Karel Sedlacek powered himself into the European Championship qualifying frame with a hard-fought opening-day victory at the Elten Safety Shoes Dutch Darts Championship, while local qualifier Heine Uuldriks produced a sensational fightback to steal the headlines on home soil in Maastricht.
The final European Tour event of 2026 got underway at the MECC on Friday, and the Czech star delivered when it mattered most.
Czech star Sedlacek swept aside Callan Rydz 6-4, landing seven maximums in a performance that edged him into the remaining Dortmund spots later this month.
“That was really hard for me!” admitted Sedlacek after claiming his first career win over the Englishman.
“Callan is one of the best players in the world, I know that, but I took my chances and I won. I made many mistakes, but I still won so I will take that.”
The World Cup star now sits in one of the last qualifying positions and faces a stern test in round two against German number one Martin Schindler, who currently occupies the final Dortmund berth.
“I’m really happy for the chance to make it to Dortmund, we will see what happens tomorrow,” Sedlacek added.
“I will be ready, Martin is a great player, today was the first step, tomorrow is the second, I’m ready.”
Uuldriks provided the afternoon’s pure drama. The Host Nation Qualifier staged a brilliant recovery from 3-0 down against Ricardo Pietreczko, leading 5-4 before the German levelled with a superb 12-darter.
In the decider the Dutchman held his nerve, sealing a dream debut with an 81 checkout finished on the bull while Pietreczko waited on 54.
“It was my first time up here, everyone told me to enjoy, but me, I just wanted to win,” said Uuldriks, who next faces late call-up Brendan Dolan.
“Pietreczko played brilliantly the first few legs, then I took over and then checked it out, it was unbelievable. A couple of weeks ago I thought that I wanted to do more in darts – this is what I came for.”
Cristo Reyes booked his European Championship place in style, racing past Krzysztof Kciuk 6-2 with four maximums.
Dutch favourites Dirk van Duijvenbode and Niels Zonneveld also delighted the home crowd, dispatching James Hurrell and Mike De Decker respectively.
Van Duijvenbode meets Ryan Searle next, while Zonneveld takes on Polish number one Krzysztof Ratajski.
Jimmy van Schie became the second Host Nation success story, edging Kim Huybrechts in a gruelling last-leg thriller that leaves the Belgian’s Dortmund hopes hanging by a thread.Cameron Menzies continued his solid form with a 6-1 demolition of a below-par Nick Kenny and will lock horns with Stephen Bunting on Saturday evening.
Ryan Joyce produced the day’s only whitewash, sweeping aside Owen Bates 6-0, while Dave Chisnall posted a routine 6-4 win over Jonas Masalin to strengthen his own qualification claims.
Sebastian Bialecki remains firmly in the European Championship hunt after beating late call-up Daryl Gurney 6-4. The Polish number two sits just £5,000 behind Schindler and faces a massive test against world number three Gian van Veen.
Elsewhere, Jeffrey De Graaf ended Mickey Mansell’s challenge 6-3, while William O’Connor set up a mouth-watering clash with Michael van Gerwen after a 6-2 victory over Richard Veenstra.
Andrew Gilding and Michael Smith both survived last-leg deciders against Max Hopp and Stephen Burton, Scott Williams claimed his first European Tour win of 2026 by edging Niko Springer 6-5, and Damon Heta saw off the final Host Nation Qualifier Maikel Verberk 6-4.
The Dutch Darts Championship continues with a bumper double session on Saturday as the 16 seeds enter the fray.
Live coverage of the Dutch Darts Championship will be streamed on Viaplay in the Netherlands and on DAZN for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with additional coverage available on CANAL+ SPORT 5 and via the CANAL+ streaming service in Poland.
Coverage will also be broadcast on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers’ websites worldwide.
2026 Elten Safety Shoes Dutch Darts Championship
Friday October 16
Round One
Afternoon Session
Karel Sedlacek 6-4 Callan Rydz
Cameron Menzies 6-1 Nick Kenny
Jeffrey de Graaf 6-3 Mickey Mansell
Dave Chisnall 6-4 Jonas Masalin
Andrew Gilding 6-5 Max Hopp
Ryan Joyce 6-0 Owen Bates
Heine Uuldriks 6-5 Ricardo Pietreczko
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 James Hurrell
Evening Session
Sebastian Bialecki 6-4 Daryl Gurney
William O’Connor 6-2 Richard Veenstra
Scott Williams 6-5 Niko Springer
Niels Zonneveld 6-4 Mike De Decker
Jimmy van Schie 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Cristo Reyes 6-2 Krzysztof Kciuk
Damon Heta 6-4 Maikel Verberk
Michael Smith 6-5 Stephen Burton
Saturday October 17
Round Two
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Martin Schindler v Karel Sedlacek
Wessel Nijman v Jeffrey De Graaf
Luke Woodhouse v Andrew Gilding
Ross Smith v Ryan Joyce
Danny Noppert v Dave Chisnall
Ryan Searle v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Brendan Dolan v Heine Uuldriks
Krzysztof Ratajski v Niels Zonneveld
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Gerwyn Price v Scott Williams
Jermaine Wattimena v Jimmy van Schie
Stephen Bunting v Cameron Menzies
Gian van Veen v Sebastian Bialecki
Michael van Gerwen v William O’Connor
Jonny Clayton v Damon Heta
Nathan Aspinall v Michael Smith
Chris Dobey v Cristo Reyes
Images: Kelly Deckers / PDC Europe
