Menzies Shines in Victory Over Van Barneveld at European Darts Grand Prix

Cameron Menzies stole the show on the opening day of the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix, with three former champions eliminated in Sindelfingen. Menzies produced a spectacular performance, defeating Raymond van Barneveld 6-3, averaging 104.5 and securing his fifth consecutive win over the Dutch legend. Menzies expressed his delight, saying, 'I felt incredible out there. I wish I could play like that every time.' He faces 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. Mansell, who averaged 100.32, set up a meeting with seventh seed Stephen Bunting after beating Cross 6-2. De Zwaan accounted for Wright in a closely contested match and will face newly crowned German Darts Grand Prix champion Nathan Aspinall. 2019 champion Ian White also crashed out, losing 6-2 to European Darts Trophy champion Wessel Nijman. However, Kim Huybrechts avoided a similar fate, claiming a 6-3 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode to begin his bid for a second European Darts Grand Prix title. German star Niko Springer will face defending champion Gary Anderson after opening his campaign with a 6-1 win over newcomer Robin Masino. Michael Unterbuchner starred on home soil, landing a hat-trick of ton-plus checkouts during his deciding-leg success against William O'Connor. Unterbuchner's win sets up a clash against two-time champion Michael van Gerwen, while Joe Cullen will play top seed Gian van Veen after a 6-1 win over Maik Kuivenhoven. Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price will lock horns in another high-profile tie, after Chisnall closed out a grueling 6-4 victory against Czechia's Petr Krivka. Keane Barry converted clinical 124 and 130 checkouts to seal a 6-3 success against Niels Zonneveld, setting up an enticing clash against Premier League star Josh Rock in round two. Kevin Doets 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. Valters Melderis 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.