By Saturday, the Flanders Darts Trophy finally looks like the tournament it’s supposed to be. This is the day the big guns show up – well, at least the ones who could be bothered to make the trip, aren’t injured, or don’t currently have hands the size of small hatchbacks. Yes, Gerwyn Price, we’re looking at you.
And, true to Euro Tour tradition, it didn’t take long for the seeds to start tumbling. The afternoon session served up seven contests, and some serious drama. Here’s how it all went down:
Rob Cross 5–6 Mensur Suljovic
Talk about a blast from the past. Mensur Suljovic reached the final day of a Euro Tour for the first time since 2023, and he did it in style, taking out former World Champion Rob Cross.
The Gentle lived up to his name everywhere except on the scoring – hammering in seven 180s and finishing like a man possessed. It was neck and neck throughout, but Suljovic clung onto the throw in the decider and nicked it. Could the big Austrian go all the way and really roll back the years?
Peter Wright 1–6 Luke Woodhouse
Snakebite’s colour-changing hair had more highlights than his darts. Not only was Wright not at the races, he didn’t eve know there was a meeting. Producing a mid-70s average in a Euro Tour second-round match – something that is never going to cut the mustard. Luke Woodhouse, to his credit, played solidly and did exactly what was needed. The Shed marches on to face Suljovic, while Wright is left scratching his head as to what went wrong.
Dave Chisnall 4–6 Leon Weber
Last year’s champion Chizzy was sent packing by 22-year-old German newcomer Leon Weber. Both played well, but Weber’s early break of throw put him firmly in control, racing to 4–1. Chisnall tried to rally, dragging it back to 5–4, but Weber held firm and sealed it. Quite the scalp for the youngster. Next up, either Kim Huybrechts with a home crowd hurricane at his back, or the evergreen unflustered James Wade.
Josh Rock 6–5 Karel Sedláček
Finally, a seed remembered how to win. Josh Rock, one of darts’ rising stars, edged out the gritty Czech in a nervy last-leg decider. Sedláček hung in there all the way, but when it mattered most, his doubles deserted him. Rock, cool as you like, took his chance and booked a third-round spot. He’ll face the winner of Bunting v Cullen who meet later this evening.
Damon Heta 6–3 Christian Kist
Businesslike stuff from the Heat. Against Christian Kist, a man whose Euro Tour record resembles a horror film franchise (all sequels, no happy endings), Heta barely needed to break sweat. Solid scoring, reliable finishing, job done. Heta’s reward? A tie with Ryan Joyce, who should probably send a thank-you card to Gerwyn Price’s balloon hand for clearing his path.
Chris Dobey 3–6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Reserve list? Don’t mind if I do. The Polish Eagle soared again, bagging only his second career win over Dobey. Both played tidy darts, but Ratajski’s heavier scoring gave him the key chances, and he pounced on them like a man starved. Dobey, meanwhile, continues his agonising wait for a maiden Euro Tour crown. Many say he is the big name cab of the rank and whilst that suggestion isn’t really in question – it won’t be this weekend in Antwerp.
Danny Noppert 6–4 Dirk van Duijvenbode
An all-Dutch slugfest between two heavyweights, decided not by scoring but by finishing. And nobody finishes quite like Danny Noppert right now. Six darts at a double, six darts landed. The Freeze was clinical, cool, and merciless. Van Duijvenbode battled hard, but the aubergine farmer had no answer to pinpoint precision. Noppert now sits back and waits for either Jonny Clayton or Super Mario Vandenbogaerde.
A few hours wait then back for the rest of round two.
—-Ends——
Images: PDC
