Day one of the Poland Darts Open delivered a thrilling spectacle, featuring dramatic comebacks, dominant displays, and even an unexpected fan incident. Cameron Menzies marked his return with a strong win, while William O’Connor staged a remarkable recovery. Boris Krcmar and Andrew Gilding showcased exceptional averages, and local hero Krzysztof Ratajski delighted the home crowd. Upsets were also on the cards, with Adam Gawlas taking down a seeded player and Darryl Pilgrim overcoming Dave Chisnall in a double-hitting struggle. Get ready for a full recap of all the action!
Afternoon Session Highlights: Dominance and Drama
Menzies Makes a Statement Return
Cameron Menzies, returning to the televised stage, wasted no time in making an impact. He powered past Richie Edhouse 6-4, hitting an impressive nine maximums. Despite some struggles with his finishing, Menzies proved too strong for Edhouse, setting up a second-round clash with James Wade.
O’Connor’s Comeback Masterclass
Ireland’s William O’Connor showed incredible resilience against World Championship hero Andreas Harryson. Harryson started explosively, averaging over 115 in the first three legs. However, O’Connor dug deep to turn the tide, securing a hard-fought 6-4 victory. He now faces Josh Rock in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
Krcmar’s Clinical Performance
The Croatian powerhouse, Boris Krcmar, delivered a clinical performance against Ryan Joyce. Krcmar dominated, winning 6-3 with a superb 102.44 average. Even though Joyce also averaged over 101 and hit two ton-plus finishes, Krcmar’s consistent checkout ability proved the difference. Krcmar will next play Martin Schindler.
Woodhouse Begins His Year with a Win
Luke Woodhouse started his year strongly, comfortably defeating debutant and new tour card holder Carl Sneyd. Woodhouse delivered a steady display to control the match. Sneyd did have a moment to remember, hitting a magnificent 121 checkout on double 18 for his first European Tour leg. Woodhouse now prepares to face Callan Rydz, who replaces Michael van Gerwen.
Zonneveld’s Intent and Impressive Checkout
Dutchman Niels Zonneveld, known as “Triple Z,” made light work of local talent Piotr Maciejczak. Zonneveld secured a dominant win, highlighted by a stunning 131 checkout with two tops. Maciejczak gave the Polish crowd reason to cheer with three maximums, including a 171, but it wasn’t enough. Zonneveld progresses to play Stephen Bunting.
Gilding Shines with a High Average
Andrew Gilding put on a spectacular show against Sweden’s Jeffery de Graaf, averaging an outstanding 106.55 in his 6-3 victory. “Goldfinger” showcased his class with three ton-plus checkouts. Despite the loss, de Graaf also averaged over 97, a strong performance he’ll hope to carry forward. Gilding’s sensational form sets up a thrilling match against world number three Gian van Veen.
Wattimena Overcomes Polish Qualifier
Jermaine Wattimena secured his spot in the next round by defeating Polish qualifier Miroslaw Grudziecki. While not the highest quality match, Wattimena emerged victorious in a relatively close encounter. He will need to elevate his game for his next challenge against Danny Noppert.
Pilgrim Navigates Double Trouble to Win
The longest game of the afternoon saw Darryl Pilgrim emerge victorious against Dave Chisnall in a match plagued by missed doubles. Both players struggled, missing a combined 40 darts at doubles. Pilgrim eventually edged out “Chizzy” to win, but will need significant improvement as he faces former World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall next.
Nijman Makes Light Work of Lovely
Young Dutchman Danny Nijman comfortably defeated Thomas Lovely, despite not hitting his usual scoring power with only two maximums. Nijman’s clinical finishing, pinning 42% of his doubles, was enough as Lovely struggled to find his rhythm. Nijman now prepares for a challenging match against Gary Anderson.
Evening Session Highlights: Fan Drama and Formidable Play
Gurney’s Win and an Unexpected Incident
Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney made easy work of home nation qualifier Dawid Robak, securing a dominant 6-1 victory despite averaging just over 83. The match was overshadowed by an unusual incident when a fan threw an iPhone at Gurney and the master of ceremonies. Gurney handled the situation with good humor, quickly refocusing on his upcoming match against Ross Smith.
Scutt’s Strong Display Against Heta
Connor Scutt, “The Sniper,” delivered a strong performance against Damon Heta, winning 6-4. Scutt averaged an impressive 98.32 and hit five 180s. Despite the loss, Heta showed excellent finishing, missing only one dart at double for an 80% ratio, indicating he simply had fewer opportunities. Scutt advances to play Chris Dobey.
Ratajski Delights Home Crowd
The moment many Polish fans awaited arrived as local hero Krzysztof Ratajski took to the stage. “The Polish Eagle” delivered his characteristic steady performance, beating Mickey Mansell 6-3. Although Ratajski’s average was slightly lower than Mansell’s, his impressive doubling proved decisive, ensuring Mansell never led the match. Ratajski’s next opponent is Luke Humphries.
Gawlas Upsets Van Duijvenbode
Czechian talent Adam Gawlas caused an upset, defeating seeded player Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3. Gawlas achieved this despite averaging almost five points less than the Dutchman, demonstrating how his deliberate pace disrupted “Aubergenius'” rhythm. Gawlas’s astute play sets him up for a challenging match against Premier League champion Jonny Clayton.
Reyes Continues His Resurgence
Cult hero Cristo Reyes continued his impressive return to the professional tour, defeating Germany’s Niko Springer. Reyes maintained his good form for the year, averaging around 93 and boasting an excellent 60% finishing ratio. His consistent play earns him a second-round match against Ryan Searle.
Cullen’s Confident Demolition
Another Polish player, Krzysztof Kciuk, faced a formidable opponent in Joe Cullen. “The Rockstar” was in confident form, delivering a near 100 average in a dominant 6-2 victory over “The Thumb.” Cullen’s strong display means he will next face Michael Smith, who steps in for the absent Gerwyn Price.
De Decker Secures Low-Average Win
The final game of the evening saw former major winner Mike De Decker take a 6-4 victory over young German Marvin Kraft. Both players struggled with their averages, with De Decker hitting a modest 83.98 and Kraft just under 80. De Decker will need a significant improvement as he prepares to face world champion Luke Littler in his next matchup.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
