The Dutch Open 2026 darts tournament culminates in a thrilling international final as the Netherlands’ Corné Groeneveld and Germany’s Paul Krohne battle for the coveted title. From an immense field of 4096 starters, these two darting titans emerged victorious through a grueling weekend of competition, overcoming top seeds and staging dramatic comebacks. The stage is set for an epic clash that promises high-stakes drama and exceptional darting prowess.
The Road to the Grand Final: A Tournament of Thousands
The Dutch Open 2026 kicked off with a staggering 4096 dart players, all vying for glory in the open singles tournament. By Sunday morning, only 128 remained, with the ultimate goal of reaching the grand stage in Assen reserved for just eight elite competitors.
Quarter-Finals: The Podium Beckons
The quarter-finals saw five Dutch players alongside an Englishman, a German, and a Belgian battle it out for a spot on the coveted stage.
- Jenson Walker (England, #1 Seed) vs. Kristiaan de Boer (Netherlands): In the opening quarter-final, top seed Jenson Walker faced Dutchman Kristiaan de Boer. De Boer quickly built opportunities but struggled significantly on his doubles, missing crucial shots including a 140 checkout attempt on double 10. Despite hitting impressive finishes of 102 and 120 to reach match point first, De Boer astonishingly missed five match darts, allowing Walker to snatch a narrow 5-4 victory.
- Paul Krohne (Germany) vs. Heine Uuldriks (Netherlands): The other three quarter-finals proved less tense. Germany’s Paul Krohne, who had been showcasing exceptional form all weekend, maintained a steady average just under 90 against Dutchman Heine Uuldriks. Krohne, who had withdrawn from the final day last year, demonstrated his class with a convincing 5-2 win.
- Jarno Bottenberg (Netherlands) vs. Brent Plaisier (Netherlands): Next up, Jarno Bottenberg, the Dutch Open winner from two years prior, proved his consistency. He dispatched debutant Brent Plaisier, allowing him only one leg in a dominant 5-1 performance.
- Corné Groeneveld (Netherlands, #3 Seed) vs. Lennert Faes (Belgium): The final semi-final spot was secured by another Dutchman, Corné Groeneveld, seeded third for the weekend. He faced the last remaining Belgian, Lennert Faes. Faes initially held a 3-2 lead and seemed poised for victory, but ‘Greenfield’ staged a remarkable comeback, turning the match around with clinical finishes of 60, 68, and 83 to win 5-3.
Semi-Finals: Two Spots, Four Champions
A packed venue buzzed with excitement as the semi-finals began, with the format escalating to sets.
- Paul Krohne (Germany) vs. Jenson Walker (England): WDF stars Jenson Walker (seeded #1) and Paul Krohne (seeded #4) clashed for the first spot in the final. The set format immediately brought tension. The first four legs were shared, making the decisive fifth leg of the first set crucial. Krohne, starting the leg, peaked at the perfect moment with a stunning 14-dart leg to claim the set. This broke Walker’s resistance; in the second set, the Englishman’s game fell apart on the doubles. Krohne capitalized fully, securing a dominant 2-0 set victory and a place in the grand final.
- Corné Groeneveld (Netherlands) vs. Jarno Bottenberg (Netherlands): Mirroring last year’s event, the final would once again feature an international player against a Dutchman. Jarno Bottenberg and Corné Groeneveld battled for the second final spot. Groeneveld wasted no time in the first set, exploding out of the blocks with a phenomenal 12-dart leg, followed by legs in 15 and 14 darts. His average soared past 108. Although a 21-dart leg in the second set saw his average drop, and Bottenberg won two legs consecutively, Groeneveld ultimately sealed his final berth with an 80-finish, winning 2-0 in sets.
Tournament Results Overview:
Quarter-Final Results:
- Jenson Walker 5-4 Kristiaan de Boer
- Paul Krohne 5-2 Heine Uuldriks
- Jarno Bottenberg 5-1 Brent Plaisier
- Corné Groeneveld 5-3 Lennert Faes
Semi-Final Results:
- Paul Krohne 2-0 Jenson Walker (sets)
- Corné Groeneveld 2-0 Jarno Bottenberg (sets)
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
