The opening night of the Swiss Darts Trophy delivered gripping action! Swiss number one Stefan Bellmont thrilled the home crowd by defeating Andrew Gilding 6-3, becoming the only local player to advance to Saturday’s second round. However, it was a tough night for darts legend Raymond van Barneveld, who suffered an early 3-6 exit against Maik Kuivenhoven, further jeopardizing his World Championship qualification. Other notable results include Michael Smith advancing, while Bruno Stöckli and Alex Fehlmann were eliminated despite spirited efforts. The tournament now moves to Day 2, where the top 16 seeded players will join the fray.
Bellmont’s Triumph: Swiss Star Shines Bright
Stefan Bellmont, Switzerland’s top darts player, was the sole local representative to successfully navigate the first round, securing his spot in Day Two of the Swiss Darts Trophy. He achieved a remarkable 6-3 victory over England’s Andrew Gilding. Despite Gilding, known as “Goldfinger,” initially taking a 2-0 and then a 3-1 lead, Bellmont capitalized on his opponent’s errors. A crucial break on tops shifted the momentum, and from that point, Bellmont dominated, sealing his win on double 10.
Darts Legends Face Early Exits
Van Barneveld’s Struggle Continues
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld faced another early exit, falling 3-6 to fellow Dutchman Maik Kuivenhoven. This defeat puts “Barney” under even greater pressure in his quest for World Championship qualification. Van Barneveld himself admitted to disappointment, especially after falling 0-3 behind early on. His performance offered little hope for a strong finish in the remaining tournaments of the year.
Other Key Battles and Upsets
- Bruno Stöckli delivered a commendable performance for a Host Nation Qualifier, averaging 98. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the formidable Dirk van Duijvenbode, who secured a 6-3 win. Stöckli briefly led after a stunning 148 checkout but couldn’t maintain the momentum.
- Alex Fehlmann found little joy against Damon Heta, succumbing to a 2-6 defeat. After an early break to level at 1-1, Fehlmann struggled as “The Heat” won four consecutive legs, effectively deciding the match.
- “Bully Boy” Michael Smith secured his place in the second round with a solid 6-4 victory over Rob Owen, averaging 90 points. Smith moved through to Saturday’s play without major highlights but with consistent performance.
Friday Night’s Thrilling Encounters
The opening night also featured several other captivating matches:
- Jeffrey de Graaf, representing Sweden, emerged victorious with a 6-4 win over Sietse Lap, closing out the match with a superb 121 checkout.
- A tense encounter saw Dave Chisnall narrowly defeat Alan Soutar 6-5. Soutar missed a match dart on double 16, allowing “Chizzy” to snatch the win with an 83 average, a result that could be vital for his European Championship qualification hopes.
- Kevin Doets, known as “Hawk Eye,” overcame Nick Kenny 6-3. After a slow start, Doets significantly improved his game in the latter legs to secure his progression.
Looking Ahead: Day Two Action
As is customary for European Tour events, Day Two of the Swiss Darts Trophy will see the top 16 seeded players enter the competition. The action will be split across two sessions on Saturday.
Saturday’s Schedule (All times CEST):
Afternoon Session (from 1:00 PM): Second Round
- Krzysztof Ratajski (16) vs Stefan Bellmont
- Wessel Nijman (11) vs Karel Sedlacek
- Luke Woodhouse (14) vs Rob Cross
- Martin Schindler (15) vs Tom Bissell
- Ryan Searle (9) vs Cristo Reyes
- Ross Smith (12) vs William O’Connor
- Chris Dobey (10) vs Niels Zonneveld
- Jermaine Wattimena (13) vs Michael Smith
Evening Session (from 7:00 PM): Second Round
- Josh Rock (6) vs Dave Chisnall
- Stephen Bunting (7) vs Jeffrey de Graaf
- James Wade (4) vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
- Jonny Clayton (3) vs Maik Kuivenhoven
- Michael van Gerwen (5) vs Mensur Suljovic
- Luke Humphries (1) vs Kevin Doets
- Gian van Veen (2) vs Niko Springer
- Danny Noppert (8) vs Damon Heta
Tournament Prizing and Stakes
The Swiss Darts Trophy offers a substantial total prize fund of £230,000. The champion will take home a grand prize of £35,000.
Prize Money Breakdown:
- 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
It’s important to note that for the 32 pre-qualified players (via PDC Order of Merit and Pro Tour Order of Merit), their prize money only counts towards the ranking lists if they win their opening match. If they lose their first game, they still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, or Pro Tour Order of Merit.
How to Watch the Swiss Darts Trophy
Fans can catch all the live action from the Swiss Darts Trophy. The event is broadcast live and in HD by DAZN and Sport1.
Sport1 Broadcast Times:
- Saturday: Second Round – Afternoon Session (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM CEST live)
- Saturday: Second Round – Evening Session (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM CEST live)
- Sunday: Last 16 – Afternoon Session (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM CEST live)
- Sunday: Quarter-finals, Semi-finals & Final – Evening Session (5:15 PM – 10:00 PM CEST live, including countdown)
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
