The Baltic Sea Darts Open in Kiel has delivered a weekend of major upsets! German hopes were extinguished as Niko Springer, following Martin Schindler, was eliminated by Ryan Joyce. Adding to the drama, top seeds Gian van Veen and James Wade also crashed out, setting the stage for an unpredictable final day of intense darting action.
German Challenger Niko Springer Falls to ‘Relentless’ Joyce
It was a truly nail-biting encounter for Niko Springer, who ultimately fell 4-6 to Ryan Joyce. Despite a strong start from Joyce, who lived up to his nickname ‘Relentless’ by quickly racing to a 3-0 lead with checkouts of 98 and 74, Springer found his rhythm with a 76 checkout. However, crucial missed opportunities plagued the German, including four darts for a 2-3 score and two more on Double 12, allowing Joyce to extend his lead.
The tension escalated as Joyce squandered his first three match darts, giving Springer a glimmer of hope with a fantastic 130 checkout to make it 3-5. The Kiel crowd roared as Joyce continued to falter, missing his fourth, fifth, and sixth match darts. But ultimately, Springer’s own missteps on Double 16 gave Joyce the opening he needed to seal the win on Double 8.
Top Seeds Tumble in Dramatic Fashion
Gian van Veen’s Comeback Falls Short Against Chisnall
In another dramatic clash, top seed Gian van Veen, known for his resilience, almost pulled off another incredible comeback against Dave Chisnall. After trailing 1-5, the Dutchman clawed his way back, mirroring his previous day’s performance where he recovered from 2-5 down. He forced a deciding leg, but heartbreakingly missed his only match dart for an 80 finish. Chisnall, with his experience, capitalized on van Veen’s miss, hitting Double 20 with his fifth match dart to claim a hard-fought 6-5 victory.
Ricky Evans Stuns Second Seed James Wade
Ricky ‘Rapid’ Evans delivered a stunning performance, potentially marking a turning point in his 2026 season. After a challenging year, Evans stormed into the quarter-finals by defeating the second seed, James Wade, 6-4. He started strong, securing the first three legs with impressive checkouts of 106 and 120, maintaining a significant lead. While Wade showed his class with checkouts of 90 and 110 to narrow the gap to 4-5, Evans remained composed and secured the decisive break in the tenth leg with a 14-dart finish.
Other Key Matches and Advancements
- Wessel Nijman (Netherlands) defeated Ryan Searle (England) 6-3: Nijman, sporting a new shirt, showed strong form to overcome ‘Heavy Metal’ Searle.
- Damon Heta (Australia) edged William O’Connor (Ireland) 6-5: ‘The Heat’ prevailed in a full-distance battle, taking a crucial step towards the World Matchplay.
- Jimmy van Schie (Netherlands) secured a 6-4 win over Sebastian Bialecki (Poland): In his European Tour debut, van Schie impressed, securing a spot in the final session.
- Luke Woodhouse (England) dominated Cameron Menzies (Scotland) 6-1: Menzies struggled, averaging only 81, as Woodhouse comfortably advanced.
- Kevin Doets (Netherlands) ended Justin Hood’s (England) run 6-3: Doets broke away in the sixth leg and held firm to prevent a comeback.
Baltic Sea Darts Open 2026: Sunday’s Schedule and Prize Money
The final session of the Baltic Sea Darts Open 2026 kicks off at 18:00 CEST (Central European Summer Time).
Afternoon Session: Last 16 Results
- Sebastian Bialecki 4-6 Jimmy van Schie
- Cameron Menzies 1-6 Luke Woodhouse
- Kevin Doets 6-3 Justin Hood
- James Wade 4-6 Ricky Evans
- Ryan Searle 3-6 Wessel Nijman
- William O’Connor 5-6 Damon Heta
- Niko Springer 4-6 Ryan Joyce
- Gian van Veen 5-6 Dave Chisnall
Evening Session: Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals & Final (from 18:00 CEST)
Quarter-Finals:
- Jimmy van Schie vs. Luke Woodhouse
- Kevin Doets vs. Ricky Evans
- Wessel Nijman vs. Damon Heta
- Ryan Joyce vs. Dave Chisnall
Semi-Finals:
- Winner Van Schie/Woodhouse vs. Winner Doets/Evans
- Winner Nijman/Heta vs. Winner Joyce/Chisnall
Final:
- Winner Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner Semi-Final 2
Prize Money Breakdown and Ranking Implications
A total prize fund of £230,000 is on offer for this tournament, with the winner taking home a substantial £35,000. It’s crucial for players to understand how prize money affects their standing:
- For prize money to count towards the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, and Pro Tour Order of Merit, players must win their opening match.
- If a player loses their first game, they still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to these vital ranking lists.
Prize Money Distribution:
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-Finals: £10,000
- Quarter-Finals: £8,000
- Last 16: £5,000
- Last 32 (2nd Round): £3,500
- Last 64 (1st Round): £2,000
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
