European Darts Open 2026 (ET10) — Day 1 Round-Up
The 2026 Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Open got underway at the Ostermann-Arena in Leverkusen on Friday 10th July, with 16 Round 1 matches producing drama, upsets, and standout performances from the German qualifiers.
Here's everything that happened on Day 1 — full results, key talking points, and the Day 2 draw.
Day 1 Results — Afternoon Session
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Ryan Joyce vs Mio Varila | Joyce 6-1 |
| Karel Sedlacek vs Rhys Griffin | Sedlacek 6-5 |
| Dragutin Horvat vs Mario Vandenbogaerde | Horvat 6-2 |
| Rob Owen vs Andrew Gilding | Owen 6-5 |
| Jan Schmidt vs Cameron Menzies | Schmidt 6-5 |
| Mickey Mansell vs Michal Smejda | Mansell 6-1 |
| Bradley Brooks vs Lukas Wenig | Brooks 6-2 |
| Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Jaimy Van de Weerd | Van Duijvenbode 6-3 |
Day 1 Results — Evening Session
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Kim Huybrechts vs Samuel Price | Huybrechts 6-1 |
| Maik Kuivenhoven vs Daryl Gurney | Kuivenhoven 6-3 |
| Sebastian Bialecki vs William O'Connor | Bialecki 6-5 |
| Max Hopp vs Rob Cross | Hopp 6-3 |
| Joe Cullen vs Charlie Manby | Cullen 6-4 |
| Kevin Doets vs Dominik Gruellich | Doets 6-4 |
| Niko Springer vs Darius Labanauskas | Springer 6-2 |
| Niels Zonneveld vs Daniel Klose | Zonneveld 6-2 |
Key Talking Points
Max Hopp Stuns Rob Cross
The biggest upset of the day saw Germany's Max Hopp defeat former World Champion Rob Cross 6-3, finishing with an outstanding 60% checkout percentage. The home crowd in Leverkusen were electric as Hopp dismantled Voltage, who never found his rhythm.
Niko Springer — Performance of the Day
German qualifier Niko Springer produced the highest average of Day 1, exceeding 105 in a dominant 6-2 victory over Darius Labanauskas. Springer now faces world number one seed Gian van Veen in Round 2 — a mouth-watering prospect.
Jan Schmidt's Emotional Home Win
Jan Schmidt became the feel-good story of the opening day. Trailing Cameron Menzies, the German qualifier reeled off five consecutive legs to win 6-5 in his first-ever European Tour match victory. The Ostermann-Arena erupted.
Rob Owen's Near Nine-Darter
Rob Owen wired a double while attempting what would have been a televised nine-darter against Andrew Gilding. Owen threw eight 180s in a match featuring 12 combined maximums, eventually winning a last-leg decider 6-5.
Highest Checkouts
Charlie Manby and Daniel Klose both hit 164 finishes — the joint highest checkouts of Day 1. Manby hit four legs with 100+ checkouts despite losing 6-4 to Joe Cullen.
Day 2 Draw — Round 2 (Saturday 11th July)
Afternoon Session
| Seed | Seeded Player | vs | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| (15) | Damon Heta | vs | Rob Owen |
| (13) | Mike De Decker | vs | Jan Schmidt |
| (14) | Luke Woodhouse | vs | Dragutin Horvat |
| (5) | Danny Noppert | vs | Sebastian Bialecki |
| (11) | Jermaine Wattimena | vs | Kim Huybrechts |
| (7) | Chris Dobey | vs | Dirk van Duijvenbode |
| (10) | Wessel Nijman | vs | Bradley Brooks |
| (16) | Krzysztof Ratajski | vs | Max Hopp |
Evening Session
| Seed | Seeded Player | vs | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| (6) | Stephen Bunting | vs | Ryan Joyce |
| (4) | James Wade | vs | Maik Kuivenhoven |
| (3) | Jonny Clayton | vs | Karel Sedlacek |
| (2) | Michael van Gerwen | vs | Joe Cullen |
| (1) | Gian van Veen | vs | Niko Springer |
| (12) | Martin Schindler | vs | Kevin Doets |
| (8) | Nathan Aspinall | vs | Mickey Mansell |
| (9) | Ross Smith | vs | Niels Zonneveld |
Day 2 Matches to Watch
- Nathan Aspinall vs Mickey Mansell — The defending champion begins his title defence. Aspinall beat Damon Heta 8-6 in last year's final.
- Michael van Gerwen vs Joe Cullen — MvG is hunting a sixth European Darts Open title. Cullen looked sharp beating Charlie Manby 6-4.
- Gian van Veen vs Niko Springer — The world number one seed against the highest-averaging player on Day 1. Can the German home hero pull off another upset?
- Max Hopp vs Krzysztof Ratajski — Hopp carries momentum from stunning Rob Cross. Another German win in Leverkusen would be massive.
- Martin Schindler vs Kevin Doets — Germany's highest-ranked player has the home crowd behind him.
Tournament Information
- Event: 2026 Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Open (ET10)
- Venue: Ostermann-Arena, Leverkusen, Germany
- Dates: 10–12 July 2026
- Prize Fund: £230,000 (£35,000 to winner)
- Format: Rounds 1-4 best of 11 legs; Semis best of 13; Final best of 15
- Defending Champion: Nathan Aspinall
- Broadcast: PDC TV (international), DAZN (Germany/Austria/Switzerland)
Shop Player Darts
Want to throw like the pros competing in Leverkusen? Browse our range of player replica darts:
- Nathan Aspinall Darts — Defending champion, Target darts
- Michael van Gerwen Darts — Six-time European Darts Open champion, Winmau
- Joe Cullen Darts — Day 1 winner, Target
- Jonny Clayton Darts — Third seed, Red Dragon
- Chris Dobey Darts — Seventh seed, Target
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the European Darts Open 2026?
The 2026 European Darts Open (ET10) takes place 10–12 July 2026 at the Ostermann-Arena in Leverkusen, Germany.
Who won the European Darts Open 2025?
Nathan Aspinall won the 2025 European Darts Open, defeating Damon Heta 8-6 in the final.
Who was eliminated on Day 1 of the European Darts Open 2026?
Notable eliminations included former World Champion Rob Cross (lost 6-3 to Max Hopp), Daryl Gurney (lost 6-3 to Maik Kuivenhoven), and William O'Connor (lost 6-5 to Sebastian Bialecki).
What is the prize money for the European Darts Open 2026?
The total prize fund is £230,000, with the winner receiving £35,000.
