Day two of the Slovak Darts Open delivered an electrifying display of skill, comebacks, and stunning upsets. Mike De Decker roared back to form with an incredible average, ending a four-month drought, while Cameron Menzies produced a spectacular performance to defeat darts giant Gerwyn Price. The afternoon and evening sessions were packed with drama, including nail-biting deciding leg victories for Tom Sykes and Ryan Joyce, and surprising early exits for top players like Jonny Clayton and top seed Gian van Veen. Get ready for a thrilling conclusion as the tournament heads into its final day!
De Decker’s Dominance and Early Highlights
Saturday at the Incheba Expo kicked off with a bang as **Mike De Decker emphatically broke his four-month losing streak** on the PDC European Tour. “The Real Deal” showcased an unstoppable performance, averaging an astonishing **107.14** in his 6-2 victory over William O’Connor. Despite only hitting three maximums (180s), De Decker’s consistent scoring and impressive **6 out of 9 doubles** sealed his first European Tour win since February.
Following De Decker’s strong start, other players also made their mark:
- **Kevin Doets** continued his impressive year, securing a convincing 6-2 win against Damon Heta.
- **Wessel Nijman** comfortably defeated Benjamin Pratnemer 6-2, continuing his pursuit of an unprecedented eighth Pro Tour title for 2026.
- Dutch duo **Danny Noppert** and **Jermaine Wattimena** both advanced, with Noppert beating Madars Razma 6-2 and Wattimena triumphing 6-3 over Dave Chisnall.
Upsets and Close Calls
While some favorites progressed, the afternoon also saw its share of challenges. Tyler Thorpe, who made a memorable PDC European Tour debut on Friday, couldn’t replicate his form, losing 6-4 to Chris Dobey.
**Kim Huybrechts**, a surprise standout on the European Tour this year, reaching the final day in four of his five appearances, faced a clinical **Ryan Searle**. Searle dominated, allowing Huybrechts only eight darts at a double as he cruised to an efficient 6-3 win.
The session concluded with an intense battle between **Andrew Gilding** and Luke Woodhouse. Woodhouse, fresh off winning the Baltic Sea Darts Open, aimed for a second consecutive title. However, the in-form Gilding, who recently won his first Pro Tour title, **prevailed 6-4**, reminding everyone of his 2023 UK Open champion pedigree.
Menzies’ Magic and Sykes’ Fairytale Run
The evening session brought even more fireworks, with **Cameron Menzies delivering one of the weekend’s best performances** so far. Menzies stunned darts superstar Gerwyn Price with a magnificent **106+ average** in a dominant 6-2 victory. This statement win not only propelled Menzies into the World Matchplay qualification spots but also showcased his incredible form, as he rattled off three crucial legs in 11, 12, and 10 darts.
Menzies shared his excitement after the match: “That was a free hit… I was so nervous, but what helped is that my first dart was finding the treble most of the time. I needed that. I’m gutted I didn’t get a dart for the nine-darter, I’ll hit it one day, I know I will. All I want to do is win. I love Bratislava, and I hope I will be back here.”
The fairytale debut weekend for **Tom Sykes** continued in Bratislava. After an impressive first-round win with a 103+ average, Sykes delivered another brilliant display, defeating Martin Schindler **6-5 in a grueling last-leg decider**. His resilience was evident:
Sykes commented: “I’m happy to get over the line. He hit the maximum at the start of the last leg and I just knew I had to follow it. I never give up, I never will, I’ll always be there or thereabouts, so we’ll carry onto tomorrow and see what happens.”
Shocks and Stellar Finishes
**Ryan Joyce** showcased his “Relentless” best against Jonny Clayton, hitting **55% of his doubles** to deny the Welshman 6-5 in a thriller. Even a spectacular **170 checkout** from “The Ferret” (Clayton’s nickname) wasn’t enough to prevent Joyce from reaching the final day, a strong follow-up after his runner-up finish at the previous European Tour event (ET8).
Clayton wasn’t the only Premier League player to stumble. Top seed **Gian van Veen** suffered yet another second-round defeat – his fifth on the PDC European Tour since his kidney stone surgery in March. **Rob Cross continued his recent resurgence**, securing a convincing 6-3 win over the World Darts Championship finalist.
Even darts legend **Michael van Gerwen** was pushed to his absolute limit, prevailing 6-5 over Krzysztof Ratajski only after missing six match darts, highlighting the intense pressure and high stakes of the tournament.
**Stephen Bunting** also needed a dramatic last-leg decider to overcome Niels Zonneveld. The Dutchman mounted a fierce comeback from 5-2 down to force a winner-takes-all finale, but “The Bullet” held his nerve to advance to the final day, where he will face Zonneveld’s compatriot, Wessel Nijman.
**Nathan Aspinall** defeated Jim Long 6-4, setting up an exciting third-round clash with Ryan Searle. Closing the day’s action, **Ross Smith** also secured a deciding-leg victory, defeating Joe Cullen 6-5.
Looking Ahead: Finals Day Showdown
Sunday promises an exhilarating conclusion to the Slovak Darts Open. The afternoon session will feature eight gripping third-round matches, leading into the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the grand final in the evening, where the inaugural Slovak Darts Open champion will be crowned.
Sunday’s Third Round Matches:
- Rob Cross vs. Kevin Doets
- Ryan Searle vs. Nathan Aspinall
- Cameron Menzies vs. Tom Sykes
- Danny Noppert vs. Jermaine Wattimena
- Michael van Gerwen vs. Andrew Gilding
- Chris Dobey vs. Ross Smith
- Ryan Joyce vs. Mike De Decker
- Stephen Bunting vs. Wessel Nijman
Evening Session (Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final)
Don’t miss the climax of what has been a truly unforgettable tournament!
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
