Andy Baetens produced a sparkling display to preserve Belgian hopes at the 2026 Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy, as Kim Huybrechts suffered heartbreak on home soil. The opening day of this weekend’s European Tour showpiece saw 16 opening round ties take place at the Antwerp Expo, and it was Baetens – who progressed through Thursday’s Host […]
Andy Baetens produced a sparkling display to preserve Belgian hopes at the 2026 Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy, as Kim Huybrechts suffered heartbreak on home soil.
The opening day of this weekend’s European Tour showpiece saw 16 opening round ties take place at the Antwerp Expo, and it was Baetens – who progressed through Thursday’s Host Nation Qualifier – who stole the headlines.
The 37-year-old put in a blistering display to the delight of his home crowd, defying a hat-trick of ton-plus checkouts from Joe Cullen to run out a 6-3 winner with a 102.70 average.
“I love this stage. Playing in my home country, it was a good performance, so I’m happy,” reflected Baetens, who now plays Ryan Searle for a place in the last 16.
“I seem to play my best game against Joe, but tomorrow is another day, so we will see!”
Rob Cross was Friday’s standout performer, averaging 104.64 in his 6-3 success against Cristo Reyes, which simultaneously ended the Spaniard’s hopes of qualifying for the upcoming World Grand Prix.
Reyes averaged 102.68 in defeat, with Slovak Darts Open runner-up Cross reeling off three consecutive legs to set up a showdown against German number one Martin Schindler.
Friday’s action was dominated by the race for World Grand Prix qualification, which will reach its climax on Belgian soil this weekend.
Sebastian Bialecki currently occupies a place in the provisional 32-player field, after surviving six match darts to edge past home favourite Huybrechts in a contest littered with drama.
Poland’s number two conjured sensational 170 and 126 checkouts to establish a 5-3 cushion, only for Huybrechts to respond with skin-saving 112 and 88 finishes in a pulsating finale.
However, Huybrechts was unable to convert any of the six match-winning opportunities that would have moved him into the provisional qualification places, putting Bialecki in pole position for a double-start debut.
Gabriel Clemens also preserved his slender hopes of qualification with victory over Cameron Menzies, although the German must lift the title this weekend to book his place in Leicester.
Clemens’ reward is a clash against top seed Gian van Veen, while Karel Sedlacek – also chasing a World Grand Prix spot – overcame Denmark’s Michael Hansen in his opener.
Jeffrey de Graaf is another player harbouring hopes of a World Grand Prix debut, and the Swede survived a major scare to win through a gruelling decider against Host Nation representative Jeroen Caron.
Brendan Dolan – who must win the title if he’s to return to the World Grand Prix stage – also made a winning start in Antwerp, claiming the scalp of a profligate Dirk van Duijvenbode in the process.
Cullen’s defeat to Baetens leaves him precariously placed in the final qualification spot, with five players still able to overhaul the former Masters champion over the coming days.
Elsewhere, Damon Heta will go head-to-head with Michael van Gerwen in a blockbuster tie on Saturday, after fending off a late charge from Beau Greaves to prevail in a last-leg thriller.
Greaves recovered from 5-2 down to force a decider, but with the Women’s World Matchplay champion poised on tops for victory, Heta converted a clinical 102 kill to squeeze through.
Kevin Doets averaged north of 99 in his 6-1 demolition of James Hurrell, while Niko Springer earned a meeting with Nathan Aspinall after easing past Belgium’s Jaimy Jacobs by the same scoreline.
Bradley Brooks will lock horns with Gerwyn Price for a place at Finals Day, having pinned 60% of his attempts at double to complete a hard-fought 6-4 success against Mickey Mansell.
Niels Zonneveld launched a terrific fightback from 3-0 adrift to defeat debutant Petr Tous, advancing alongside William O’Connor, who accounted for newcomer Kevin Lankhuizen in routine fashion.
Ryan Joyce progressed via a last-leg decider, producing a late surge to deny Stephen Burton, while Chris Landman toppled Andrew Gilding in similar style to register his first European Tour victory of 2026.
Jim Long completed Saturday’s line-up with a 6-2 win over five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, and ten-time TV title winner James Wade now awaits the Canadian veteran in round two.
The Flanders Darts Trophy continues with a bumper double session on Saturday, as the 16 seeded representatives enter the fray on Day Two in Antwerp.
Live coverage is being 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 is also being broadcast on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers’ websites worldwide.
Click here for match stats & results.
2026 Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy
Friday September 11
Round One
Afternoon Session
Niels Zonneveld 6-3 Petr Tous
Bradley Brooks 6-4 Mickey Mansell
Chris Landman 6-5 Andrew Gilding
Kevin Doets 6-1 James Hurrell
Karel Sedlacek 6-2 Michael Hansen
Jeffrey de Graaf 6-5 Jeroen Caron
Ryan Joyce 6-5 Stephen Burton
Niko Springer 6-1 Jaimy Jacobs
Evening Session
Rob Cross 6-3 Cristo Reyes
Andy Baetens 6-3 Joe Cullen
Gabriel Clemens 6-4 Cameron Menzies
William O’Connor 6-2 Kevin Lankhuizen
Jim Long 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Damon Heta 6-5 Beau Greaves
Sebastian Bialecki 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Brendan Dolan 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Saturday September 12
Round Two
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Krzysztof Ratajski v Kevin Doets
Jermaine Wattimena v Karel Sedlacek
Martin Schindler v Rob Cross
Danny Noppert v Chris Landman
Ryan Searle v Andy Baetens
Chris Dobey v Niels Zonneveld
Luke Woodhouse v William O’Connor
Ross Smith v Jeffrey de Graaf
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Josh Rock v Ryan Joyce
Gerwyn Price v Bradley Brooks
James Wade v Jim Long
Gian van Veen v Gabriel Clemens
Michael van Gerwen v Damon Heta
Nathan Aspinall v Niko Springer
Stephen Bunting v Brendan Dolan
Wessel Nijman v Sebastian Bialecki