The 2025 PDC Flanders Darts Trophy will have a Van den Bergh on the billing – just not the one Antwerp was expecting. The prodigal son Dimitri fluffed his lines and failed to qualify, leaving younger brother Xanti, 21, to carry the family flag.
Fresh from outlasting a field of Belgian talent that included his more decorated sibling, Xanti’s prize is a glamour tie under the Friday night lights against Raymond van Barneveld. For a lad who lifted the WDF Swedish Open last year, it will be another proud occasion.
Defending champion Dave Chisnall gets his campaign underway against either Jermaine Wattimena or Leon Weber – a fixture list that already sounds like something Rowan Atkinson would improvise on stage.
Belgian number one Mike De Decker faces Martin Lukeman. Win or lose, De Decker will be clapped out of the building, but naturally the Antwerp faithful would prefer they hear Bob Marley ringing out the speakers a few more times over the weekend.
Dirk van Duijvenbode meets Jeffrey de Graaf, the Dutch-born Swede who picked up a maiden Players Championship title this week. In the orange corners, two future stars of Dutch darts in Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman get paired with Czech opposition in Adam Gawlas and Karel Sedlacek respectively, while Joe Cullen and Ian White meet in what can only be called the Former Euro Tour Winner Derby – a reminder of how fast darts moves on.
Andrew Gilding, former UK Open champion and patron saint of the deliberate throw, faces Mensur Suljovic in a match that may require patience and possibly a flask of coffee. Northern Ireland World Cup winner, Daryl Gurney looks to keep his season on a high when he goes up against Callan Rydz. Whoever comes through that plays Smudger, Ross Smith.
Then there’s Michael Smith. Bully Boy’s route back to winning ways starts against Belgium’s Mario Vandenbogaerde. Should Smith survive his dangerous opponent cheered on by a partisan crown, he’ll be rewarded with Jonny Clayton in round two. If the road to glory is going to begin this weekend, the former World Champ will have to overtake Super Mario and a Ferret. Now that sounds like a bizarre arcade game.
Saturday sees the heavyweights arrive. Luke Littler, seeded number one in Luke Humphries’ absence, will meet Dylan Slevin or Francois Schweyen, a qualifier almost guaranteed to get more crowd noise than treble 20s. Michael van Gerwen could run into Van Veen in a clash that might split the Dutch audience, while Gerwyn Price – hopefully with a hand no longer the size of a melon – starts against Joyce or Pietreczko. Stephen Bunting, fresh off another Players Championship win, will meet either Cullen or White in an all-English affair.
Elsewhere, Chris Dobey – still coming to terms with Newcastle United’s last minute defeat to Liverpool in midweek – faces Krzysztof Ratajski or Steve Lennon. Gilding or Suljovic will take on Rob Cross. And interestingly, Martin Schindler could meet De Decker or Lukeman in front of a hostile crowd. There’s another potential all Dutch clash with Danny Noppert opening against the victor in the Van Duijvenbode or De Graaf match, and Josh Rock looking for further gold will meet either Nijman or Sedlacek.
Coverage comes via DAZN in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Pluto TV’s darts channel, and PDCTV – assuming it doesn’t collapse. Bookmakers’ streams will also carry it, for those who like to mix tungsten with a touch of financial risk.
2025 Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy
Antwerp Xpo, August 29-31
Tournament Draw Bracket – Second Round Onwards
(6) Rob Cross v Andrew Gilding/Mensur Suljovic
(11) Peter Wright v Luke Woodhouse/Johan Engstrom
(3) Stephen Bunting v Joe Cullen/Ian White
(14) Josh Rock v Wessel Nijman/Karel Sedlacek
(7) James Wade v Lukas Wenig/Kim Huybrechts
(10) Dave Chisnall v Jermaine Wattimena/Leon Weber
(2) Michael van Gerwen v Gian van Veen/Adam Gawlas
(15) Martin Schindler v Mike De Decker/Martin Lukeman
(5) Chris Dobey v Krzysztof Ratajski/Steve Lennon
(12) Ross Smith v Daryl Gurney/Callan Rydz
(4) Jonny Clayton v Michael Smith/Mario Vandenbogaerde
(13) Danny Noppert v Dirk van Duijvenbode/Jeffrey de Graaf
(8) Damon Heta v Cameron Menzies/Christian Kist
(9) Gerwyn Price v Ryan Joyce/Ricardo Pietreczko
(1) Luke Littler v Dylan Slevin/Francois Schweyen
(16) Ryan Searle v Raymond van Barneveld/Xanti Van den Bergh
Schedule of Play
Friday August 29
First Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Jermaine Wattimena v Leon Weber
Dylan Slevin v Francois Schweyen
Luke Woodhouse v Johan Engstrom
Lukas Wenig v Kim Huybrechts
Krzysztof Ratajski v Steve Lennon
Cameron Menzies v Christian Kist
Andrew Gilding v Mensur Suljovic
Gian van Veen v Adam Gawlas
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Michael Smith v Mario Vandenbogaerde
Ryan Joyce v Ricardo Pietreczko
Joe Cullen v Ian White
Wessel Nijman v Karel Sedlacek
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Jeffrey De Graaf
Daryl Gurney v Callan Rydz
Mike De Decker v Martin Lukeman
Raymond van Barneveld v Xanti Van den Bergh
Saturday August 30
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Rob Cross v Gilding/Suljovic
Peter Wright v Woodhouse/Engstrom
Dave Chisnall v Wattimena/Weber
Josh Rock v Nijman/Sedlacek
Damon Heta v Menzies/Kist
Chris Dobey v Ratajski/Lennon
Danny Noppert v Van Duijvenbode/De Graaf
Ross Smith v Gurney/Rydz
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
James Wade v Wenig/K Huybrechts
Ryan Searle v Van Barneveld/X Van den Bergh
Gerwyn Price v Joyce/Pietreczko
Stephen Bunting v Cullen/White
Luke Littler v Slevin/Schweyen
Michael van Gerwen v Van Veen/Gawlas
Martin Schindler v De Decker/Lukeman
Jonny Clayton v M Smith/Vandenbogaerde
Sunday August 31
Afternoon Session (1800 local time, 1200 BST)
Third RoundEvening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
—–Ends—–
Images: PDC
