Andy Baetens Shines as Kim Huybrechts Suffers Heartbreak in Antwerp
Andy Baetens Shines as Kim Huybrechts Suffers Heartbreak in Antwerp
Andy Baetens produced a sensational display to keep Belgian hopes alive at the 2026 Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy, while Kim Huybrechts suffered agonising heartbreak on home soil.
The opening day of the European Tour event saw 16 first-round ties played out at the Antwerp Expo, with Baetens stealing the headlines after producing one of the performances of the afternoon.
The 37-year-old, who came through Thursday’s Host Nation Qualifier, delighted the home crowd with a superb 6-3 victory over Joe Cullen despite the Englishman producing three ton-plus checkouts.
Baetens averaged 102.70 and held his nerve throughout to book a second-round showdown with Ryan Searle.
“I love this stage. Playing in my home country, it was a good performance, so I’m happy,” reflected Baetens.
“I seem to play my best game against Joe, but tomorrow is another day, so we will see!”
Rob Cross was the standout performer statistically, averaging 104.64 in a convincing 6-3 victory over Cristo Reyes.
The result simultaneously ended Reyes’ hopes of qualifying for the upcoming World Grand Prix, despite the Spaniard averaging an impressive 102.68 in defeat.
Cross, the recent Slovak Darts Open runner-up, recovered from an early setback by reeling off three consecutive legs to book a second-round meeting with German number one Martin Schindler.
HUYBRECHTS SUFFERS WORLD GRAND PRIX HEARTBREAK
The opening day was heavily influenced by the race for World Grand Prix qualification, with the final places in the 32-player field set to be decided this weekend.
Sebastian Bialecki remains in provisional qualification position after surviving six match darts to edge past Belgian favourite Kim Huybrechts in one of the day’s most dramatic encounters.
Bialecki produced spectacular checkouts of 170 and 126 to establish a 5-3 lead, but Huybrechts refused to surrender.
The Belgian responded with crucial finishes of 112 and 88 to force a dramatic conclusion, only for Bialecki to survive six opportunities to lose and eventually seal victory.
The defeat leaves Huybrechts’ hopes of returning to the World Grand Prix hanging by a thread, while Bialecki is now in pole position to make his debut in Leicester.
Gabriel Clemens also kept his slim qualification hopes alive by defeating Cameron Menzies.
The German now faces top seed Gian van Veen, but knows he must go all the way in Antwerp to secure his place at the World Grand Prix.
Karel Sedlacek also remains in contention after overcoming Denmark’s Michael Hansen, while Jeffrey de Graaf survived a major scare against Host Nation representative Jeroen Caron.
The Swede eventually prevailed in a deciding leg to maintain his hopes of making his World Grand Prix debut.
Brendan Dolan, who must win the Flanders Darts Trophy to qualify for the World Grand Prix, also made a winning start by defeating an inconsistent Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Cullen’s defeat to Baetens leaves the former Masters champion occupying the final provisional qualification position, with five players still capable of overtaking him over the remainder of the weekend.
HETA EDGES GREAVES IN THRILLER
Damon Heta survived a huge scare from Beau Greaves to book a blockbuster second-round meeting with Michael van Gerwen.
The Australian raced into a 5-2 lead before Greaves produced a brilliant fightback to force a deciding leg.
The Women’s World Matchplay champion then appeared poised on tops to complete an extraordinary comeback, but Heta produced a clinical 102 checkout to snatch victory at the final hurdle.
Kevin Doets averaged more than 99 in a dominant 6-1 victory over James Hurrell, earning a second-round clash with Michael van Gerwen.
Niko Springer also secured a 6-1 victory, easing past Belgian qualifier Jaimy Jacobs to set up a meeting with Nathan Aspinall.
Bradley Brooks booked his place in the second round with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Mickey Mansell, converting 60% of his attempts at double in the process.
The Englishman will now face Gerwyn Price.
Niels Zonneveld recovered from 3-0 down to defeat debutant Petr Tous and advance to the second round, while William O’Connor comfortably accounted for newcomer Kevin Lankhuizen.
Ryan Joyce edged out Stephen Burton in a deciding leg after producing a late surge, while Chris Landman registered his first European Tour victory of 2026 by overcoming Andrew Gilding in another last-leg thriller.
Jim Long completed the opening-day action with a 6-2 victory over five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld.
The Canadian now faces ten-time TV title winner James Wade in Saturday’s second round.
The Flanders Darts Trophy continues on Saturday with a bumper double session at the Antwerp Expo, as the 16 seeded players enter the tournament for the second round.
With European Tour glory, European Championship qualification and the final World Grand Prix places all at stake, the pressure will increase significantly on Day Two in Antwerp.
Andy Baetens Shines as Kim Huybrechts Suffers Heartbreak in Antwerp
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
