Cameron Menzies put on a dazzling performance on the opening day of the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix, while three former champions were eliminated in Sindelfingen. The fifth European Tour stop of the season kicked off with a packed programme at the Glaspalast, where a confident Menzies dispatched Raymond van Barneveld 6‑3 after a spectacular finish. The 36‑year‑old Scotsman unleashed a late surge, throwing three consecutive legs of 11, 13 and 13 darts, and finished with a 104.5 three‑dart average, marking his fifth straight victory over the Dutch legend. "I felt tremendous there.
I wish I could play like that all the time," Menzies said after the match, noting that he would meet former European Champion Ross Smith in the next round. "Every time I've faced Barney I've given it my all, so I might 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 probably the best game I've played this year." Van Barneveld was not the only former world champion to exit early in Sindelfingen.
Two other former winners, Rob Cross and Peter Wright, fell to Mickey Mansell and Jeffrey de Zwaan respectively. Cross, who captured the European Darts Grand Prix title in 2023, was beaten 6‑2 by a clinical Mansell, who posted a 100.32 average and will now face seventh seed Stephen Bunting. De Zwaan edged out 2017 champion Wright in a tightly contested match, earning a showdown with newly crowned German Darts Grand Prix champion Nathan Aspinall. 2019 champion Ian White also crashed out, losing 6‑2 to European Darts Trophy winner Wessel Nijman, who is eyeing a fifth PDC ranking title of the 2026 season this weekend.
In contrast, Kim Huybrechts avoided the fate of Cross, Wright and White, dispatching Dirk van Duijvenbode to keep his hopes alive for a second European Darts Grand Prix crown. German favourite Niko Springer will take on defending champion Gary Anderson in one of Saturday's marquee fixtures after opening his campaign with a 6‑1 demolition of newcomer Robin Masino. Local hero Michael Unterbuchner also shone on home soil, hitting three ton‑plus checkouts in a deciding‑leg victory over William O'Connor. That win sets up a clash with two‑time champion Michael van Gerwen, while Joe Cullen will meet top seed Gian van Veen after a comfortable 6‑1 win over Maik Kuivenhoven.
Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price are slated to meet in another blockbuster tie after the eight‑time European Tour winner secured a hard‑earned 6‑4 triumph over Czechia's Petr Krivka. Keane Barry delivered precise 124 and 130 checkouts to beat an in‑form Niels Zonneveld 6‑3, earning a tantalising second‑round encounter with Premier League star Josh Rock. Kevin Doets, a semi‑finalist in Munich earlier this month, will face Jermaine Wattimena in an all‑Dutch battle after fending off a spirited comeback from compatriot Jurjen van der Velde. Damon Heta navigated a tough opening assignment against Madars Razma, and now German number one Martin Schindler awaits the Australian in the Saturday evening session.
Razma's World Cup partner Valters Melderis also celebrated, edging past Czechia's top player Karel Sedlacek to become the latest Latvian to claim a win on the big stage. Sweden's Oskar Lukasiak advanced in dramatic fashion, surrendering a 5‑1 lead against Daryl Gurney before ultimately sealing the match with his tenth dart. Elsewhere, last year's runner‑up Andrew Gilding and Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski completed the round‑two lineup after defeating the host‑nation pair Paul Krohne and Michael Hurtz respectively.
**Round One – Afternoon Session (Friday, 17 April)** Valters Melderis 6‑5 Karel Sedlacek Wessel Nijman 6‑2 Ian White Keane Barry 6‑3 Niels Zonneveld Krzysztof Ratajski 6‑3 Michael Hurtz Kevin Doets 6‑4 Jurjen van der Velde Andrew Gilding 6‑3 Paul Krohne Mickey Mansell 6‑2 Rob Cross Dave Chisnall 6‑4 Petr Krivka **Evening Session** Michael Unterbuchner 6‑5 William O'Connor Joe Cullen 6‑1 Maik Kuivenhoven Jeffrey de Zwaan 6‑3 Peter Wright Cameron Menzies 6‑3 Raymond van Barneveld Damon Heta 6‑4 Madars Razma Kim Huybrechts 6‑3 Dirk van Duijvenbode Oskar Lukasiak 6‑5 Daryl Gurney Niko Springer 6‑1 Robin Masino **Round Two – Saturday, 18 April (Afternoon Session)** 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 Josh Rock v Keane Barry **Evening Session** 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 Jonny Clayton v Valters Melderis Looking ahead, the Premier League Darts title will be defended by Luke Humphries, with matches broadcast every Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Fans can also stream the action and other top‑level sport through NOW.