Mensur Suljovic Secures Victory at Austrian Darts Open
Mensur Suljovic showcased his skills at the Austrian Darts Open on Friday, defeating Cameron Menzies 6-2 to advance to the second round in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. The Austrian ace demonstrated remarkable precision, successfully converting 75 percent of his double attempts, much to the delight of the fans.
Having recently reached the semifinals and quarterfinals at a Pro Tour doubleheader in Hildesheim, Suljovic is riding a wave of momentum as he prepares for a challenging matchup against third-seeded James Wade in the upcoming round.
Ian White Upsets Michael Smith
In another notable match, Ian White secured a significant victory over 2023 World Champion Michael Smith, winning 6-4 and setting up a clash with Darryl Gurney for a spot in the last 16. This victory has turned heads as White continues to demonstrate his competitive edge on the circuit.
High-Profile Exits on Opening Night
Friday night saw several high-profile exits, including the elimination of Dave Chisnall, who fell to Spain’s Cristo Reyes with a score of 6-3. The opening round proved unforgiving for some of the circuit’s best, reflecting the unpredictability of the tournament.
Peter Wright and Alan Soutard Triumph
Peter Wright found success against Austrian veteran Zoran Lerchbacher, winning 6-2 and marking his first victory on the European Tour in 2026. Wright’s next challenge will be against defending champion Martin Schindler on Saturday. Meanwhile, Alan Soutard defeated Raymond van Barneveld decisively, handing the Dutch legend a disappointing exit with a 6-2 scoreline.
Mixed Results for Dutch Players in Graz
Other Dutch players had a mixed day in Graz, as Dirk van Duijvenbode fell short against Latvian Madars Razma despite a strong average. Razma will now face top seed Jan van Veen, while Niels Sonneveld prepares for a matchup with last year’s runner-up, Ross Smith, after a brilliant checkout of 135 to secure his win against James Harrell.
Impressive Performances and Upcoming Matches
Kevin Deutz stood out, averaging 99 in his victory over Chris Landman, earning his first PDC ranking title at Monday’s Players Championship 11. Early in the day, Nico Springer delivered a stellar performance, including an impressive 167 checkout, concluding with a 6-3 win against Nick Kenny. Springer’s next opponent will be Wessel Nyman in what promises to be an engaging matchup.
Dartevent Schedule and Results
Friday, May 8th
Round One
Afternoon Session
Ryan Joyce 6-3 Gabriel Clemens
Patrik Kovac 6-4 Ricardo Pietrechko
Niels Sonnefeld 6-5 James Harrell
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Nick Zvitnig
William O’Connor 6-3 Anton Ostlund
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Aaron Hardy
Nico Springer 6-3 Nick Kenny
Kevin Doets 6-3 Chris Landman
Evening Session
Cristo Reyes 6-3 Dave Chisnall
Rob Owen 6-5 Joe Cullen
Kim Huybrecht 6-3 Karel Sedlacek
Peter Wright 6-2 Zoran Lerchbacher
Alan Soutard 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Mensur Suljovic 6-2 Cameron Menzies
Madars Razma 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Ian White 6-4 Michael Smith
Saturday, May 9th
Round Two
Afternoon Session (13:00 local time, 12:00 BST)
Jermaine Wattimena vs. Andrew Gilding
Mike Decker vs. Ryan Joyce
Rob Cross vs. William O’Connor
Ryan Searle vs. Kevin Deutz
Ross Smith vs. Niels Sonneveld
Damon Geta vs. Cristo Reyes
Luke Woodhouse vs. Rob Owen
Chris Dobey vs. Kim Huybrecht
Evening Session (19:00 local time, 18:00 BST)
Darryl Gurney vs. Ian White
Josh Locke vs. Patrik Kovacs
James Wade vs. Mensur Suljovic
Michael van Gerwen vs. Krzysztof Ratajski
Danny Knoppert vs. Alan Soutard
Jan van Veen vs. Madars Razma
Martin Schindler vs. Peter Wright
Wessel Nyman vs. Nico Springer
Sunday, May 10th
Afternoon Session (13:00 local time, 12:00 BST)
Round Three
Evening Session (19:00 local time, 18:00 BST)
Quarterfinals
Semifinal
Final
