Day two of the 2026 European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen delivered a thrilling mix of upsets and masterclass performances, setting the stage for an unforgettable final day. Local hero Niko Springer sensationally knocked out two-time defending champion Gary Anderson, while Jonny Clayton produced the performance of the tournament so far. Elsewhere, rising star Wessel Nijman continued his impressive run, but top seed Gian van Veen faced an early exit. Get ready for a deep dive into all the drama, big scores, and crucial moments from the Glaspalast!
Shockwaves in Sindelfingen: Reigning Champion Ousted!
The biggest story of Saturday came from German favourite Niko Springer, who produced a composed and assured performance to eliminate two-time European Darts Grand Prix champion Gary Anderson. In a match where eight of nine legs went against the throw, Springer held his nerve to secure a 6-3 victory, despite Anderson hitting two impressive 100+ finishes. The home crowd erupted as Springer maintained his hopes of winning a second career PDC European Tour title.
Springer, buoyed by the local support, will face Dutchman Danny Noppert in Sunday’s afternoon session. Noppert, known as “The Freeze,” narrowly survived a scare himself, edging out Oskar Lukasiak 6-5 in a tense encounter.
Reflecting on his upcoming match, Springer commented, “He is a fantastic player [Danny]. We played the last time in Budapest when I won the final… I know how good he is, and I know I have to play the same level as today.”
Clayton’s Masterclass and Other Standout Performances
While Springer’s victory was a major upset, the sheer quality of darts came from PDC Premier League leader Jonny Clayton. “The Ferret” put on an exhibition for the Sindelfingen crowd, powering to a dominant 6-1 win over Latvia’s Valters Melderis with an astounding 106.78 average. Clayton started the match with legs of 13, 11, and 11 darts, even threatening a perfect nine-dart leg in the closing stages – truly a performance for the highlights reel.
Nijman’s Relentless Run Continues
Young Dutch talent Wessel Nijman continued his phenomenal start to 2026 with a statement 6-2 victory over World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle. Averaging over 104, Nijman maintained his perfect record against “Heavy Metal.”
“Playing Ryan Searle, I probably needed an average above 100, so I’m happy I did and happy with the way I played,” Nijman stated. “The goal [this year] was to get into the top 16, and the next goal was to win a Euro Tour. To do that before the summer, that’s my goal achieved for the whole year.” Nijman now advances to face seventh seed Stephen Bunting in the third round, after “The Bullet” defeated Mickey Mansell 6-3 by converting 75% of his doubles.
Upsets and Tensions: Premier League Stars Face Challenges
It wasn’t smooth sailing for all the big names. Top seed Gian van Veen slumped to a 6-3 loss against Joe Cullen. “The Rockstar” produced a mid-match surge to advance, marking his first appearance on the final day of a European Tour event in over a year. Van Veen, still struggling to rediscover his best form after surgery to remove kidney stones, will be looking to bounce back.
Meanwhile, Michael van Gerwen also advanced to the Last 16, comfortably defeating Host Nation Qualifier Michael Unterbuchner 6-2. However, the match wasn’t without its drama, as some pre-match “needle” between the pair added spice. Unterbuchner had jokingly questioned facing the Dutch icon, a comment Van Gerwen did not take kindly to:
“He didn’t make a joke. He is one of them guys that try to be funny. He has never beaten me in his life. He’s not good enough. Even my B and C game beats him, but who cares? On to tomorrow.”
Big Names March On: Aspinall, Price, and More
Other top players showed their class:
- Nathan Aspinall, fresh from winning the German Darts Grand Prix, began his quest for back-to-back titles with a dominant 6-1 win over Jeffrey de Zwaan, including a magnificent 170 finish.
- James Wade secured his first win of the year on the 2026 PDC European Tour, averaging 104.15 to defeat Kim Huybrechts 6-3. “The Machine” will now face Aspinall in an intriguing third-round clash.
- Gerwyn Price overcame some challenging crowd behaviour to defeat Dave Chisnall 6-4, hitting five 180s and averaging 99.71. “The Iceman” will meet Chris Dobey on Sunday afternoon, after “Hollywood” eliminated last year’s runner-up Andrew Gilding 6-2.
- German number one Martin Schindler joined fellow countryman Springer in the last 16. Despite averaging only 65 after the first three legs against Damon Heta, “The Wall” battled back impressively to win 6-5 in a thrilling decider. He’ll need to step up his game against Jonny Clayton on Sunday.
- Jermaine Wattimena defied five 180s from compatriot Kevin Doets, averaging 99 himself to prevail 6-3, setting up another all-Dutch clash against Michael van Gerwen.
- Josh Rock produced a spectacular display of finishing, hitting finishes of 158 and 128 to defeat Keane Barry 6-3, appearing close to rediscovering his best form. “Rocky” will face Ross Smith, who defeated Cameron Menzies by the same scoreline.
- Krzysztof Ratajski completed the lineup for the third round, punishing a poor doubling display from Mike De Decker to win 6-4. “The Polish Eagle” will open Sunday’s action against Joe Cullen.
Looking Ahead: Sunday’s Thrilling Encounters
The European Darts Grand Prix (ET5) culminates on Sunday, with a new champion guaranteed following Gary Anderson’s elimination. The third round promises some fantastic matchups:
- Joe Cullen vs. Krzysztof Ratajski
- Danny Noppert vs. Niko Springer
- James Wade vs. Nathan Aspinall
- Josh Rock vs. Ross Smith
- Michael van Gerwen vs. Jermaine Wattimena
- Stephen Bunting vs. Wessel Nijman
- Martin Schindler vs. Jonny Clayton
- Gerwyn Price vs. Chris Dobey
The action will continue through the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the grand final, promising an electrifying conclusion to a memorable tournament.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
