International Darts Open: Charlie Manby progresses past round one on European Tour debut

Charlie Manby triumphed on his maiden appearance on the European Tour at the International Darts Open on Friday, while Kevin Doets starred with a whitewash win over Tom Bissell.

Englishman Manby dispatched an off-colour Niko Springer 6-3 to claim victory at the first time of asking on the circuit.

The 20-year-old struck an 11-dart leg to take an assertive 4-1 lead, and despite checkouts of 92 and 112 from the German, Manby held his nerve to seal a career-first win against his opponent and advance to round two.

"As soon as I got up here, I felt at home, so it was a good start," insisted Manby, who will face World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle on Saturday.

"The first one is always the best. I'm just grateful to be here in front of a good crowd, and be on stage again.

"I think Ryan and I are both top-quality players. I know I'm good enough as well, and I've got the belief in myself that I need to be here."

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Doets delivered a brutal 6-0 triumph over Bissell in the opening day of action at the WT Energiesysteme Arena in Riesa, continuing his fine form in the sport.

The Dutchman - who finished runner-up at the Austrian Darts Open in earlier in May - averaged 102.48 and missed just one dart at double in a sparkling performance to deny Bissell a leg and breeze into the next round.

The 28-year-old picked up his first PDC ranking title at the start of this month with victory at Players Championship 13 in Hildesheim, and has now reached round two in all five of his European Tour appearances this year after defeating Bissell.

Elsewhere, Rob Cross denied Dirk van Duijvenbode in a pulsating content with all 11 legs won on throw to give the former world champion a much-needed win in the race for the World Matchplay.

The two-time European champion defied four 180s and two ton-plus checkouts from the Dutchman, and is rewarded with a round two tie against Mike De Decker on Saturday.

Karel Sedlacek also bagged an important win in his hopes of a maiden World Matchplay appearance by whitewashing Johan Engstrom, with German No 1 and 2024 champion Martin Schindler awaiting Czechia's No 1.

Krzysztof Ratajski will take on defending champion Stephen Bunting after pipping Cristo Reyes 6-4 in a tortuous affair, capitalising on the Spaniard's 19 missed darts at double.

Former International Darts Open champion Joe Cullen fought back from 5-3 down to edge past Chris Landman in a last-leg decider, setting up a tasty round two tussle with Ross Smith.

Kim Huybrechts maintained his stellar form this year to defeat Daryl Gurney 6-2 despite having match darts to whitewash the Northern Irishman, and will lock horns with Chris Dobey.

Eight-time European Tour winner Dave Chisnall will face a stern test against James Wade on Saturday, after fending off Home Nation Qualifier Liam Maendl-Lawrence with a hard-fought 6-3 win.

German No 2 Ricardo Pietreczko battled to a 6-2 victory over Maik Kuivenhoven in a valiant display to set up a round two clash with Danny Noppert, as Niels Zonneveld hit 75 per cent of his doubles to down Keane Barry by the same scoreline to earn a match-up against Australian No 1 Damon Heta.

William O'Connor and Connor Scutt breezed past Host Nation Qualifiers Paul Krohne and Finn Behrens to set up clashes with Dutch stars Wessel Nijman and Gian Van Veen respectively, with Scutt taking out three ton-plus checkouts in an impressive display.

Cameron Menzies overcame three match darts to defeat Michael Unterbuchner in a last-leg decider and set up a round two clash with Austrian Darts Open champion Josh Rock, while Bradley Brooks will face Jermaine Wattimena after seeing off Andrew Gilding 6-4 in his first win on the European Tour this year.

Ryan Joyce dispatched Jeffrey Sparidaans in a subtly stellar performance to face Christian Kist - a late call-up to replace Gerwyn Price, who withdrew on Friday morning - while Madars Razma will take on European Tour veteran Michael van Gerwen after defeating European qualifier Gyorgy Jehirszki.

2026 International Darts Open

Friday May 22
Afternoon Session
Round One

Ryan Joyce 6-2 Jeffrey Sparidaans
Connor Scutt 6-1 Finn Behrens
Madars Razma 6-2 György Jehirszki
Bradley Brooks 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Cameron Menzies 6-5 Michael Unterbuchner
Karel Sedlacek 6-0 Johan Engström
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-2 Maik Kuivenhoven
Niels Zonneveld 6-2 Keane Barry

Evening Session
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Liam Maendl-Lawrance
Kevin Doets 6-0 Tom Bissell
William O'Connor 6-2 Paul Krohne
Joe Cullen 6-5 Chris Landman
Rob Cross 6-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Cristo Reyes
Charlie Manby 6-3 Niko Springer
Kim Huybrechts 6-2 Daryl Gurney

Saturday May 23
Round Two
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Jermaine Wattimena v Bradley Brooks
Damon Heta v Niels Zonneveld
Luke Woodhouse v Kevin Doets
Danny Noppert v Ricardo Pietreczko
Ross Smith v Joe Cullen
Mike De Decker v Rob Cross
Wessel Nijman v William O'Connor
Josh Rock v Cameron Menzies

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Chris Dobey v Kim Huybrechts
James Wade v Dave Chisnall
Ryan Searle v Niko Springer
Christian Kist v Ryan Joyce
Gian van Veen v Connor Scutt
Michael van Gerwen v Madars Razma
Stephen Bunting v Krzysztof Ratajski
Martin Schindler v Karel Sedlacek

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