Cameron Menzies stole the show on the opening day of the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix, as former champions Rob Cross, Peter Wright, and Ian White were eliminated in Sindelfingen. Menzies produced a dazzling display to defeat Raymond van Barneveld 6-3, averaging 104.5 and sealing his fifth consecutive win over the Dutch legend. "I felt incredible out there. I wish I could play like that every time," Menzies said, who will face former European Champion Ross Smith in the next round.
"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, as Rob Cross and Peter Wright lost to Mickey Mansell and Jeffrey de Zwaan, respectively.
Cross, the 2023 European Darts Grand Prix champion, 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 will meet newly-crowned German Darts Grand Prix champion Nathan Aspinall in the next round.
2019 champion Ian White also crashed out, 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, claiming the scalp of Dirk van Duijvenbode to begin his bid for a second European Darts Grand Prix crown.
German star Niko Springer will face defending champion Gary Anderson in one of Saturday's standout fixtures, 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, 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. The round two schedule for Saturday is as follows: Mike De Decker v Krzysztof Ratajski, Jermaine Wattimena v Kevin Doets, Ryan Searle v Wessel Nijman, Danny Noppert v Oskar Lukasiak, Chris Dobey v Andrew Gilding, Gary Anderson v Niko Springer, Stephen Bunting v Mickey Mansell, and Josh Rock v Keane Barry in the afternoon session. The evening session will feature Ross Smith v Cameron Menzies, Gerwyn Price v Dave Chisnall, Nathan Aspinall v Jeffrey de Zwaan, James Wade v Kim Huybrechts, Gian van Veen v Joe Cullen, Michael van Gerwen v Michael Unterbuchner, Martin Schindler v Damon Heta, and Jonny Clayton v Valters Melderis.
Who will win this year's Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title, and you can watch the action every Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sports with NOW.