The PDC have officially confirmed both the draw and schedule for the forthcoming 2026 Baltic Sea Darts Open, the eighth staging of this year’s European Tour circuit.
A considerable number of high-profile absentees has significantly altered the complexion of the tournament field. All four competitors involved in Premier League Finals Night, alongside Josh Rock and Gary Anderson, elected to relinquish their invitations to Kiel, subsequently creating opportunities for several reserve players to enter the event.
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Most notably, the revised line-up includes highly decorated Dutchman Michael van Gerwen, former World Champion Rob Cross and two-time televised major champion Dimitri Van den Bergh, who will make his maiden Euro Tour appearance of the current campaign.
Last year’s edition culminated in Gerwyn Price capturing the title following victory over Gary Anderson in the final. With neither player participating this weekend, and numerous elite names absent from the draw altogether, the tournament presents a substantial opportunity for a new contender to emerge.
With both Luke Humphries and Luke Littler again absent from Euro Tour proceedings, Gian van Veen enters the tournament as the highest-seeded player in the field. The Dutchman will commence his pursuit of a long-awaited maiden European Tour title on Saturday evening against either Alan Soutar or Dimitri Van den Bergh, who collide during Friday afternoon’s opening session.
The only Premier League participant not to qualify for Finals Night, Stephen Bunting, has been handed a potentially demanding second-round assignment against either Cameron Menzies or Rob Cross in what appears one of the most intriguing ties of the weekend.
Another player continuing to enjoy an exceptional season is Wessel Nijman, who faces either Krzysztof Ratajski or German qualifier Daniel Klose in the second round. Meanwhile, fellow Dutchman Kevin Doets must begin his campaign from the opening round where he takes on Germany’s Lukas Wenig.
Several additional former major champions are also involved across what appears an exceptionally competitive Saturday schedule. During the afternoon session, Mike De Decker awaits the winner of Ian White against Jimmy van Schie, while Danny Noppert opens the evening programme against either William O’Connor or Cristo Reyes.
For James Wade, his opening encounter presents a distinctly Dutch challenge with either Niels Zonneveld or Richard Veenstra progressing into the second round against The Machine.
Later during the evening session, Nathan Aspinall could potentially meet Kevin Doets should the Dutchman negotiate his opening clash against Wenig. Concluding proceedings, Ross Smith (above) awaits either home favourite Niko Springer or East European qualifier Nandor Major.
Elsewhere, Chris Dobey – a player increasingly perceived to be approaching a maiden continental triumph – has been paired against either James Hurrell or highly regarded Polish prospect Sebastian Bialecki.
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Such is the extraordinary competitive profundity currently permeating the PDC landscape, even with numerous elite names absent, several first-round encounters possess a calibre ordinarily associated with the latter stages of major tournaments. Van den Bergh against Soutar, Menzies facing Cross and Justin Hood’s meeting with Max Hopp all possess considerable intrigue.
The tournament commences at 12pm GMT on Friday.
2026 BALTIC SEA DARTS OPEN (ET8)
Kiel, Germany (29-31 May)
Round One (Friday Afternoon Session)
Ricky Evans vs Teemu Harju
Karel Sedlacek vs Jason Riedtke
Ryan Joyce vs Christian Kist
Ian White vs Jimmy van Schie
Krzysztof Ratajski vs Daniel Klose
Alan Soutar vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
Justin Hood vs Max Hopp
Andrew Gilding vs Jeffrey de Zwaan
Round One (Friday Evening Session)
Niels Zonneveld vs Richard Veenstra
Kevin Doets vs Lukas Wenig
Cameron Menzies vs Rob Cross
James Hurrell vs Sebastian Bialecki
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Paul Krohne
William O’Connor vs Cristo Reyes
Joe Cullen vs Manuel Hausotter
Niko Springer vs Nandor Major
Round Two (Saturday Afternoon Session)
Wessel Nijman vs Ratajski/Klose
Luke Woodhouse vs Gilding/de Zwaan
Mike de Decker vs White/van Schie
Daryl Gurney vs Evans/Harju
Damon Heta vs Sedlacek/Riedtke
Ryan Searle vs van Duijvenbode/Krohne
Dave Chisnall vs Cullen/Hausotter
Jermaine Wattimena vs Hood/Hopp
Round Two (Saturday Evening Session)
Danny Noppert vs O’Connor/Reyes
Chris Dobey vs Hurrell/Bialecki
James Wade vs Zonneveld/Veenstra
Stephen Bunting vs Menzies/Cross
Nathan Aspinall vs Doets/Wenig
Gian van Veen vs Soutar/Van den Bergh
Martin Schindler vs Joyce/Kist
Ross Smith vs Springer/Major
Images: PDC Europe
