Menzies Stuns Van Barneveld in European Darts Grand Prix Opener

Cameron Menzies put on a dazzling display at the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix, ousting Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 on the first day. The event, held at the Glaspalast in Sindelfingen, saw Menzies finish with a 104.5 average, securing his fifth consecutive win over the Dutch legend. Menzies expressed his delight, saying, "I felt tremendous out there. I wish I could play like that all the time. 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." Former World Champions Rob Cross and Peter Wright were also eliminated, losing to Mickey Mansell and Jeffrey de Zwaan, respectively. Cross, the 2023 European Darts Grand Prix champion, was beaten 6-2 by Mansell, who averaged 100.32. De Zwaan, meanwhile, accounted for 2017 winner Wright in a closely contested match. Other former champions who crashed out included 2019 champion Ian White, who lost 6-2 to Wessel Nijman, and 2017 champion Peter Wright, who was defeated by Jeffrey de Zwaan. However, Kim Huybrechts avoided the same fate, claiming a 6-3 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode to begin his bid for a second European Darts Grand Prix crown. Niko Springer will face defending champion Gary Anderson on Saturday after opening his campaign with a 6-1 thumping of newcomer Robin Masino. Michael Unterbuchner also impressed 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, setting 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.