The Slovak Darts Open witnessed a seismic shift as darts titan Michael van Gerwen was sensationally knocked out by Andrew Gilding in a thrilling encounter. Meanwhile, Nathan Aspinall delivered a performance for the ages, dominating his opponent with an astonishing average. The tournament also saw the impressive run of newcomer Tom Sykes continue, alongside strong victories from Wessel Nijman, Rob Cross, Ross Smith, Jermaine Wattimena, and Mike De Decker, all setting the stage for an electrifying final session.
Dramatic Quarter-Finals Unfold at Slovak Darts Open
Van Gerwen’s Shock Exit: Gilding Shines
In a stunning turn of events, darts superstar Michael van Gerwen, playing in his 100th European Tour Last 16 match, was defeated by Andrew Gilding. Gilding started the match in sensational form, claiming the first four legs in just 13, 12, 16, and 11 darts, leaving ‘MvG’ struggling for rhythm. Van Gerwen mounted a comeback with a 12-darter and a 103 finish, and later a magnificent 120 Shanghai finish and a 14-darter. However, after missing six crucial darts to force a deciding leg, Gilding seized his opportunity, hitting Double 16 with his first match dart to seal a memorable 6-4 victory.
Aspinall’s Unstoppable Dominance
Nathan Aspinall put on an absolute masterclass against Ryan Searle, leaving his opponent with no answers. ‘The Asp’ showcased an incredible 108.65 average, coming close to a whitewash with a dominant 6-0 victory. Searle missed four crucial break opportunities in the opening leg, and Aspinall then raced through the match, hitting legs in 15, 12, 16, 14, 14, and 12 darts. He was clinical on his doubles, converting six of his seven attempts.
Sykes Continues Dream Run
The European Tour debut of Tom Sykes continues to impress. Facing Cameron Menzies, who saw his average drop by more than 15 points compared to the previous day, Sykes capitalised, securing a 6-4 win to advance to the final session. After sharing the first four legs, Sykes broke Menzies by punishing a missed 73-finish with a hit on Double 16. He then confirmed the break with a 12-darter, extending his lead to 5-2. Despite missing his first match dart and allowing Menzies to narrow the gap to 5-4, Sykes held his nerve under immense pressure to seal the victory with a magnificent 104 checkout.
Nijman and Other Key Victories
- Wessel Nijman, a pre-tournament favourite, underlined his credentials with a convincing 6-1 win over Stephen Bunting. Nijman dominated the early stages, taking the first four legs in 17, 15, 13, and 13 darts. Bunting’s only leg came via an 11-darter, but Nijman quickly closed out the match with two more legs in 15 and 17 darts.
- Rob Cross extended his impressive winning streak to ten matches since the Players Championship on Wednesday, overcoming Kevin Doets in a tight 6-5 encounter. The match was a back-and-forth affair, with Doets hitting an 11-darter to level at 3-3. In the deciding leg, Doets’ scoring faltered, allowing Cross to secure the win with a 17-darter against the throw.
- Ross Smith proved too strong for Chris Dobey, securing a 6-4 victory. Smith started brilliantly, taking the first four legs in 14, 13, 14, and 13 darts. Dobey fought back, but Smith ultimately closed out the English duel with a 13-darter against the throw.
- Jermaine Wattimena showcased incredible resilience, surviving two match darts against fellow countryman Danny Noppert to win 6-5. Noppert had established a 5-3 lead, but Wattimena dug deep, hitting a crucial 16-darter in the deciding leg to advance.
- Mike De Decker also went the full distance, defeating Ryan Joyce 6-5. De Decker fought back from a 3-1 deficit, levelling the match with a 91-finish and a 15-darter. After missing two match darts on Double 8, the Belgian clinched his spot in the final session with a superb 104 checkout in the decider.
Looking Ahead: The Final Session
The final session of the Slovak Darts Open 2026 promises more thrilling action, featuring the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and the Grand Final.
Final Session Schedule (Sunday, June 21, 2026, from 7:00 PM CEST):
- Quarter-Finals:
- Rob Cross vs. Nathan Aspinall
- Tom Sykes vs. Jermaine Wattimena
- Andrew Gilding vs. Ross Smith
- Mike De Decker vs. Wessel Nijman
- Semi-Finals:
- Cross/Aspinall vs. Sykes/Wattimena
- Gilding/Smith vs. De Decker/Nijman
- Final: Winner Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner Semi-Final 2
Prize Money Breakdown:
A total prize fund of £230,000 is up for grabs, with the winner taking home a significant portion. Prize money only counts towards the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, and Pro Tour Order of Merit if players win their first match.
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-Finals: £10,000
- Quarter-Finals: £8,000
- Last 16: £5,000
- Last 32: £3,500
- Last 64: £2,000
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
