2026 Slovak Darts Open draw & schedule
2026 Slovak Darts Open draw & schedule
Michael van Gerwen will begin his quest for a record-extending 39th European Tour title this weekend, with the Dutch legend set to face either Krzysztof Ratajski or Cristo Reyes at the inaugural Slovak Darts Open in Bratislava.
The European Tour makes its first-ever visit to Slovakia from June 19-21, with 48 players descending on the Incheba Expo for the ninth European Tour event of the 2026 season.
Fresh from helping the Netherlands reach their first World Cup of Darts final since 2018, Van Gerwen arrives in Bratislava full of confidence after another strong week on the international stage. The three-time World Champion and compatriot Gian van Veen were ultimately denied by England in Frankfurt, but both men will be among the leading contenders for silverware this weekend.
Van Gerwen’s campaign will begin in Saturday’s second round, where he awaits the winner of Friday’s intriguing opening-round clash between Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski and experienced Spaniard Cristo Reyes.
Friday’s first round will feature 16 matches across two sessions as players battle for a place among the seeded stars entering the tournament on day two.
One of the standout ties sees Dirk van Duijvenbode take on Latvia’s Madars Razma in a repeat of several memorable European Tour encounters, while Republic of Ireland star William O’Connor faces Sweden’s number one Jeffrey de Graaf.
There is also an eye-catching meeting between Kim Huybrechts and Keane Barry, with both players aiming to build momentum ahead of the summer’s major events.
Former Masters champion Joe Cullen opens his challenge against Hungarian qualifier Peter Kelemen as the Englishman targets a fourth European Tour title.
Elsewhere, Austrian Darts Open runner-up Kevin Doets begins his campaign against Owen Bates, while veteran stars Andrew Gilding and Mervyn King go head-to-head in one of the most experienced matchups of the opening round.
The race for World Matchplay qualification also remains a major talking point heading into the weekend.
Cameron Menzies currently occupies the final provisional qualification place for Blackpool and will begin his campaign against a Host Nation Qualifier on Friday evening. One of the Scotsman’s closest challengers, Dave Chisnall, also faces Slovak opposition in the opening round as he looks to boost his own qualification hopes.
Saturday sees the tournament’s top 16 seeds enter the competition, with several blockbuster ties potentially on the cards.
Top seed Gian van Veen faces one of the most intriguing routes in the draw. The Dutch world number three could be set for a showdown with newly crowned Players Championship 22 winner Rob Cross, should the former World Champion come through his opening-round encounter against a Host Nation Qualifier.
Cross arrives in Slovakia full of confidence after ending his title drought in Wigan on Wednesday, securing his first ranking title of the year with victory over Maik Kuivenhoven.
Third seed Jonny Clayton also faces a potentially difficult opener. The Welshman will meet either Sweden’s Johan Engstrom or Ryan Joyce, who reached last month’s Baltic Sea Darts Open final.
Clayton enjoyed another strong World Cup campaign alongside Nick Kenny last weekend and will be aiming to translate that form onto the European Tour stage.
Fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price could also face a stern examination in round two. The former World Champion may come up against Cameron Menzies, provided the Scottish World Cup semi-finalist successfully negotiates his opening-round tie.
Dutch number one Danny Noppert awaits the winner of the clash between Van Duijvenbode and Razma, while Czech favourite Karel Sedlacek takes on Tyler Thorpe for the right to face seventh seed Chris Dobey.
Nathan Aspinall, winner of this year’s German Darts Grand Prix, returns to European Tour action against either Daryl Gurney or Canadian star Jim Long.
Meanwhile, International Darts Open champion Ross Smith will begin his title challenge against either Cullen or Kelemen.
One of the players attracting significant attention heading into the weekend is Wessel Nijman.
The Dutch sensation arrives in Bratislava after claiming his seventh ranking title of the season earlier this week, continuing a remarkable campaign that has established him as one of the most consistent performers on the PDC circuit.
Nijman will face either World Championship quarter-finalist Justin Hood or Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer in his opening match as he looks to add a maiden European Tour title to his growing collection of silverware.
German number one Martin Schindler, who impressed on home soil during the World Cup of Darts, awaits either compatriot Niko Springer or European Tour debutant Tom Sykes.
Australian number one Damon Heta has been drawn against either Doets or Bates, while another recent European Tour champion, Luke Woodhouse, begins his bid for consecutive titles against either Andrew Gilding or Mervyn King.
Woodhouse arrives in Slovakia as the reigning Baltic Sea Darts Open champion and will be hoping to continue the excellent form that secured his maiden European Tour crown.
Following the completion of Saturday’s second-round action, the tournament moves into its decisive phase on Sunday.
The remaining 16 players will return to the Incheba Expo for the third round from 1300 local time (1200 BST), with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final scheduled for a bumper evening session as the inaugural Slovak Darts Open champion is crowned in Bratislava.
2026 Slovak Darts Open draw & schedule
2026 Slovak Darts Open
Tournament Draw Bracket – Round Two Onwards
Players seeded based on PDC Ranking position
(1) Gian van Veen v Rob Cross/HNQ2
(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/HNQ1
(13) Martin Schindler v Niko Springer/Tom Sykes
(5) Danny Noppert v Dirk van Duijvenbode/Madars Razma
(12) Jermaine Wattimena v Dave Chisnall/HNQ3
(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/HNQ4
(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 Host Nation Qualifier 4
William O’Connor v Jeffrey De Graaf
Ryan Joyce v Johan Engstrom
Dave Chisnall v Host Nation Qualifier 3
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Madars Razma
Kim Huybrechts v Keane Barry
Rob Cross v Host Nation Qualifier 2
Daryl Gurney v Jim Long
Niko Springer v Tom Sykes
Cameron Menzies v Host Nation Qualifier 1
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/Host Nation Qualifier 3
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/Host Nation Qualifier 1
Gian van Veen v Cross/Host Nation Qualifier 2
Michael van Gerwen v Ratajski/Reyes
Jonny Clayton v Joyce/Engstrom
Stephen Bunting v Zonneveld/Host Nation Qualifier 4
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
