Unstoppable Underdog! Jan Schmidt’s Fairytale Run Shocks Darts World at European Open
The European Darts Open delivered an afternoon packed with thrilling darts action, featuring stunning upsets and dominant performances in the second round. Rising star Jan Schmidt continued his incredible fairytale journey, once again proving his resilience by overcoming Mike De Decker in a nail-biting deciding leg. However, not all favorites fared well, with seeded players Chris Dobey and Danny Noppert crashing out. Meanwhile, Wessel Nijman and Jermaine Wattimena delivered commanding whitewashes, setting the stage for an even more exciting evening session.
Schmidt’s Fairytale Continues: A Star is Born?
Jan Schmidt is quickly becoming the story of the tournament. For the third time on the European Tour, Schmidt found himself in a match that went the full distance. Just like his previous victory against Cameron Menzies, Schmidt held his nerve to defeat Mike De Decker. The match was a tense affair:
- Schmidt started strong, taking the first two legs.
- De Decker fought back, including an impressive 82-finish.
- A crucial moment saw De Decker miss a crucial double, allowing Schmidt to break throw and lead 5-3.
- De Decker forced a deciding leg with back-to-back wins.
- In the final leg, Schmidt began with a massive 177 score, putting immense pressure on De Decker, and sealed his victory with his first match dart on Double 16.
This remarkable win highlights Schmidt’s composure under pressure and his ability to perform when it matters most.
Major Upsets Rock the Afternoon Session
The second round saw two prominent seeded players unexpectedly exit the competition, adding significant drama to the tournament.
- Chris Dobey (Seeded) Stumbles Against Dirk van Duijvenbode: Dobey, a highly-rated player, suffered a clear 2-6 defeat. Van Duijvenbode, known as “The Titan,” started with a brilliant 101 checkout and maintained his strong form, reeling off three consecutive legs (in 13, 15, and 14 darts) to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Dobey’s missed doubles proved costly, and Van Duijvenbode capitalized to close out the match.
- Danny Noppert (Seeded) Falls to Sebastian Bialecki: In another surprising result, Noppert was overcome by a strong performance from Sebastian Bialecki, losing 3-6. Bialecki broke Noppert’s throw with a 76-finish and followed it up with a 13-dart leg to establish a 4-1 lead. Despite a late push from Noppert, Bialecki held firm, eventually winning on Double 16 after Noppert missed opportunities to narrow the gap.
Dominant Performances and Close Calls
While some matches were nail-biters, others saw players assert their dominance with powerful displays.
- Wessel Nijman’s Blitz: One of the tournament favorites, Wessel Nijman, made quick work of Bradley Brooks, securing a resounding 6-0 whitewash. Nijman announced his intentions with a stunning 170 checkout in the very first leg and continued with legs in 15 and 14 darts. He finished the match impressively with a 110 checkout, leaving Brooks with no chances on the doubles.
- Jermaine Wattimena Shuts Out Kim Huybrechts: Kim Huybrechts endured a tough afternoon, suffering a 6-0 whitewash against Jermaine Wattimena. Huybrechts struggled significantly, remaining below an 80-point average and only getting a single dart at a double in the entire match. Wattimena’s consistent scoring and finishing ensured a comfortable victory.
- Krzysztof Ratajski Overcomes Max Hopp: Krzysztof Ratajski secured a 6-3 victory over Max Hopp. Hopp initially broke throw but immediately gave the advantage back. Ratajski then pulled away, and despite a brilliant 11-dart leg from Hopp that included a no-look 180, the “Polish Eagle” sealed the win after Hopp missed four darts to make it 4-5.
- Luke Woodhouse’s Comfortable Win: Dragutin Horvat had a day to forget, falling 0-6 to Luke Woodhouse. Horvat managed only one dart at a double throughout the match, while Woodhouse comfortably picked up his six legs without needing to be at his absolute best, finishing with a 110 checkout.
- Damon Heta Edges Out Rob Owen: In a closely contested match, Damon Heta defeated Rob Owen 6-4. The game was evenly balanced at 4-4 until Heta produced an 11-dart leg to take the lead. Owen then missed five crucial darts to force a deciding leg, allowing “The Heat” to step in and clinch the victory on Double 4.
Understanding the Prize Money
The European Darts Open offers a substantial total prize fund of £230,000. The winner takes home a grand prize of £35,000.
It’s important to note a key rule regarding prize money and player rankings:
- Only players who win their opening match (their first game in the tournament) will have their prize money count towards the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, and Pro Tour Order of Merit.
- Players who lose their first match still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to these vital ranking systems.
Here’s the breakdown of prize money per round:
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-finalists: £10,000
- Quarter-finalists: £8,000
- Last 16: £5,000
- Last 32 (2nd Round Losers): £3,500
- Last 64 (1st Round Losers): £2,000
What’s Next: The Evening Session
The action continues this Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 7:00 PM CEST with the evening session, which will complete the second round of the European Darts Open. Fans can look forward to more high-stakes matches featuring top players.
Upcoming Evening Session Matches:
- Stephen Bunting (6) vs. Ryan Joyce
- James Wade (4) vs. Maik Kuivenhoven
- Jonny Clayton (3) vs. Karel Sedlacek
- Michael van Gerwen (2) vs. Joe Cullen
- Gian van Veen (1) vs. Niko Springer
- Martin Schindler (12) vs. Kevin Doets
- Nathan Aspinall (8) vs. Mickey Mansell
- Ross Smith (9) vs. Niels Zonneveld
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
