Stephen Bunting opened his defence of the Elten Security Sneakers Worldwide Darts Open with an excellent show in Riesa, as Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen additionally prevailed on a bumper day of motion.
Bunting rounded off his BetMGM Premier League marketing campaign with victory in Sheffield on Thursday and the Liverpudlian maintained his wonderful kind with a powerful 6-2 win towards Krzysztof Ratajski.
“I feel great, I feel fresh and I feel ready to win,” declared Bunting, after averaging 102.54 and crashing in 5 180s to punish Poland’s No 1.
“I won in the Premier League in Berlin last year and then came straight here and won this, so hopefully there’s a lot of similarities!”
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Highlights of the Premier League night time 16 last from Sheffield as Bunting defeated Luke Humphries
Day two noticed the seeded stars kick off their campaigns on the WT Energiesysteme Area as high seed Van Veen halted his run of three straight defeats on the European Tour circuit.
The 24-year-old ran out a 6-3 winner towards Connor Scutt, averaging nearly 97 to arrange a captivating all-Dutch affair towards Kevin Doets.
“Everyone who’s watched me over the last few weeks knows it’s been tough,” conceded the reigning European champion.
“I haven’t won a game on the European Tour since Goettingen, so I needed this win today.
“Kevin is without doubt one of the greatest Dutch gamers for the time being, but when I flip up tomorrow I’ve acquired a extremely good shot and hopefully it’ll be an awesome recreation.”
Doets maintained his excellent form with a narrow deciding-leg win over Luke Woodhouse, defying a late fightback to register his third victory over Woodhouse in the space of 19 days.
Saturday’s double session featured a multitude of comebacks, and Van Gerwen was handed a major reprieve in his tie against Madars Razma, who squandered six match darts.
Michael van Gerwen arrange a gathering with Damon Heta
Van Gerwen landed 164 and 127 finishes in rallying from 3-0 right down to topple the Latvian and subsequent meets Damon Heta, who clinically dispatched Niels Zonneveld 6-2 in his opener.
Wessel Nijman additionally started his bid for a second European Tour title of 2026 with a comeback victory towards William O’Connor, changing 107, 134 and 106 checkouts in overturning a 5-3 deficit.
Nijman’s reward is a last-16 assembly with third seed James Wade, who eased by means of to Finals Day courtesy of a ruthless six-leg whitewash on the expense of a struggling Dave Chisnall.
Cameron Menzies shocked Josh Rock
Cameron Menzies launched a sensational fightback from 4-0 right down to stun Austrian Darts Open winner Josh Rock, rattling off six consecutive legs to eradicate the Northern Irishman.
Rob Cross additionally gained six legs with out reply in demolishing Belgian No 1 Mike De Decker, recovering from 2-0 right down to advance with a 99 common and 66 per cent doubling success price.
Cross will lock horns with reigning champion Bunting within the final 16, whereas Menzies performs 2024 champion Martin Schindler, who delighted his dwelling crowd with a last-gasp win over Karel Sedlacek.
Schindler’s World Cup associate Ricardo Pietreczko produced a brave show to dump out Danny Noppert in a marathon 36-minute contest, regardless of Noppert recovering from 5-2 right down to degree.
Pietreczko will face Ross Smith on Sunday after the previous European champion averaged north of 102 to defeat 2020 Worldwide Darts Open winner Joe Cullen 6-3.
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Ryan Searle hit a nine-darter to win his match towards Nathan Rafferty on the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts…
Ryan Searle and Kim Huybrechts will go head-to-head for a spot within the quarter-finals following wins over Charlie Manby and Chris Dobey respectively.
World Championship semi-finalist Searle delivered a late flurry to comb apart debutant Manby, as Huybrechts edged previous Dobey in a decider for the second European Tour occasion in succession.
Elsewhere, Ryan Joyce eased previous late call-up Christian Kist to earn a match-up towards Jermaine Wattimena, who edged previous Bradley Brooks in a decider to snap his dropping streak in Riesa.
Finals Day on the WT Energiesysteme Area will get underway from 11am BST, earlier than the quarter-finals, semi-finals and last will likely be held from 5pm.
Elten Security Sneakers Worldwide Darts Open
Saturday Could 23
Spherical Two
Afternoon Session
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Bradley Brooks
Damon Heta 6-2 Niels Zonneveld
Kevin Doets 6-5 Luke Woodhouse
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 Danny Noppert
Ross Smith 6-3 Joe Cullen
Rob Cross 6-2 Mike De Decker
Wessel Nijman 6-5 William O’Connor
Cameron Menzies 6-4 Josh Rock
Night Session
Kim Huybrechts 6-5 Chris Dobey
James Wade 6-0 Dave Chisnall
Ryan Searle 6-3 Charlie Manby
Ryan Joyce 6-2 Christian Kist
Gian van Veen 6-3 Connor Scutt
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Madars Razma
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Krzysztof Ratajski
Martin Schindler 6-5 Karel Sedlacek
Sunday Could 24
Afternoon Session (11am)
Gian van Veen v Kevin Doets
Ryan Searle v Kim Huybrechts
Stephen Bunting v Rob Cross
Ryan Joyce v Jermaine Wattimena
Michael van Gerwen v Damon Heta
Ricardo Pietreczko v Ross Smith
James Wade v Wessel Nijman
Cameron Menzies v Martin Schindler
Night Session (5pm)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Ultimate
What’s occurring on Premier League Finals Night time?
The 2026 Premier League Finals will happen at The O2 subsequent Thursday, with Luke Littler up towards Gerwyn Value within the night’s opener.
Jonny Clayton and Luke Humphries go head-to-head within the second semi-final.
Who will win this 12 months’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will likely be defending his title and you’ll watch Finals Night time subsequent Thursday on Sky Sports activities. Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW.
