Belgian Darts Open: Littler vs Krcmar After Shock 

The back-to-back world champion and world No. 1 has won the Belgian Darts Open in each of the last two years and returns to headline this weekend’s tournament at the Oktoberhallen. Luke Littler is undefeated in eleven matches at Wieze, a staggering record of dominance that speaks to his mastery of this particular venue. Littler defeated Mike De Decker 8-5 in the 2025 final to successfully retain the title after winning the 2024 edition, and now the 18-year-old prodigy stands on the precipice of something truly special.

But Friday’s opening round delivered a twist. Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld made his first appearance on the European Tour in 2026 and was promptly dismantled. Boris Krcmar produced one of the performances of the session, averaging 101 and finishing with clinical precision as he raced into a commanding lead. Van Barneveld struggled badly on the doubles before Krcmar capped the display with a 116 finish to seal a 6-1 demolition.

The Croatian’s emphatic victory sets up what promises to be a fascinating encounter this evening. Krcmar arrives with momentum, confidence, and the sort of statement performance that can unsettle even the most decorated champions. Littler, meanwhile, carries the weight of expectation alongside his immaculate record at this venue. The world number one has already demonstrated his appetite for European Tour success in 2026, having opened his account at the Poland Darts Open last month.

Friday’s First-Round Carnage: The Afternoon Session

The opening day at Wieze provided precisely the sort of drama and chaos that makes the European Tour such compulsive viewing. Niels Zonneveld defeated Jani Haavisto 6-4, fresh from reaching the semi-finals at the European Darts Trophy, with the Dutchman producing a ton-plus average punctuated by five maximums. Triple Z now faces a compelling second-round encounter against Belgium’s national talisman Mike De Decker on Saturday evening.

Luke Woodhouse defeated Pascal Devroey 6-2, though his performance will need considerable elevation when he faces eighth seed Danny Noppert in today’s afternoon session. Ricky Evans defeated Scott Williams 6-2, demonstrating far greater clinical precision in the decisive moments whilst Williams appeared a diminished version of his usually flamboyant self. The Kettering speedster now progresses to face Ryan Searle this afternoon.

Ryan Joyce battled to a 6-4 victory over Adam Gawlas, Cameron Menzies cruised past Sietse Lap 6-1, and William O’Connor dispatched Tyler Thorpe 6-1. Ryan Meikle recovered from a commanding 4-1 deficit against Francois Schweyen, systematically dismantling the Belgian’s lead before reeling off five consecutive legs to secure victory.

The afternoon session’s headline act delivered fireworks. Mickey Mansell defeated Michael Smith 6-3, a result dripping with backstory and tension. Their previous encounter had been far from amicable, and the conspicuous absence of a pre-match handshake suggested that any residual animosity had not entirely dissipated. Their February clash in European Tour qualifying saw Smith withdraw from subsequent competition and post a now-deleted social media tirade about Mansell’s pace of play. Friday’s rematch provided the Northern Irishman with sweet vindication as he landed two ton-plus checkouts including a sublime 161 outshot. Mansell now faces three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen this evening: a mouthwatering prospect.

Friday’s Evening Session: Champions Fall and Qualifiers Shine

The evening session delivered further shocks and standout performances. Dave Chisnall defeated Thibault Tricole 6-2, recovering from a slow start to take control and winning five legs in succession at one stage. The eight-time European Tour title winner’s scoring proved enough to see off the Frenchman comfortably.

Cristo Reyes overcame Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4, setting up a second-round clash with sixth seed James Wade. Belgian hopes flickered briefly when Andy Baetens edged out Joe Cullen 6-5 in a match packed with tension and missed chances. Cullen averaged over 100 but couldn’t close out the match before Baetens held his nerve in the deciding leg to complete a memorable victory. The home crowd erupted as Baetens secured his spot against fifth seed Stephen Bunting this evening.

Wessel Nijman’s bid for back-to-back European Tour titles was ended by a 6-3 defeat to Sebastian Bialecki. Fresh from his European Darts Trophy triumph last weekend, the Dutchman was unable to back it up as Bialecki produced a composed performance, averaging just under 100 and punishing missed opportunities before sealing the win with an 81 checkout. Bialecki now faces fourth seed and Premier League leader Jonny Clayton: a colossal opportunity.

