It’s the Kiel before the Blackpool storm as the opening session of the 2025 Baltic Sea Darts Open got underway.
Safety shoes and Germany aren’t things you’d typically associate with a tungsten tournament named after this particular region of the world – but yet, here we are.
And with half of the first round done and dusted, Darts World reflects on the Friday afternoon action in Deutschland.In summary, it was mixed emotions for the home fans – and a much better session if you were flying a Dutch flag. Three Germans bowed out.
Three Dutch arrowsmiths sailed through.Mickey Mansell and Polish qualifier Miroslaw Grudziecki were the first pair to enter the fray – and as predicted, it went the way of the Northern Irishman, despite the Clonroe Cyclone needing to recover from 3–2 down.
Once the leftie realised the danger, he reeled off four legs on the bounce to bowl out the Pole.Luke Woodhouse eased into the next round, comfortably dispatching the first German of the day, Liam Maendl-Lawrence, 6–2 – with plenty still left in the tank. Perhaps the most spirited performance of the afternoon came from 18-year-old Yorick Hofkens.
The teenager, playing on home soil, pushed Cammy Menzies all the way before the Scot nicked it in a last-leg decider. A great contest – full of quality.
Darts World columnist and recent World Cup star Gian van Veen wasted no time advancing. The youngster must’ve had the Uber meter running outside, whitewashing a bewildered Johan Engström – the Swede barely knew what hit him.
A ton average and clinical finishing on the outer ring, if you’re wondering, Johan.
Continuing his impressive form, Jermaine Wattimena cruised past Callan Rydz 6–1 in a high-scoring clash – ultimately decided by the vast difference in their respective double-hitting accuracy.
Polish Eagle, Krzysztof Ratajski, made light work of an under-par Richard Veenstra before 25-year-old Dutch rising star, Wessel Nijman saw off Martin Kramer in a match that was definitely one for the oche purists.
Finally, two men who have both previously tasted Euro Tour glory – Kim Huybrechts and Ian White – closed out the afternoon session.
It was the Belgian who will return on Saturday, overturning a 3–2 deficit to romp home without further concession.A couple of hours’ break – then we go again with sixteen more hopefuls looking to extend their stay in Kiel.
Oh..and so far – if you had Ross Smith or Chris Dobey in the ‘luggage not arriving’ sweepstake – congratulations.
Round One – Friday Afternoon Session
Results
Mickey Mansell 6-3 Miroslaw Grudziecki (Mansell will play Luke Humphries)
Luke Woodhouse 6-2 Liam Maendl-Lawrance (Woodhouse will play James Wade)
Cameron Menzies 6-5 Yorick Hofkens (Menzies will play Ryan Searle)
Gian van Veen 6-0 Johan Engstrom (Van Veen will play Jonny Clayton)
Jermaine Wattimena 6-0 Callan Rydz (Wattimena will play Martin Schindler)
Richard Veenstra 2-6 Krzysztof Ratajski (Ratajski will play Gary Anderson)
Wessel Nijman 6-3 Martin Kramer (Nijman will play Damon Heta)
Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Ian White (Huybrechts will play Ross Smith)
—–Ends—–
Images: PDC
