Niels Zonneveld produced one of the best big stage performances of his career to stun three-time champion Michael van Gerwen at the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy on Saturday. Day Two of the £235,000 event saw the seeded stars enter the fray in Goettingen, with Van Gerwen setting his sights on a record-extending 39th […]
Niels Zonneveld produced one of the best big stage performances of his career to stun three-time champion Michael van Gerwen at the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy on Saturday.
Day Two of the £235,000 event saw the seeded stars enter the fray in Goettingen, with Van Gerwen setting his sights on a record-extending 39th European Tour title.
However, Zonneveld ran out a resounding 6-2 winner in their all-Dutch showdown, defying a 107 average from Van Gerwen to celebrate one of the most significant wins of his career.
Having raced into a 4-0 lead, Zonneveld saw Van Gerwen respond with back-to-back legs, only for the younger Dutchman to follow up successive 180s with a clinical 100 kill to triumph in 12 darts.
“What can I say? I’m so happy with this win,” reflected Zonneveld, who averaged 104.46 and converted a brace of ton-plus checkouts.
“I’m in a position where I know I can do it, but you have to do it!
“Michael played really well, but I felt so comfortable and so focused tonight.”
Elsewhere, Gerwyn Price delivered a statement display to kick off his campaign at the Lokhalle, averaging 106.7 to record a 6-2 victory over Joe Cullen.
“I felt like I was playing well,” insisted Price, who will face Danny Noppert in a fascinating last 16 tie.
“The crowd were right behind me tonight. I usually bring the best out of everyone, but I’m ready for them.
“I’m fully focused on my own game and it was another good performance. If I can build on that and get better, I think this tournament is mine!”
Noppert eased through his opening round tie against Ricky Evans, punishing a below-par display from the quick-fire Kettering thrower to seal an emphatic 6-1 success.
European Champion Gian van Veen advanced by the same scoreline, sweeping aside Poland’s premier player Krzysztof Ratajski to open his challenge for a maiden European Tour title.
There will be eight Dutch representatives in action on Finals Day in Goettingen, with Wessel Nijman, Richard Veenstra, Kevin Doets, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jermaine Wattimena also progressing.
Nijman averaged north of 100 in his 6-2 demolition of Mike De Decker to create a clash with Van Veen, while Veenstra claimed the scalp of German number one Martin Schindler.
Doets – fresh from his extraordinary 117.12 average on Day One – was a 6-4 victor against a spirited Cam Crabtree, who made the trip from Washington DC to replace Jonny Clayton in the field.
Van Duijvenbode dumped out two-time European Champion Rob Cross in a decider, while Wattimena crashed in eight 180s to edge past Germany’s Lukas Wenig in similar fashion.
Niko Springer preserved home hopes in Goettingen, accounting for world number six Stephen Bunting in another last-leg thriller to set up a clash against Ross Smith for a place in the quarter-finals.
Former European Champion Smith defeated Chisnall 6-4 for the second straight year at the European Darts Trophy, aided by a pivotal 144 checkout midway through the contest.
Damon Heta produced a late burst to sink Darius Labanauskas, following up 92 and 110 finishes with a 13-dart hold to average 101 and register his first win on the European Tour stage since August.
Ryan Searle also impressed in his 6-3 success against Northern Ireland’s World Cup champion Daryl Gurney, averaging north of 99 to move through to a round three tie against Veenstra.
Chris Dobey put in a clinical display to dispatch Luke Woodhouse 6-1, and his reward is a meeting with Premier League star Josh Rock, who came through a gruelling affair against Host Nation Qualifier Paul Krohne.
Austrian veteran Mensur Suljovic completed the last 16 line-up with a comeback win over Karel Sedlacek, reeling off four consecutive legs from 4-2 adrift to book a tussle against Van Duijvenbode.
Round Three will take place on Sunday afternoon – with play beginning from the earlier time of 1100 GMT – before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final from 1700 GMT at the Lokhalle.
Live coverage of the European Darts Trophy is being streamed on DAZN for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and through the DAZN Darts channel on Pluto TV.
Additionally, coverage is being shown on CANAL+ SPORT 5 and via the CANAL+ streaming service in Poland, on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers’ worldwide.
Click here for match stats & results.
2026 Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy
Saturday March 14
Round Two
Afternoon Session
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Lukas Wenig
Damon Heta 6-3 Darius Labanauskas
Danny Noppert 6-1 Ricky Evans
Ross Smith 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Rob Cross
Wessel Nijman 6-2 Mike De Decker
Chris Dobey 6-1 Luke Woodhouse
Ryan Searle 6-3 Daryl Gurney
Evening Session
Josh Rock 6-4 Paul Krohne
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Joe Cullen
Richard Veenstra 6-4 Martin Schindler
Niels Zonneveld 6-2 Michael van Gerwen
Mensur Suljovic 6-4 Karel Sedlacek
Gian van Veen 6-1 Krzysztof Ratajski
Niko Springer 6-5 Stephen Bunting
Kevin Doets 6-4 Cam Crabtree
Sunday March 15 – note earlier start times
Afternoon Session (1200 local time, 1100 GMT)
Round Three
Ryan Searle v Richard Veenstra
Niels Zonneveld v Jermaine Wattimena
Josh Rock v Chris Dobey
Gian van Veen v Wessel Nijman
Niko Springer v Ross Smith
Kevin Doets v Damon Heta
Danny Noppert v Gerwyn Price
Mensur Suljovic v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Evening Session (1800 local time, 1700 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final