Chaos, calamity, and flashes of sheer brilliance – the second double-header event in Hildesheim delivered a wonderfully unpredictable cocktail.
From Dimitri Van den Bergh asserting early dominance in an all-Belgian skirmish, to Ricardo Pietreczko dropping out of battle mid-contest, and an audacious comeback from Lewis Pride against none other than two-time PDC World Champion, Gary Anderson – the stories away from the business end of proceedings were as varied as they were compelling.
Beginning with the Antwerp Ace, Van den Bergh produced a sumptuous, ton-plus display to dispatch compatriot Kim Huybrechts in an early derby that crackled with intensity. The Dreammaker, whose recent form has oscillated frustratingly, offered further intermittent evidence that a resurgence may be stirring.
Yet momentum proved fleeting. His campaign was abruptly curtailed in the subsequent round by the ever-present Challenge Tour emissary Martin Dragt, whose opportunistic efficiency halted the Belgian’s progress.
From a Flemish flinger to a German one, and a far more concerning subplot unfolded. Pietreczko appeared visibly hampered during the embryonic stages of his clash with Jeffrey De Zwaan. After only a couple of legs – and averaging well below par – Pikachu made the reluctant decision to withdraw, suggesting a possible recurrence of the injury issues that have intermittently plagued him.
Elsewhere, the brutal immediacy of the Pro Tour struck with typical ruthlessness. Barely 24 hours removed from contesting a Players Championship final, both Kevin Doets and Luke Woodhouse were unceremoniously ushered out at the first hurdle, falling to Jeffrey de Graaf and Mensur Suljović respectively.
Such is the unforgiving churn of this relentless circuit.Among the fifteen strong replacement contingent, Lewis Pride authored a moment he will cherish indefinitely. To overturn a 4-2 deficit against the imperious Anderson – the Flying Scotsman himself – requires both nerve and no small measure of audacity. Harrogate’s Pride – both in honour and name – summoned resilience in abundance.
However, the euphoria proved short-lived, as Max Hopp delivered a sobering reality check in round two.
Another Yorkshireman, Oliver Mitchell, crafted a far more sustained narrative. Competing in only his second Pro Tour event – having debuted just a day earlier – the Scarborough thrower surged all the way to the last 16, transforming a bonus couple of opportunities into a deeply memorable breakthrough.
Not all established names fared so well. A quartet of major champions – Ross Smith, Mike De Decker, Peter Wright, and Andrew Gilding – all tumbled at the first obstacle, departing Halle 39 far earlier than they’d have liked to have anticipated.
Perfection, as ever, made a timely appearance. Richard Veenstra delivered a pristine nine-darter en route to victory over Leon Weber, adding a flourish of magic to the afternoon’s proceedings. Two days. Two perfect legs. Two Dutchmen supplying the magic.
Veenstra’s run ultimately concluded at the quarter-final stage, equalling his best performance of the season following a similar showing in Wigan – though this one carried the added lustre of nine-dart perfection, elevating it into something far more memorable.
There were also several noteworthy personal milestones. Rob Cross, somewhat astonishingly, had to wait until event fourteen of the season to register a board win, eventually progressing to the last 16 before succumbing to Hopp. Dirk van Duijvenbode mirrored that depth for the first time this year.
Meanwhile, Adam Warner finally pieced together consecutive victories.Finally, a deserved nod to Joe Hunt and Mensur Suljović, both of whom concluded their German excursions with quarter-final finishes. Hunt, the Challenge Tour leader, has now featured in every Players Championship event of 2026, and with this latest haul, has propelled his earnings on the main circuit beyond £23,000 – supplementing the £12,750 already amassed on the secondary tour.
As for Suljović, The Gentle will return home a contented figure. Having arrived with a solitary last 16 as his best return this season, the Austrian departs with a semi-final and quarter-final to his name across the double-header – and a rather healthy financial boost to accompany it.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
