The opening session in Basel wasn’t just about survival in the Swiss Darts Trophy – for plenty of players it was about clinging onto European Championship or World Grand Prix hopes by their fingernails – or on the flip-side, trying to claw their way in.
Some succeeded, some flopped, and some looked like they’d rather be in a fondue restaurant. Here’s how it all went down, game by game:
Connor Scutt 1–6 Callan Rydz
Switzerland clearly agrees with Callan Rydz. The Geordie picked up his first Euro Tour win of the year – and his first since making the semis here 12 months ago. Averaging a ton, missing barely anything on the outer ring, it was clinical stuff.
He finally brushed this season’s Euro Tour monkey off his back, though beating Luke Humphries next will be quite the test.
As for The Sniper – it was a bit of a free hit (no pun intended) Only there thanks to the reserve list lottery after half the field dropped out. That late call earned him enough cash to sneak into the World Championship spots.
All he needs to do now is stay there for another few months.
Niels Zonneveld 6–3 Dalibor Smolik
Triple Z kept his faint Grand Prix dream alive, swatting aside Smolik, who stormed on stage to death metal while Zonneveld strolled out to Dire Straits. Sadly, there was no Money for Nothing, as the Dutchman had to work hard to bank a tidy payday.
It was cagey early on before Niels found rhythm. Neither could finish to save their lives, but Zonneveld created twice as many chances – which helps. Ryan Searle won’t be so generous in round two.
Krzysztof Ratajski 6–0 Owen Bates
No dramas here. The Polish Eagle tore Bates apart, whitewashing him without breaking a sweat. Ratajski is fighting to secure both Grand Prix and European Championship spots, and this win keeps him in the mix.
Bates will chalk it up to a bad day. He’s far better than this, but when you average below 80 against this calibre of opposition, it’s going to result in an early exit. Ratajski, meanwhile, will hope Mike De Decker also turns up tomorrow with his B-game. Don’t bet on it.
Andrew Gilding 3–6 Cor Dekker
Goldfinger’s Grand Prix chances are suddenly in jeopardy after falling to Dutch-born Norwegian Cor Dekker. Neither player impressed, but Dekker found enough to pull away from 3–3 and now gets a date with Peter Wright.
For Gilding, the maths is getting ugly. He’s got Ratajski breathing down his neck and Zonneveld sniffing around too. Congested is an understatement – it’s more like rush hour on the M25.
Ryan Joyce 6–0 Rocco Fulciniti
Relentless Joyce breezed past Fulciniti, the pasta-sounding Swiss qualifier who looked out of his depth. Joyce didn’t need to be spectacular; just turning up and throwing straight was enough.
Tomorrow brings James Wade, who, in darts terms, is decorated like a Harrods Christmas tree. Joyce knows it’ll be closer – Wade tends not to gift-wrap matches.
Luke Woodhouse 6–5 Lukas Wenig
Two players who share the same initials proceeded to also share the opening ten legs. Throughout the contest, Wenig hit the only 180, but when it came to the decider, after throwing first he failed to take advantage. Cue Woodhouse cleaning up and advancing.
Next for Woody: Dave Chisnall, a man he has an appalling head-to-head record against. His words, not mine.
Ricardo Pietreczko 6–3 Oskar Lukasiak
Pikachu still clings to faint Grand Prix hopes after seeing off Lukasiak with a clinical display, hitting half his doubles. The German number two would have to reach the final to give himself a chance to feature in Leicester next month. If he wants to save drama – then I suggest lifting the title.
Pietreczko now earns a showdown with compatriot Martin Schindler and recent World Cup partner. National bragging rights and reaching the last day of action, all up for grabs.
Mensur Suljovic 6–2 Martin Lukeman
Thanks to his trusty old pal Double 14 and the reserve list, Mensur Suljovic lives to fight another round. Lukeman’s hopes of sneaking into the Grand Prix are officially dead – only lifting the trophy would have saved him, and that was always going to be a bit of a tall order.
Mensur’s celebration after a round-one win was pure joy – like he’d just won the Euromillions. But that’s why we love him: always gracious, always animated, always Mensur. Next up, Chris Dobey.
Still to come this evening (from 6pm BST): more Swiss action, more Grand Prix desperation, and possibly another reserve-list miracle. Stay tuned:
Chris Landman v Denis Schnetzer
Wessel Nijman v Ritchie Edhouse
Raymond van Barneveld v Ansh Sood
Richard Veenstra v Niko Springer
Jermaine Wattimena v Stefan Bellmont
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Jitse van der Wal
Nathan Aspinall v Andreas Toft Jorgensen
Daryl Gurney v William O’ConnorUpdated Tournament Draw Bracket (1) Luke Humphries v Callan Rydz
(16) Ryan Searle v Niels Zonneveld
(8) Josh Rock v Jermaine Wattimena/Stefan Bellmont
(9) Dave Chisnall v Luke Woodhouse
(4) Jonny Clayton v Nathan Aspinall/Andreas Toft Jorgensen
(13) Martin Schindler v Ricardo Pietreczko
(5) Chris Dobey v Mensur Suljovic
(12) Peter Wright v Cor Dekker
(2) Stephen Bunting v Chris Landman/Denis Schnetzer
(15) Mike De Decker v Krzysztof Ratajski
(7) Damon Heta v Raymond van Barneveld/Ansh Sood
(10) Ross Smith v Wessel Nijman/Ritchie Edhouse
(3) James Wade v Ryan Joyce
(14) Gian van Veen v Dirk van Duijvenbode/Jitse van der Wal
(6) Rob Cross v Richard Veenstra/Niko Springer
(11) Danny Noppert v Daryl Gurney/William O’Connor
—-Ends—–
Images: PDC
