An unexpected turn of events, including a false alarm that briefly halted play, marked a dramatic afternoon session at the Baltic Sea Darts Open. Despite the disruption, Luke Woodhouse kept his composure to secure a crucial win. The session also saw sensational performances from rising stars Wessel Nijman and Justin Hood, who dominated their opponents. Meanwhile, Ricky Evans made a strong return to form, and debutant Jimmy van Schie delivered a near-perfect run, both reaching the last 16.
The Alarm That Halted Play
The second-round opener between Luke Woodhouse and Andrew Gilding took an unforeseen pause, extending the afternoon session for spectators. Just as Woodhouse was poised to clinch victory, an announcement echoed through Kiel’s Ostseehalle, citing a “technical disturbance.” Players and officials left the stage, as it was soon revealed to be a false alarm, reportedly triggered by a smoker in one of the restrooms. After a **27-minute interruption**, play resumed with Woodhouse leading 5-2. While Gilding managed an 89-point checkout to narrow the gap to 5-3, the momentum remained with the superior Woodhouse, who closed out the match.
Rising Stars Shine Bright
- Jimmy van Schie’s Dream Debut: Making a stunning European Tour debut, Jimmy van Schie continued his impressive form. After a 6-0 whitewash the previous day, he advanced to the **Last 16 with just a single leg lost** throughout his two matches. His dominant 6-1 victory over a disappointed Mike De Decker showcased his precision, even overcoming a momentary struggle on the doubles in one leg. “The Dutch Sequoia” sealed the match with a 76-checkout, denying De Decker any real chance.
- Wessel Nijman’s Dominance: Wessel Nijman began his quest for a second European Tour title with an emphatic 6-1 win against Krzysztof Ratajski. Nijman was in **top form, racing to a 5-0 lead** with legs of 13, 15, 15, and 13 darts, highlighted by a brutal **146 checkout for a break**. Ratajski managed to check out 90, but ultimately missed his chance to extend the game, leaving Nijman in superb standing.
- Justin Hood’s Clinical Performance: Justin Hood seamlessly built on his previous day’s success against Max Hopp, dispatching Jermaine Wattimena with a convincing 6-1 scoreline. Wattimena’s four double-faults in the second leg opened the door for Hood, who quickly established a 3-0 lead with a 12-darter. Despite a slight miss of his own, the Englishman maintained his strong scoring, culminating in a fitting 13-darter to secure his spot.
Veterans Battle and Breakthroughs
- Ricky Evans Reaches Last 16: In a significant performance, Ricky Evans secured his first win of more than one match at a Pro Tour event this year, beating Daryl Gurney 6-3. This win is crucial for his 2026 World Championship qualification hopes. Evans delivered a **highly convincing 96 average**, featuring a 121 checkout and a crucial 114 finish that punished two double-faults from Gurney, giving him the decisive break for 5-3. He reached the **Last 16 in 13 darts**.
- Damon Heta’s Crucial Win: Damon Heta overcame Karel Sedlacek 6-4 in a vital match for World Matchplay qualification. The early stages were a “break-festival,” with Sedlacek hitting 125 and 81 checkouts, and Heta responding with a 70. Sedlacek initially led 4-2, but Heta showed nerves of steel, **leveling the score at 4-4 with a 126 checkout** – a turning point that saw him close out the match as Sedlacek missed a crucial double.
- Ryan Searle Prevails: Ryan Searle prevented an all-Dutch clash by defeating Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4. Van Duijvenbode struggled consistently with his doubles, missing seven early on. Despite strong legs of 11 and 15 darts to draw level at 2-2 and staying close until 4-4, a weak throw in his own leg proved costly. Searle capitalized, wrapping up the win in 13 darts.
- Chisnall’s Gritty Victory: Dave Chisnall edged out Joe Cullen 6-4 in an afternoon closer that saw both players in excellent form on their checkouts. Chisnall hit a 94 finish for a 2-1 lead, but Cullen responded with impressive checkouts of 112, 87, 160, and 107. Nevertheless, “Chizzy” found a way, fortunate to take the 4-4 leg in 21 darts before delivering a **12-dart break for 5-4**, denying Cullen any further dart at a double.
Afternoon Session Results Overview (Saturday, May 30, 2026)
Here are the full results from the second round afternoon session:
- Wessel Nijman (12) 6-1 Krzysztof Ratajski (Average: 98.46 – 91.90)
- Luke Woodhouse (14) 6-3 Andrew Gilding (Average: 92.44 – 88.21)
- Mike De Decker (11) 1-6 Jimmy van Schie (Average: 80.79 – 87.05)
- Daryl Gurney (15) 3-6 Ricky Evans (Average: 92.32 – 96.00)
- Damon Heta (13) 6-4 Karel Sedlacek (Average: 89.11 – 89.71)
- Ryan Searle (5) 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode (Average: 89.77 – 90.57)
- Dave Chisnall (16) 6-4 Joe Cullen (Average: 92.44 – 93.04)
- Jermaine Wattimena (10) 1-6 Justin Hood (Average: 87.86 – 99.17)
Looking Ahead: Evening Session Matches (Starting 19:00 CEST)
The Baltic Sea Darts Open 2026 continues with the evening session, featuring more exciting second-round encounters:
- Danny Noppert (4) vs. William O’Connor
- Chris Dobey (6) vs. Sebastian Bialecki
- James Wade (2) vs. Niels Zonneveld
- Stephen Bunting (3) vs. Cameron Menzies
- Nathan Aspinall (7) vs. Kevin Doets
- Gian van Veen (1) vs. Dimitri van den Begh
- Martin Schindler (9) vs. Ryan Joyce
- Ross Smith (8) vs. Niko Springer
Prize Money Breakdown
A total of **£230,000** is awarded per tournament. To have prize money count towards the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, and 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 these ranking systems.
- 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
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
