The inaugural Poland Darts Open now has just one home representative remaining after another absorbing evening of tungsten theatre in Krakow. Fortunately for the local faithful, that solitary standard bearer is none other than the most accomplished player in the nation’s history, Krzysztof Ratajski.
The Polish Eagle secured safe passage into round two courtesy of a composed and authoritative victory over Mickey Mansell. His reward is a compelling confrontation with Luke Humphries, and it is safe to assume the reigning Premier League champion should not anticipate overwhelming crowd endorsement.
The evening’s proceedings were inaugurated by Wessel Nijman, who continues to cultivate an increasingly persuasive reputation. The Dutchman has already grabbed a title this season, having claimed the most recent Players Championship in Wigan only days ago.
The 25-year-old accounted for Thomas Lovely with measured assurance and will now seek to sustain that momentum against a man intimately acquainted with major honours – Gary Anderson.
Joe Cullen, The Rockstar, is intent on reminding the darts fraternity that he is indeed a PDC TV champion with ambitions of a resurgent campaign. A polished performance against Krzysztof Kcuik on Polish soil furnished him with an ideal commencement to his Krakow enterprise as he pursues a fourth Euro Tour crown.
His subsequent assignment is formidable: the attempted removal of Michael Smith from the draw. One half of the reigning World Cup champions, Daryl Gurney is another who has previously savoured Euro Tour success. However, that solitary triumph now resides seven years in the past. After dispatching home qualifier Dawid Robak with minimal alarm, Superchin must now recalibrate for a significantly sterner examination against Ross Smith.
The evening’s most arresting outcome arguably belonged to Connor Scutt. The Sniper produced a performance of admirable conviction to eliminate the vastly experienced European operator Damon Heta.
Prior to this victory, the 29-year-old had recorded only one win on this circuit, effectively doubling his continental tally in a single Krakow evening. Heta, conversely, boasts a portfolio replete with semi-final appearances and a title in Gibraltar, yet his recent trajectory has been underwhelming. This premature exit will do little to arrest that narrative. Scutt advances to a meeting with Chris Dobey.
Adam Gawlas’ renaissance continued with the removal of Dirk van Duijvenbode. The Czech youngster endured a year on the periphery but did secure a MODUS Super Series triumph – no negligible accomplishment given the competition’s attritional format.
Since reclaiming his tour card, Gawlas has assembled a commendable Pro Tour resurgence, highlighted by a semi-final appearance on the opening weekend in Hildesheim. Awaiting him is Jonny Clayton, buoyed by his recent Premier League success in Glasgow and operating with palpable confidence.
Cristo Reyes is another re-emerging presence on the circuit. After a six-year absence, the Spaniard has reacclimatised impressively, particularly within the Euro Tour qualification landscape. He commenced his Poland campaign with a victory over reigning Hungarian Darts Trophy champion Niko Springer. The next obstacle is Ryan Searle, a player seldom charitable on the outer ring.
The evening concluded with 2024 World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker advancing into round two following a professional dismissal of Marvin Kraft. The German became the fifth member of the Euro Tour debutant quintet to succumb on the night.
For De Decker, it wasn’t pretty but he got the win. However, sterner terrain lies ahead, which is quite the understatement. His prize is an unenviable duel with Luke Littler – a challenge that demands not merely competence, but near perfection. In other words, the Real Deal will have to be precisely that when he faces the back-to-back World Champ.
PDC Poland Darts Open 2026
Round One Results
Evening Session
Wessel Nijman 6-3 Thomas Lovely
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Dawid Robak
Connor Scutt 6-4 Damon Heta
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Mickey Mansell
Adam Gawlas 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Cristo Reyes 6-3 Niko Springer
Joe Cullen 6-2 Krzysztof Kciuk
Mike De Decker 6-4 Marvin Kraft
Round Two Matches Afternoon Session (12pm GMT)
Martin Schindler v Boris Krcmar
Chris Dobey v Connor Scutt
Nathan Aspinall v Daryl Pilgrim
Danny Noppert v Jermaine Wattimena
Gary Anderson v Wessel Nijman
James Wade v Cameron Menzies
Ross Smith v Daryl Gurney
Ryan Searle v Cristo Reyes
Evening Session (6pm GMT)
Josh Rock v William O’Connor
Jonny Clayton v Adam Gawlas
Michael Smith v Joe Cullen
Luke Littler v Mike De Decker
Callan Rydz v Luke Woodhouse
Luke Humphries v Krzysztof Ratajski
Stephen Bunting v Niels Zonneveld
Gian van Veen v Andrew Gilding
—–Enfs—–
Images: PDC
