The Austrian Darts Open kicked off with a bang in Graz, as local hero Mensur Suljovic delivered a sensational performance to delight his home crowd. However, it wasn’t all good news for the favorites, with several big names, including Dave Chisnall, Joe Cullen, and darts legend Raymond van Barneveld, suffering surprising early exits. The stage is now set for an exciting second round as the seeded players prepare to join the fray.
The Stadthalle Graz erupted as Austria’s own Mensur Suljovic, affectionately known as “The Gentle,” made a triumphant return to home soil. In a truly stellar display, Suljovic overcame Scotland’s Cameron Menzies, securing his spot in the second round and setting up a mouth-watering clash with England’s James Wade. His performance was a masterclass, leaving no doubt that the home crowd’s cheers were well-deserved.
Early Exits and Surprising Upsets
While Suljovic celebrated, the opening day proved challenging for some established names. The tournament saw several notable players bid an early farewell, adding an unpredictable twist to the competition.
English Hopes Dwindle Early
Two of England’s top players, Dave Chisnall and former Masters champion Joe Cullen, faced unexpected defeats in their opening matches:
- Dave Chisnall vs. Cristo Reyes: Despite Chisnall’s consistent presence on the Euro Tour, he couldn’t advance past the first round. Spain’s Cristo Reyes secured the win, not through explosive scoring, but with superior accuracy on his doubles. Reyes now faces Australian number one Damon Heta.
- Joe Cullen vs. Rob Owen: “The Rockstar” Cullen only showed glimpses of his best form, ultimately falling to Rob Owen in a deciding leg. Owen, holding his nerve under pressure, now moves on to face Luke Woodhouse.
However, England was guaranteed at least one representative in the next round, as Michael Smith and Ian White were set to battle it out later in the evening. Ian White ultimately emerged victorious.
Other Key First-Round Encounters
The evening was packed with intense matchups and varying outcomes for other contenders:
- Kim Huybrechts vs. Karel Sedlacek: Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts continued his solid start to the season, prevailing over Karel Sedlacek by being more clinical at the crucial stages. He now faces a tough challenge against Chris Dobey in round two.
- Peter Wright vs. Zoran Lerchbacher: Former PDC World Champion Peter Wright, “Snakebite,” comfortably dispatched local player Zoran Lerchbacher. While not at his absolute peak, Wright advanced to meet reigning champion Martin Schindler on Saturday.
- Raymond van Barneveld vs. Alan Soutar: A disappointing evening for the “Barney Army” saw Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld suffer a comfortable defeat to Scotland’s Alan Soutar. Van Barneveld recorded one of his lowest averages on a PDC stage, while “Soots” performed excellently. Soutar’s next opponent is fellow Dutchman Danny Noppert.
- Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Madars Razma: In a repeat of a recent Players Championship clash, Madars Razma avenged his earlier loss against Dirk van Duijvenbode. Despite “The Aubergenius” hitting a ton-plus average, Razma claimed the win and will now face top seed Gian van Veen.
- Ian White vs. Michael Smith: In the all-English clash, Ian White secured his place in the second round by defeating former practice partner Michael Smith. White established an early lead and expertly managed it to set up a meeting with Daryl Gurney.
What’s Next: The Seeds Enter the Fray
With the opening round now complete, the excitement in Graz is set to escalate dramatically. Saturday will see the seeded players, who received a bye in the first round, enter the competition. This means the quality of darts is expected to rise significantly as the tournament heads towards a thrilling weekend. Many big names have successfully navigated the initial chaos, but the early departures of others ensure that the Austrian Darts Open has already delivered plenty of drama.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
