The PDC have announced the draw and playing schedule for the inaugural Slovak Darts Open and, as ever, there is no shortage of tantalising and enthralling prospective encounters lurking on the horizon.
DartsWorld’s attention naturally turns towards those desperately hoping to procure a place in this year’s World Matchplay. Following this weekend’s Euro Tour extravaganza, only a Players Championship double-header in Leicester early next month remains before the cut-off, meaning opportunities to accrue precious ranking money are becoming increasingly scarce.
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Currently clinging onto the final three qualification berths are Daryl Gurney, Damon Heta and Dave Chisnall. Superchin will begin his campaign against Canada’s Jim Long, the only North American Tour Card holder, with the victor advancing to a second-round showdown against Nathan Aspinall.
For Australian thrower Heta, promotion into the seeded positions affords him a bye into Saturday’s action, although he still requires at least one victory to amass those invaluable ranking pounds. The Heat will await the winner of Friday afternoon’s duel between Kevin Doets and Owen Bates.
Scotland’s Cameron Menzies, fresh from his World Cup debut, has arguably been bestowed with the most benevolent draw of the trio, having been paired with a Host Nation Qualifier. The Ayrshire ace must, however, remain patient before discovering precisely who will stand opposite him on the Bratislava stage.
Attention then shifts to those attempting to overhaul the pack. Of the players realistically harbouring aspirations of reaching Blackpool, Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki is the most conspicuous absentee. It is Dave Chisnall who currently occupies seventeenth place on the provisional list – one position beneath Menzies and agonisingly outside the qualification spots. Chizzy, too, must await confirmation of which home representative fate delivers.
Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts faces Republic of Ireland star Keane Barry as he endeavours to secure another excursion to the Lancashire seaside resort. Elsewhere, Czech favourite Karel Sedlacek locks horns with Tyler Thorpe, while recent Players Championship champion Jeffrey De Graaf knows any hopes of a late Matchplay renaissance hinge upon overcoming the in-form William O’Connor. That assignment represents the genesis of any serious assault on the top sixteen.
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Proceedings commence on Friday afternoon and, with the sands of time rapidly dwindling, much of what transpires over the coming days will prove profoundly consequential in determining who earns the privilege of gracing Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens at the end of July.
PDC Slovak Darts Open 2026
Friday 19th June (Round One)
Afternoon Session
Justin Hood v Benjamin Pratnemer
Karel Sedlacek v Tyler Thorpe
Andrew Gilding v Mervyn King
Kevin Doets v Owen Bates
Niels Zonneveld v Host Nation Qualifier 4
William O’Connor v Jeffrey De Graaf
Ryan Joyce v Johan Engstrom
Dave Chisnall v Host Nation Qualifier 3
Evening Session
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Madars Razma
Kim Huybrechts v Keane Barry
Rob Cross v Host Nation Qualifier 2
Daryl Gurney v Jim Long
Niko Springer v Tom Sykes
Cameron Menzies v Host Nation Qualifier 1
Joe Cullen v Peter Kelemen
Krzysztof Ratajski v Cristo Reyes
Saturday 20th June (Round Two)
Afternoon Session
Mike De Decker v O’Connor/De Graaf
Damon Heta v Doets/Bates
Wessel Nijman v Hood/Pratnemer
Danny Noppert v Van Duijvenbode/Razma
Jermaine Wattimena v Chisnall/HNQ3
Chris Dobey v Sedlacek/Thorpe
Ryan Searle v Huybrechts/Barry
Luke Woodhouse v Gilding/King
Evening Session
Nathan Aspinall v Gurney/Long
Martin Schindler v Springer/Sykes
Gerwyn Price v Menzies/HNQ1
Gian van Veen v Cross/HNQ2
Michael van Gerwen v Ratajski/Reyes
Jonny Clayton v Joyce/Engstrom
Stephen Bunting v Zonneveld/HNQ4
Ross Smith v Cullen/Kelemen
Images: PDC
