Champion of the opening Leicester double-header, Michael van Gerwen demonstrated precisely why the relentless nature of professional darts allows little room for sentiment, crashing out in the opening round this afternoon following defeat to Joe Hunt.
Rather than focus excessively on Van Gerwen’s surprisingly abrupt departure, considerable praise should instead be directed towards Hunt, whose development across both the PDC circuit and Challenge Tour this season has been nothing short of exceptional. This latest triumph represents another enormously significant milestone in what is becoming an increasingly impressive campaign and is arguably the finest result of his career to date.
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One player unquestionably deserving recognition is Derek Coulson. The Welshman is among several Challenge Tour performers capitalising impressively on opportunities earned through consistent displays on the secondary circuit.
Including this trek to Leicester, Coulson had featured in ten events this season – a figure that would have been twelve had MODUS commitments not prevented participation during the recent Wigan double-header.
Furthermore, his progression has become increasingly evident in recent weeks. Two last-16 appearances in his previous three tournaments underlined his growing confidence, while at the time of writing he had already secured another pair of victories today and going strong. Combined with an impressive average near on three maximums per match and a winning match success rate exceeding 50%, Coulson’s campaign is rapidly becoming one of genuine substance.
Elsewhere, several other high-profile names also suffered the earliest possible exit. Gian van Veen was eliminated by Welshman Rhys Griffin, continuing what has been a strangely underwhelming opening to 2026 -on the floor at least – for the reigning European Champion. Van Veen’s immense ability remains unquestionable, although performances of this nature have so far prevented him from scaling the extraordinary heights many anticipated this year. Defeat against an 80 average is not the calibre of result ordinarily associated with a player of his considerable pedigree.
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Josh Rock was another notable casualty at the Mattioli Arena, losing out to Brendan Dolan. The History Maker delivered an accomplished and authoritative display, combining clinical finishing with admirable composure throughout. Rocky, meanwhile, registered an uncharacteristically modest 77.33 average – a figure rarely associated with one of the sport’s most naturally gifted young operators.
The afternoon also witnessed first round eliminations for several former PDC major champions, including Ross Smith, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Peter Wright, Daryl Gurney, Ritchie Edhouse and Raymond van Barneveld. With both Dutch stars – Van Gerwen and Van Veen – also departing prematurely, the complexion of the tournament shifted dramatically, and the draw suddenly appeared significantly more accessible for the remaining contenders.
Interestingly, further examination of the field revealed an unusually disappointing start for former PDC World Youth Champions. By the time Wednesday’s second stage commenced, the only previous winner remaining in the tournament was Michael Smith, whose triumph came 13 years ago. The combination of early exits, absentees and several former champions no longer holding professional status contributed towards a particularly remarkable statistic.
There are also increasing concerns surrounding Ricardo Pietreczko. The German endured first-round defeats on both days in Leicester and, more worryingly, produced averages of just 76.31 on Tuesday and 66.58 today. Leaving the venue with only a solitary leg victory across the double-header, Pietreczko now faces what could become an important decision regarding participation in the upcoming PDC World Cup of Darts.
Currently Germany’s number two, the persistent injury issues hampering his performances may yet persuade him to step aside in favour of Niko Springer in the interests of national competitiveness.
The Hurricane’s Perfect Darts Moment
Finally, after Tuesday concluded without perfection, a nine-darter inevitably arrived today courtesy of Kim Huybrechts during his victory over Tavis Dudeney. The Belgian produced a scintillating display, averaging just shy of 109 in a performance of remarkable fluency and precision. On current form, Huybrechts can make a compelling argument for being Belgium’s most accomplished and in-form player at present.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC Europe (unless stated)
