Belgian Trio Advance on Home Soil at Day 1 of Flanders Darts Trophy
- Darts Central
- Aug 29
- 3 min read
The opening day of the Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp delivered shocks, standout performances, and plenty of home delight as three Belgian players progressed to round two.
The highlight came when Mario Vandenbogaerde stunned Michael Smith 6-5, sparking huge celebrations inside the Antwerp Expo, while Mike De Decker and Kim Huybrechts also kept home hopes alive.
In total, 16 Pro Tour qualifiers faced off against 16 players from various routes, all battling for the chance to meet the seeded stars on Saturday. Across both sessions, there were tight last-leg deciders, surprise exits, and several players who made big statements heading into the weekend.
Afternoon Session
The afternoon began with an upset as recent Players Championship winner Jermaine Wattimena was edged out 6-5 by young German Leon Weber in the tournament’s opening match.
Dylan Slevin and Luke Woodhouse followed with comfortable victories, as Slevin saw off home qualifier François Schweyen 6-3 and Woodhouse brushed past Johan Engström 6-1 to progress without much trouble.
There was Belgian joy in the fourth match as Kim Huybrechts, the now Belgian No.3, held his nerve in a last-leg decider to defeat recent Pro Tour finalist Lukas Wenig 6-5. Krzysztof Ratajski also advanced with a professional 6-3 win over Steve Lennon, showing his experience in a steady performance.
Christian Kist made a successful return to the European Tour stage, producing four 180s and averaging 97 in a surprise 6-5 win over Cameron Menzies, himself a Pro Tour winner this season.
Mensur Suljović then came through a scrappy affair, edging Andrew Gilding 6-4 in a match where both men struggled to find their scoring power and finished with averages in the high 80s.
The session concluded with World No.18 Gian van Veen cruising past Adam Gawlas 6-2, a commanding display from the young Dutchman who continues to impress on the big stage.
Evening Session
The evening session in Antwerp began with fireworks as home favourite Mario Vandenbogaerde stunned Michael Smith 6-5, sending the crowd into raptures. Vandenbogaerde averaged 95 in a composed display, producing one of the biggest wins of his career.
Ryan Joyce then edged past Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 in a scrappy affair, with the German left to rue multiple missed match darts. Joe Cullen followed with a commanding 6-1 victory over Ian White, punishing a below-par performance from “The Diamond,” who averaged just 81 and landed only one of his nine attempts at a double.
The standout clash of the session came when Karel Sedláček defeated Wessel Nijman 6-5 in a thriller. Sedláček averaged 98.9 and defied Nijman’s 100 average and three maximums, sealing victory with a superb 84 checkout on the bull in the decider.
Dirk van Duijvenbode then produced a clinical display to see off Monday’s maiden Players Championship winner, Jeffrey de Graaf, 6-2. Both averaged around 96, but Van Duijvenbode’s sharp finishing of six doubles from nine attempts proved decisive.
In the night’s highest-quality contest, Daryl Gurney overcame Callan Rydz 6-3 in a barnstormer. The pair shared seven maximums, with Rydz averaging 106.57 and Gurney 104.29, but the Northern Irishman’s all-round game was just too strong on the night.
Belgium’s No.1 and reigning World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker battled to a 6-3 win over Martin Lukeman, despite averaging just 82.25 without a single maximum. The crowd roared him over the line to keep his title hopes alive.
The evening closed with a landmark moment for Xanti van den Bergh (brother of Dimitri van den Bergh), who faced Raymond van Barneveld on his European Tour debut. Despite a 6-3 defeat, the 21-year-old impressed with three maximums and an 86.33 average, showing glimpses against the five-time World Champion and earning respect on the big stage.
Looking Ahead to Saturday
Saturday sees the top 16 seeds join the tournament, with World No.2 Luke Littler headlining the action as he chases a Belgian double on the European Tour. He is joined by World No.3 Michael van Gerwen, while in-form duo Stephen Bunting and Jonny Clayton also look to add to their title hauls this season.
There are several standout ties to look forward to tomorrow, while Belgian hopes remain alive through Kim Huybrechts, Mario Vandenbogaerde, and the country’s No.1 Mike De Decker, all aiming to mount a serious challenge in front of a passionate Antwerp crowd.
With the seeds entering the fray and local favourites still in the hunt, Saturday promises fireworks in Antwerp.
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