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 event of the year kicked off with a packed schedule at the Glaspalast, where the impressive Menzies secured a 6-3 triumph over a determined Raymond van Barneveld.
The 36‑year‑old Scot delivered a late‑stage surge, hitting three consecutive legs of 11, 13 and 13 darts, finishing with a 104.5 three‑dart average and marking his fifth straight win against the Dutch legend. "I felt tremendous there. I wish I could play like that all the time," Menzies said after the match, noting that his next opponent will be former European Champion Ross Smith in the second round. "Every time I've faced Barney I seem to play out of my skin, so I probably won’t make his Christmas card list this year!
I have a lot of love and respect for Raymond – he was a hero of mine growing up – but this was arguably my best game of the year." Van Barneveld was not the only former world champion to bow out in Sindelfingen. Two other former title‑holders, Rob Cross and Peter Wright, also fell, losing to Mickey Mansell and Jeffrey de Zwaan respectively.
Cross, the 2023 European Darts Grand Prix champion, was dispatched 6-2 by the clinical Mansell, who posted a 100.32 average and will now meet seventh seed Stephen Bunting. De Zwaan fought hard to overcome 2017 winner Wright, earning a clash with newly crowned German Darts Grand Prix champion Nathan Aspinall. 2019 champion Ian White also suffered an early exit, losing 6-2 to European Darts Trophy winner Wessel Nijman, who is eyeing a fifth PDC ranking title of 2026 this weekend.
In contrast, a resurgent Kim Huybrechts avoided the fate of Cross, Wright and White, dispatching Dirk van Duijvenbode as he begins his quest for a second European Darts Grand Prix crown. German hopeful Niko Springer will face defending champion Gary Anderson in one of Saturday's marquee match‑ups after opening his campaign with a dominant 6-1 victory over newcomer Robin Masino.
Local favourite Michael Unterbuchner also shone on home soil, hitting three ton‑plus checkouts in a deciding‑leg win over William O'Connor. That second European Tour win sets up a showdown with two‑time champion Michael van Gerwen, while Joe Cullen will meet top seed Gian van Veen after a routine 6-1 triumph over Maik Kuivenhoven.
Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price will clash in another blockbuster tie after the eight‑time European Tour winner booked a hard‑earned 6-4 win against Czech Republic's Petr Krivka. Keane Barry displayed clinical finishing, converting 124 and 130 checkouts to seal a 6-3 victory over an in‑form Niels Zonneveld, earning a tempting second‑round encounter with Premier League star Josh Rock. Kevin Doets, who reached the semi‑finals 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 German number one Martin Schindler now awaits the Australian in Saturday's evening session.
There was also cause for celebration for Razma's World Cup partner Valters Melderis, who edged past Czech number one Karel Sedlacek to become the latest Latvian to claim a victory on the big stage. Sweden's Oskar Lukasiak advanced in dramatic fashion, surrendering a 5-1 lead against Daryl Gurney before ultimately clinching 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 host‑nation duo Paul Krohne and Michael Hurtz respectively. The full schedule of results from Friday, April 17, round one: Afternoon session – 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. Saturday, April 18, round two will see a packed programme. The afternoon session (1300 local, 1200 BST) includes Mike De Decker vs Krzysztof Ratajski, Jermaine Wattimena vs Kevin Doets, Ryan Searle vs Wessel Nijman, Danny Noppert vs Oskar Lukasiak, Chris Dobey vs Andrew Gilding, Gary Anderson vs Niko Springer, and Stephen Bunting vs Mickey Mansell, followed by Josh Rock vs Keane Barry.
The evening session (1900 local, 1800 BST) features Ross Smith vs Cameron Menzies, Gerwyn Price vs Dave Chisnall, Nathan Aspinall vs Jeffrey de Zwaan, James Wade vs Kim Huybrechts, Gian van Veen vs Joe Cullen, Michael van Gerwen vs Michael Unterbuchner, Martin Schindler vs Damon Heta, and Jonny Clayton vs Valters Melderis. Fans can also keep an eye on the Premier League Darts, where Luke Humphries will defend his title.
Matches are broadcast every Thursday until May on Sky Sports, and viewers can stream the action alongside other top‑level sport via NOW. Overall, the opening day of the European Darts Grand Prix delivered a blend of surprise upsets, dominant performances, and thrilling finishes, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of darts across the Glaspalast arena.