Stephen Bunting is set to launch his campaign to defend the Swiss Darts Trophy title, opening his first match against either Jeffrey de Graaf or Sietse Lap. The event forms a crucial part of the race for the coveted European Championship spots, with players eager to secure enough ranking points to qualify. The penultimate stop on the PDC European Tour for the year will be staged at the iconic St Jakobshalle in Zurich from the 9th through the 11th of October.
The tournament will also showcase the newly crowned World Grand Prix champion, Luke Humphries, who will be a major attraction for the Swiss capital’s darts fans. On Friday, the tournament kicks off with a full slate of 16 first‑round matches spread throughout the day. After these opening encounters, the top 16 players on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder will join the competition in the second round on Saturday. The highest‑seeded entrant, Luke Humphries, will begin his run against the winner of the Kevin Doets versus Nick Kenny tie.
Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the most reliable video playback experience. When Saturday’s matches conclude, the remaining sixteen competitors will return to the stage on Sunday. The day will culminate in a high‑octane evening session that includes the quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and the championship match, delivering a blockbuster finish to the three‑day event.
**Tournament Draw – Second Round Onwards** Players are seeded according to their PDC ranking positions. The bracket from the second round looks as follows: - (6) Josh Rock vs. Dave Chisnall/Alan Soutar - (11) Wessel Nijman vs.
Sebastian Bialecki/Karel Sedlacek - (3) Jonny Clayton vs. Raymond van Barneveld/Maik Kuivenhoven - (14) Luke Woodhouse vs. Rob Cross/Mario Vandenbogaerde - (7) Stephen Bunting vs. Jeffrey de Graaf/Sietse Lap - (10) Chris Dobey vs.
Niels Zonneveld/Bradley Brooks - (2) Gian van Veen vs. Niko Springer/Roman Wellinger - (15) Martin Schindler vs. Joe Cullen/Tom Bissell - (5) Michael van Gerwen vs.
Mensur Suljovic/Gyorgy Jehirszki - (12) Ross Smith vs. William O'Connor/Jani Haavisto - (4) James Wade vs.
Dirk van Duijvenbode/Bruno Stoeckli - (13) Jermaine Wattimena vs. Michael Smith/Rob Owen - (8) Danny Noppert vs. Damon Heta/Alex Fehlmann - (9) Ryan Searle vs. Cameron Menzies/Cristo Reyes - (1) Luke Humphries vs.
Kevin Doets/Nick Kenny - (16) Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Andrew Gilding/Stefan Bellmont Again, for optimal streaming, Chrome is recommended.
**Friday, 9 October – Round One** *Afternoon Session (12:00 BST)* - Niels Zonneveld vs. Bradley Brooks - William O'Connor vs.
Jani Haavisto - Mensur Suljovic vs. Gyorgy Jehirszki - Sebastian Bialecki vs. Karel Sedlacek - Niko Springer vs. Roman Wellinger - Joe Cullen vs.
Tom Bissell - Cameron Menzies vs. Cristo Reyes - Rob Cross vs. Mario Vandenbogaerde *Evening Session (18:00 BST)* - Andrew Gilding vs.
Stefan Bellmont - Jeffrey de Graaf vs. Sietse Lap - Dave Chisnall vs. Alan Soutar - Raymond van Barneveld vs.
Maik Kuivenhoven - Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Bruno Stoeckli - Michael Smith vs. Rob Owen - Damon Heta vs.
Alex Fehlmann - Kevin Doets vs. Nick Kenny **Saturday, 10 October – Round Two** *Afternoon Session (12:00 BST)* - Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Andrew Gilding/Stefan Bellmont - Wessel Nijman vs. Sebastian Bialecki/Karel Sedlacek - Luke Woodhouse vs.
Rob Cross/Mario Vandenbogaerde - Martin Schindler vs. Joe Cullen/Tom Bissell - Ryan Searle vs.
Cameron Menzies/Cristo Reyes - Ross Smith vs. William O'Connor/Jani Haavisto - Chris Dobey vs. Niels Zonneveld/Bradley Brooks - Jermaine Wattimena vs.
Michael Smith/Rob Owen *Evening Session (18:00 BST)* - Josh Rock vs. Dave Chisnall/Alan Soutar - Stephen Bunting vs. Jeffrey de Graaf/Sietse Lap - James Wade vs.
Dirk van Duijvenbode/Bruno Stoeckli - Jonny Clayton vs. Raymond van Barneveld/Maik Kuivenhoven - Michael van Gerwen vs. Mensur Suljovic/Gyorgy Jehirszki - Luke Humphries vs. Kevin Doets/Nick Kenny - Gian van Veen vs.
Niko Springer/Roman Wellinger - Danny Noppert vs. Damon Heta/Alex Fehlmann **Sunday, 11 October – Final Day** *Afternoon Session (11:00 BST)* – Round Three matches will be played according to the draw bracket. *Evening Session (17:00 BST)* – The quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and the championship final will take place, wrapping up the tournament in a single, thrilling evening.
All Sunday fixtures will follow the order established in the draw bracket, ensuring a smooth progression toward the final. **Broadcast Information** Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster for darts in the UK, covering not only the Swiss Darts Trophy but also the upcoming Grand Slam of Darts (14‑22 November) and the World Darts Championship (11 December‑3 January). Fans can also stream live action and additional darts content through the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free viewing option.
The Swiss Darts Trophy offers a vital opportunity for players to amass ranking points, especially those on the cusp of qualifying for the European Championship. With a mix of seasoned veterans and rising talents, the tournament promises high‑quality darts, dramatic upsets, and a showcase of the sport’s growing popularity across Europe. The combination of a historic venue, a packed schedule, and top‑tier broadcasting makes this event a must‑watch for any darts enthusiast.