Daryl Gurney defeated Ian White 6-1, Kim Huybrechts defeated Niko Springer 6-3, and Dirk van Duijvenbode defeated Lukas Wenig 6-3 to complete the first-round lineup.

Reserve Players Making Their Mark

Ricky Evans, Mickey Mansell and Ian White joined the field from the reserve list following the withdrawal of Gary Anderson, Gerwyn Price and Gian van Veen. Of the three late call-ups, only White has been eliminated thus far. Evans faces Ryan Searle this afternoon in a genuine test of his credentials, whilst Mansell’s Friday heroics against Smith have positioned him for a blockbuster encounter with Van Gerwen.

Mansell’s 6-3 victory over Smith carried particular significance given their fractious history. The “Clonoe Cyclone” demonstrated remarkable composure, with Smith outperforming his opponent statistically across average, checkout percentage, and maximums, yet proving incapable of breaching Mansell’s throw. The Northern Irishman’s advantage of throwing first proved ultimately decisive. It was precisely the sort of gutsy, tactically astute performance that can propel underdogs deep into tournaments.

Saturday’s Afternoon Session: The Gauntlet Begins

Today’s afternoon session features the first wave of seeded entries, with eight compelling second-round clashes scheduled from 1300 local time. Ross Smith faces Cameron Menzies, Jermaine Wattimena meets Ryan Meikle, and Chris Dobey takes on Dave Chisnall in what shapes as one of the more intriguing contests. Tenth seed Dobey will relish the opportunity to extend his solid early-season form, but Chisnall’s experience and eight European Tour titles demand respect.

Ryan Searle confronts Ricky Evans in a match that pits contrasting styles against each other: Searle’s methodical, heavy-scoring approach against Evans’s rapid-fire rhythm could produce fireworks. Martin Schindler faces William O’Connor, Damon Heta meets Daryl Gurney, Danny Noppert plays Luke Woodhouse, and Nathan Aspinall takes on Ryan Joyce to complete the afternoon’s fixtures.

Saturday’s Evening Session: Where Champions Collide

The evening session represents the weekend’s centrepiece, featuring the tournament’s biggest names and most anticipated matchups. James Wade faces Cristo Reyes, Jonny Clayton meets Sebastian Bialecki, Stephen Bunting plays Andy Baetens, and Mike De Decker takes on Niels Zonneveld before the headline acts take centre stage.

Clayton arrives in Belgium as the Premier League leader, having moved eight points clear at the top of the table with his second nightly victory of the season in Nottingham on Thursday. The Welshman defeated Michael van Gerwen, Stephen Bunting and Luke Humphries to claim the £10,000 nightly prize. His form has been nothing short of sensational, becoming the first player to win two Premier League Darts nights in 2026. Against Bialecki, he faces an opponent brimming with confidence after dismantling last week’s European Tour champion.

But the evening’s true showpieces arrive in the final four fixtures. Littler versus Krcmar heads the billing, a collision between the world’s premier player and a Croatian determined to prove his 6-1 demolition of Van Barneveld was no fluke. Luke Humphries faces Dirk van Duijvenbode in another potential landmine. The world number two reached his first nightly final of 2026 in Nottingham, featuring impressive wins over Gian van Veen and Luke Littler, catapulting himself into contention.

Michael van Gerwen versus Mickey Mansell promises theatre. Van Gerwen’s recent form has been patchy at best, with the seven-time Premier League champion proving way too inconsistent on the oche. Mansell carries the momentum of Friday’s statement victory and the knowledge that he possesses nothing to lose against one of the sport’s all-time greats. Josh Rock versus Kim Huybrechts completes the evening session, with Huybrechts delighting the Belgian faithful on Friday and fancying his chances of extending his tournament run on home soil.

The Weekend Ahead: Sunday’s Showdown

Sunday’s schedule sees the round of 16 contested in the afternoon session before the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final unfold across the evening. The third of 15 PDC European Tour events this year features 48 players competing for £230,000 in prize money, with the winner collecting a handsome payday alongside crucial ranking points.

Can Littler extend his perfect Wieze record to twelve matches and claim a historic hat-trick of Belgian Darts Open titles? Will Krcmar’s giant-killing continue? Can the reserve players who stepped in at late notice make further inroads? And which of the Premier League contingent will juggle their Thursday night commitments with weekend European Tour success?

The answers begin to emerge this afternoon at the Oktoberhallen, where another weekend of top-class darts awaits.