of Merit rankings if they win their opening match. If they lose their first game, they still receive the prize money, but it will not contribute to their ranking totals.
How to Watch the Belgian Darts Open 2026
Darts fans can catch all the live action from the Belgian Darts Open through various platforms:
- DAZN: The sports streaming service offers live and HD coverage of all major PDC tournaments, including the European Tour events and World Series. DAZN is accessible on Smart TVs, smartphones, PCs, laptops, and tablets. Subscribers can also re-watch missed games at any time.
- DAZN Darts X Pluto TV Channel: For a free viewing option, the action is also available on the DAZN Darts X Pluto TV Channel.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
