Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen will play Krzysztof Ratajski or Cristo Reyes in the inaugural Slovak Darts Open, as the European Tour visits Bratislava for the first time this weekend. The ninth European Tour event of 2026 will see 48 players competing for silverware in the Slovakian capital from June 19-21, with Van Gerwen and […]
Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen will play Krzysztof Ratajski or Cristo Reyes in the inaugural Slovak Darts Open, as the European Tour visits Bratislava for the first time this weekend.
The ninth European Tour event of 2026 will see 48 players competing for silverware in the Slovakian capital from June 19-21, with Van Gerwen and his compatriot Gian van Veen among the star attractions.
The Dutch duo steered Netherlands to their first World Cup of Darts final since 2018 last weekend, and Van Veen faces a potential showdown against a revitalised Rob Cross for a place in the last 16.
However, Friday’s opening round at the Incheba Expo will feature 16 matches across the day, as Reyes and Ratajski lock horns for the right to meet three-time World Champion Van Gerwen.
Dirk van Duijvenbode and Madars Razma renew their rivalry on the European Tour stage on Friday, while William O’Connor takes on Sweden’s premier player Jeffrey de Graaf.
Kim Huybrechts and Keane Barry collide in another intriguing tie, before Joe Cullen opens his bid for a fourth European Tour title against Hungarian qualifier Peter Kelemen.
Austrian Darts Open runner-up Kevin Doets kicks off his campaign against Owen Bates, as Andrew Gilding and Mervyn King go head-to-head in a battle of darting veterans.
Cameron Menzies – who currently occupies the final provisional spot in July’s World Matchplay – will take on Host Nation Qualifier Gabriel Varaljay on Friday evening, while his closest challenger Dave Chisnall will also face Slovakian opposition in the form of Adrian Dudek earlier in the day.
The top 16 players on the PDC’s Werner Rankings Ladder will enter the fray in round two on Saturday, as Van Gerwen sets his sights on a record-extending 39th European Tour title.
Top seed Van Veen, meanwhile, will play big stage debutant Juraj Holub or 2017/18 World Champion Cross, who warmed up for this weekend’s event with victory in Players Championship 22 on Wednesday.
Third seed Jonny Clayton opens his challenge against Sweden’s Johan Engstrom or Ryan Joyce – the runner-up in last month’s Baltic Sea Darts Open.
Clayton’s fellow countryman Gerwyn Price also faces a tough test on Saturday evening, with Scotland’s World Cup semi-finalist Menzies potentially awaiting the ten-time European Tour event winner.
Danny Noppert will meet his fellow Dutchman Van Duijvenbode or Razma in round two, as Karel Sedlacek and Tyler Thorpe compete for the right to take on seventh seed Chris Dobey.
German Darts Grand Prix champion Nathan Aspinall marks his return to European Tour action against Daryl Gurney or Jim Long, while International Darts Open winner Ross Smith has been pitted against Cullen or Kelemen.
Wessel Nijman – fresh from winning his seventh ranking title of 2026 on Tuesday – will play World Championship quarter-finalist Justin Hood or Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer for a place at Finals Day.
German number one Martin Schindler awaits his compatriot Niko Springer or European Tour debutant Tom Sykes on Saturday evening, with Australian number one Damon Heta in action against Doets or Bates.
Elsewhere, newly crowned Baltic Sea Darts Open champion Luke Woodhouse begins his bid for back-to-back European Tour titles against either Gilding or King.
Following the conclusion of round two, the remaining 16 players will battle it out from 1300 local time (1200 BST) on Sunday, before the tournament reaches its climax with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a bumper evening session.
Live coverage of the inaugural Slovak Darts Open will be streamed on DAZN for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with additional coverage available on CANAL+ SPORT 5 and via the CANAL+ streaming service in Poland.
Coverage will also be broadcast on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers worldwide.
NB: From the original list of entries, Gary Anderson has withdrawn from the event, and has been replaced by Madars Razma from the Reserve List.
2026 Slovak Darts Open
Tournament Draw Bracket – Round Two Onwards
Players seeded based on PDC Ranking position
(1) Gian van Veen v Rob Cross/Juraj Holub
(16) Damon Heta v Kevin Doets/Owen Bates
(8) Ryan Searle v Kim Huybrechts/Keane Barry
(9) Nathan Aspinall v Daryl Gurney/Jim Long
(4) Gerwyn Price v Cameron Menzies/Gabriel Varaljay
(13) Martin Schindler v Niko Springer/Tom Sykes
(5) Danny Noppert v Dirk van Duijvenbode/Madars Razma
(12) Jermaine Wattimena v Dave Chisnall/Adrian Dudek
(2) Michael van Gerwen v Krzysztof Ratajski/Cristo Reyes
(15) Luke Woodhouse v Andrew Gilding/Mervyn King
(7) Chris Dobey v Karel Sedlacek/Tyler Thorpe
(10) Ross Smith v Joe Cullen/Peter Keleman
(3) Jonny Clayton v Ryan Joyce/Johan Engstrom
(14) Mike De Decker v William O’Connor/Jeffrey de Graaf
(6) Stephen Bunting v Niels Zonneveld/Jan Sliacky
(11) Wessel Nijman v Justin Hood/Benjamin Pratnemer
Schedule of Play – Subject to Change
Friday June 19
Round One
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Justin Hood v Benjamin Pratnemer
Karel Sedlacek v Tyler Thorpe
Andrew Gilding v Mervyn King
Kevin Doets v Owen Bates
Niels Zonneveld v Jan Sliacky
William O’Connor v Jeffrey De Graaf
Ryan Joyce v Johan Engstrom
Dave Chisnall v Adrian Dudek
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Madars Razma
Kim Huybrechts v Keane Barry
Rob Cross v Juraj Holub
Daryl Gurney v Jim Long
Niko Springer v Tom Sykes
Cameron Menzies v Gabriel Varaljay
Joe Cullen v Peter Kelemen
Krzysztof Ratajski v Cristo Reyes
Saturday June 20
Round Two
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Mike De Decker v O’Connor/De Graaf
Damon Heta v Doets/Bates
Wessel Nijman v Hood/Pratnemer
Danny Noppert v Van Duijvenbode/Razma
Jermaine Wattimena v Chisnall/Dudek
Chris Dobey v Sedlacek/Thorpe
Ryan Searle v Huybrechts/Barry
Luke Woodhouse v Gilding/King
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Nathan Aspinall v Gurney/Long
Martin Schindler v Springer/Sykes
Gerwyn Price v Menzies/Varaljay
Gian van Veen v Cross/Holub
Michael van Gerwen v Ratajski/Reyes
Jonny Clayton v Joyce/Engstrom
Stephen Bunting v Zonneveld/Sliacky
Ross Smith v Cullen/Kelemen
Sunday June 21
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Round Three
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Sunday’s games played in Draw Bracket order