Cameron Menzies put on a dazzling display to kick off the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix, while three former titleholders were eliminated on the first day in Sindelfingen. The event's opening day at the Glaspalast saw Menzies deliver a stunning performance, defeating a determined Raymond van Barneveld 6-3.
The 36-year-old finished strong, winning consecutive legs in 11, 13, and 13 darts to secure the win with a 104.5 average, marking his fifth consecutive victory over the Dutch legend. Menzies will face former European Champion Ross Smith in the next round. Van Barneveld was not the only former World Champion to exit the tournament, as Rob Cross and Peter Wright lost to Mickey Mansell and Jeffrey de Zwaan, respectively. The fifth European Tour event of the year saw several upsets, with 2019 champion Ian White also being eliminated by Wessel Nijman.
However, Kim Huybrechts avoided a similar fate, defeating Dirk van Duijvenbode to begin his quest for a second European Darts Grand Prix title. The tournament will continue on Saturday, with notable matchups including Niko Springer against defending champion Gary Anderson and Michael Unterbuchner against two-time champion Michael van Gerwen.