Menzies shines in triumph over Van Barneveld at the European Darts Grand Prix

Cameron Menzies put on a dazzling performance on the opening day of the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix, while three former champions suffered early exits in Sindelfingen. The fifth European Tour stop of the year kicked off with a packed schedule at the Glaspalast, where a confident Menzies dispatched the veteran Raymond van Barneveld 6‑3. The 36‑year‑old Scotsman capped his victory with a late surge, delivering three successive legs of 11, 13 and 13 darts and finishing with an impressive 104.5 average. The win marked his fifth consecutive triumph 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 his next opponent would be former European Champion Ross Smith in the second round. "Every time I've faced Barney I've given it my all, so I probably won’t be on 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 performance of the season." Van Barneveld was not the only former world champion to fall in Sindelfingen. Both Rob Cross and Peter Wright were eliminated, losing to Mickey Mansell and Jeffrey de Zwaan respectively.

Cross, the 2023 European Darts Grand Prix champion, was outclassed 6‑2 by a clinical Mansell, who posted a 100.32 average and earned a clash with seventh seed Stephen Bunting. De Zwaan edged out 2017 winner Wright in a hard‑fought duel, securing a meeting with newly crowned German Darts Grand Prix champion Nathan Aspinall.

2019 champion Ian White also crashed out, succumbing 6‑2 to European Darts Trophy winner Wessel Nijman, who is eyeing a fifth PDC ranking title of 2026 this weekend. In contrast, Kim Huybrechts avoided the fate of Cross, Wright and White, dispatching Dirk van Duijvenbode to keep his hopes of a second European Darts Grand Prix crown alive.

German hopeful Niko Springer will face defending champion Gary Anderson in one of Saturday's marquee fixtures after opening his campaign with a dominant 6‑1 win over newcomer Robin Masino. Local favorite Michael Unterbuchner made a strong impression on home soil, hitting three ton‑plus checkouts in a deciding‑leg victory over William O'Connor. That win sets up a showdown with two‑time champion Michael van Gerwen, while Joe Cullen will meet top seed Gian van Veen after a comfortable 6‑1 triumph over Maik Kuivenhoven.

Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price are slated for another blockbuster encounter after the eight‑time European Tour winner sealed a gritty 6‑4 win against Czech Republic's Petr Krivka. Keane Barry displayed clinical finishing, converting 124 and 130 checkouts to beat an in‑form Niels Zonneveld 6‑3, earning a tantalising second‑round clash with Premier League star Josh Rock. Kevin Doets, a semi‑finalist in Munich earlier in the month, will face Jermaine Wattimena in an all‑Dutch duel after repelling a late surge from fellow countryman 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 enjoyed success, edging past Czech number one Karel Sedlacek to become the latest Latvian to claim a win on the big 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.

Elsewhere, last year’s runner‑up Andrew Gilding and Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski completed the round‑two lineup after defeating host‑nation pair Paul Krohne and Michael Hurtz respectively. **Round One – Afternoon Session (Friday, April 17)** Valters Melderis def.

Karel Sedlacek 6‑5 Wessel Nijman def. Ian White 6‑2 Keane Barry def. Niels Zonneveld 6‑3 Krzysztof Ratajski def.

Michael Hurtz 6‑3 Kevin Doets def. Jurjen van der Velde 6‑4 Andrew Gilding def. Paul Krohne 6‑3 Mickey Mansell def. Rob Cross 6‑2 Dave Chisnall def.

Petr Krivka 6‑4 **Evening Session** Michael Unterbuchner def. William O'Connor 6‑5 Joe Cullen def. Maik Kuivenhoven 6‑1 Jeffrey de Zwaan def. Peter Wright 6‑3 Cameron Menzies def.

Raymond van Barneveld 6‑3 Damon Heta def. Madars Razma 6‑4 Kim Huybrechts def. Dirk van Duijvenbode 6‑3 Oskar Lukasiak def. Daryl Gurney 6‑5 Niko Springer def.

Robin Masino 6‑1 **Round Two – Saturday, April 18 (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 stream the action and other top‑level sports through NOW.