Cameron Menzies put on a dazzling performance on the opening day of the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix, a tournament that kicked off at the Glaspalast in Sindelfingen with a flurry of high‑octane matches. The 36‑year‑old Australian stormed through his first‑round encounter, defeating the legendary Raymond "Barney" van Barneveld 6‑3 in a contest that highlighted both his composure under pressure and his ability to string together rapid, high‑scoring legs. Menzies began the match in solid fashion, but it was a late surge that truly defined his triumph.
He rattled off three consecutive legs of 11, 13 and 13 darts, each finishing with a clinical double that left the crowd buzzing. His average of 104.5 was a clear indicator of his form, and the win marked his fifth straight victory over the Dutch icon, a streak that has become a talking point among darts enthusiasts.
After the match, an elated Menzies said, "I felt tremendous there. I wish I could play like that all the time." He added a touch of humor when he noted that his performance might keep him off van Barneveld's Christmas card list this year, but also paid tribute to his opponent, describing him as a childhood hero and acknowledging that this was arguably his best game of the season. Van Barneveld was not the only former world champion to exit the tournament early.
In a series of upsets that shocked the audience, two other past winners—Rob Cross and Peter Wright—were eliminated by Mickey Mansell and Jeffrey de Zwaan respectively. Cross, who captured the European Darts Grand Prix title in 2023, fell 6‑2 to a clinical Mansell who posted a 100.32 average and earned a place against seventh seed Stephen Bunting. Wright, the 2017 champion, fought hard but ultimately succumbed to de Zwaan, setting up a clash with newly crowned German Darts Grand Prix champion Nathan Aspinall.
The day also saw Ian White, the 2019 champion, bow out after a 6‑2 defeat to European Darts Trophy winner Wessel Nijman. Nijman, who is eyeing his fifth PDC ranking title of 2026, will now turn his attention to the next round of the Grand Prix. Amid the disappointment for some, there were bright spots.
Kim Huybrechts, enjoying a resurgence in form, avoided the fate of Cross, Wright and White by dispatching Dirk van Duijvenbode, keeping his hopes alive for a second European Darts Grand Prix crown. German hopeful Niko Springer opened his campaign with a dominant 6‑1 win over newcomer Robin Masino and will face defending champion Gary Anderson in a marquee Saturday showdown. Local favourite Michael Unterbuchner also made a strong impression, hitting three ton‑plus checkouts in a decisive leg victory over William O'Connor. His second win on the European Tour stage sets up a tantalising encounter with two‑time champion Michael van Gerwen.
Meanwhile, Joe Cullen breezed past Maik Kuivenhoven 6‑1 and will meet top seed Gian van Veen in the next round. The evening session delivered more drama. Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price, both multiple European Tour winners, were paired in a blockbuster tie that saw Chisnall edge out a gritty 6‑4 win over Czech player Petr Krivka. Keane Barry displayed clinical finishing, hitting 124 and 130 checkouts to beat an in‑form Niels Zonneveld 6‑3, earning a second‑round match against Premier League star Josh Rock.
Dutch contender Kevin Doets, a semi‑finalist in Munich earlier in the month, held off a spirited comeback from fellow countryman Jurjen van der Velde to claim a 6‑4 victory, setting up an all‑Dutch clash with Jermaine Wattimena. Damon Heta navigated a tough opening match against Madars Razma, and will now face German number one Martin Schindler on Saturday evening. Latvian representative Valters Melderis, who partners with Razma in the World Cup, celebrated a narrow 6‑5 win over Czech number one Karel Sedlacek, becoming the latest Latvian to taste success on a major stage.
Sweden's Oskar Lukasiak staged a dramatic comeback, surrendering a 5‑1 lead to Daryl Gurney before ultimately clinching the match with his tenth dart. Rounding out the round‑two lineup were last year’s runner‑up Andrew Gilding and Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski, who both secured victories over host‑nation players Paul Krohne and Michael Hurtz respectively.
The schedule for the remainder of the tournament is packed with high‑stakes matchups. On Saturday afternoon, the afternoon session will feature Mike De Decker versus Krzysztof Ratajski, Jermaine Wattimena versus Kevin Doets, Ryan Searle versus Wessel Nijman, Danny Noppert versus Oskar Lukasiak, Chris Dobey versus Andrew Gilding, and a showdown between Gary Anderson and Niko Springer.
The evening session will see Ross Smith take on Cameron Menzies, Gerwyn Price versus Dave Chisnall, Nathan Aspinall against Jeffrey de Zwaan, James Wade versus Kim Huybrechts, Gian van Veen versus Joe Cullen, Michael van Gerwen versus Michael Unterbuchner, Martin Schindler versus Damon Heta, and Jonny Clayton against Valters Melderis. Beyond the Grand Prix, darts fans can keep an eye on the Premier League Darts, where Luke Humphries will defend his title. The league runs every Thursday until May and is broadcast on Sky Sports, with streaming options available through NOW for viewers who prefer digital platforms. Overall, the opening day of the European Darts Grand Prix delivered a mixture of surprise exits, dominant performances, and compelling storylines that set the stage for an exciting continuation of the tournament.
Fans can look forward to more high‑quality darts, unexpected upsets, and the inevitable quest for the coveted title as the competition progresses through its remaining rounds.