Cameron Menzies (Photo by Sebastian Doppstadt/PDC Europe)
Cameron Menzies delivered a sparkling display on the opening day of the European Darts Grand Prix, while three former champions crashed out in Sindelfingen.
The year’s fifth European Tour event began with a bumper day of action at the Glaspalast, as a magnificent Menzies powered to a 6-3 win against a spirited Raymond van Barneveld.
The 36-year-old produced a brilliant late flurry to confirm his progress, reeling off legs of 11, 13 and 13 darts to triumph with a 104.5 average and register a fifth straight victory over the Dutch legend.
“I felt tremendous there. I wish I could play like that all the time,” quipped Menzies, who faces former European Champion Ross Smith in round two.
“I think every time I’ve played Barney I’ve played out of my skin, so I may not be on his Christmas card list this year!
“I love and respect Raymond. He was a hero of mine growing up, but that was arguably my best game this year.”
Van Barneveld wasn’t the only former World Champion to bow out in Sindelfingen, as Rob Cross and Peter Wright succumbed to Mickey Mansell and Jeffrey de Zwaan respectively.
Cross – a European Darts Grand Prix champion in 2023 – was beaten 6-2 by a clinical Mansell, who averaged 100.32 to set up a showdown against seventh seed Stephen Bunting.
De Zwaan accounted for 2017 winner Wright in a hard-fought encounter, and the Dutchman’s reward is a meeting with newly crowned German Darts Grand Prix champion Nathan Aspinall.
2019 champion Ian White also crashed out the Glaspalast, losing 6-2 to European Darts Trophy champion Wessel Nijman, who is eyeing a fifth PDC ranking title of 2026 this weekend.
However, a resurgent Kim Huybrechts avoided the same fate as Cross, Wright and White, claiming the scalp of Dirk van Duijvenbode to begin his bid for a second European Darts Grand Prix crown.
German star Niko Springer will go head-to-head with defending champion Gary Anderson in one of Saturday’s stand-out fixtures, after opening his campaign with a 6-1 thumping of newcomer Robin Masino.
Michael Unterbuchner also starred on home soil, landing a hat-trick of ton-plus checkouts during his deciding-leg success against William O’Connor.
Unterbuchner’s second win on the European Tour stage sets up a clash against two-time champion Michael van Gerwen, while Joe Cullen will play top seed Gian van Veen following a routine 6-1 win over Maik Kuivenhoven.
Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price will lock horns in another blockbuster tie, after the eight-time European Tour winner closed out a gruelling 6-4 victory against Czechia’s Petr Krivka.
Keane Barry converted clinical 124 and 130 checkouts to seal a 6-3 success against an in-form Niels Zonneveld, which sets up an enticing clash against Premier League star Josh Rock in round two.
Kevin Doets – a semi-finalist in Munich earlier this month – will face Jermaine Wattimena in an all-Dutch affair after fending off a valiant fightback from compatriot Jurjen van der Velde.
Damon Heta navigated his way through a tough opening assignment against Madars Razma, and German number one Martin Schindler now awaits the Australian on Saturday evening.
Nevertheless, there was joy for Razma’s World Cup partner Valters Melderis, who edged past Czechia’s number one Karel Sedlacek to become the latest Latvian to triumph on the big stage.
Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak also advanced in dramatic fashion, relinquishing a 5-1 lead against Daryl Gurney before eventually sealing the win with his tenth match dart.
Elsewhere, last year’s runner-up Andrew Gilding and Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski completed the round two line-up, after defeating Host Nation duo Paul Krohne and Michael Hurtz respectively.
Results
Round One: Valters Melderis 6-5 Karel Sedlacek; Wessel Nijman 6-2 Ian White; Keane Barry 6-3 Niels Zonneveld; Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Michael Hurtz; Kevin Doets 6-4 Jurjen van der Velde; Andrew Gilding 6-3 Paul Krohne; Mickey Mansell 6-2 Rob Cross; Dave Chisnall 6-4 Petr Krivka; Michael Unterbuchner 6-5 William O’Connor; Joe Cullen 6-1 Maik Kuivenhoven; Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-3 Peter Wright; Cameron Menzies 6-3 Raymond van Barneveld; Damon Heta 6-4 Madars Razma; Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode; Oskar Lukasiak 6-5 Daryl Gurney; Niko Springer 6-1 Robin Masino
