Nathan Aspinall could face Mickey Mansell to start title defence as draw and schedule confirmed for Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Open

The draw and schedule for the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Open has been confirmed as defending champion Nathan Aspinall faces the prospect of either Mickey Mansell or Michael Smejda in Leverkusen.

The tenth European Tour event of 2026 will see 48 players battle for the £35,000 top prize at the Ostermann-Arena from July 10-12, with Dutch No 1 and 2 Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen also in action.

Friday's opening round will see 16 players in action across the day, with Joe Cullen taking on Charlie Manby for the right to face five-time European Darts Open champion Van Gerwen.

• Men's World Matchplay field confirmed
• Women's World Matchplay field confirmed
• Darts in 2026: Key dates, calendar, results
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The top 16 players on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder will enter the tournament in round two on Saturday, as Van Veen hunts down a maiden European Tour title.

The European Champion - the top seed in Leverkusen - will take on Niko Springer or Darius Labanauskas, as last year's runner-up Damon Heta faces Andrew Gilding or Rob Owen.

Two-time European Tour winner Wessel Njiman will face Lukas Wenig or Bradley Brooks, as No 3 seed Jonny Clayton meets Karel Sedlacek or fellow Welshman Rhys Griffin.

Tuesday's ProTour runner-up Luke Woodhouse faces a potential showdown with Mario Vandenbogaerde, while German number one Martin Schindler eyes a possible contest against the in-form Kevin Doets.

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Niels Zonneveld or Daniel Klose await International Darts Open winner Ross Smith, with former World Grand Prix winner Mike De Decker taking on Cameron Menzies or Jan Schmidt.

James Wade eyes a possible showdown with Daryl Gurney, whereas Stephen Bunting opens his title bid against Ryan Joyce or Mio Varila.

Danny Noppert will face a stern test in the form of either Willie O'Connor or Sebastian Bialecki, while fellow Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena will play Kim Huybrechts or Samuel Price in Leverkusen.

Former Masters winner Chris Dobey will look towards a possible meeting with Dirk Van Duijvenbode, as Polish No 1 Krzysztof Ratajski plays Rob Cross or Max Hopp.

Following the conclusion of round two, the last 16 return to the stage on Sunday afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a dramatic evening session.

Draw Bracket

(6) Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce/Mio Varila
(11) Jermaine Wattimena v Kim Huybrechts/Samuel Price
(3) Jonny Clayton v Karel Sedlacek/Rhys Griffin
(14) Luke Woodhouse v Mario Vandenbogaerde/Dragutin Horvat
(7) Chris Dobey v Dirk van Duijvenbode/Jaimy Van de Weerd
(10) Wessel Nijman v Lukas Wenig/Bradley Brooks
(2) Michael van Gerwen v Joe Cullen/Charlie Manby
(15) Damon Heta v Andrew Gilding/Rob Owen
(5) Danny Noppert v William O'Connor/Sebastian Bialecki
(12) Martin Schindler v Kevin Doets/Dominik Gruellich
(4) James Wade v Daryl Gurney/Maik Kuivenhoven
(13) Mike De Decker v Cameron Menzies/Jan Schmidt
(8) Nathan Aspinall v Mickey Mansell/Michal Smejda
(9) Ross Smith v Niels Zonneveld/Daniel Klose
(1) Gian van Veen v Niko Springer/Darius Labanauskas
(16) Krzysztof Ratajski v Rob Cross/Max Hopp

Schedule of Play

Friday July 10
Round One
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Ryan Joyce v Mio Varila
Karel Sedlacek v Rhys Griffin
Mario Vandenbogaerde v Dragutin Horvat
Andrew Gilding v Rob Owen
Cameron Menzies v Jan Schmidt
Mickey Mansell v Michal Smejda
Lukas Wenig v Bradley Brooks
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Jaimy Van de Weerd

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Kim Huybrechts v Samuel Price
Daryl Gurney v Maik Kuivenhoven
William O'Connor v Sebastian Bialecki
Rob Cross v Max Hopp
Joe Cullen v Charlie Manby
Kevin Doets v Dominik Gruellich
Niko Springer v Darius Labanauskas
Niels Zonneveld v Daniel Klose

Saturday July 11
Round Two
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Damon Heta v Gilding/Owen
Mike De Decker v Menzies/Schmidt
Luke Woodhouse v Vandenbogaerde/Horvat
Danny Noppert v O'Connor/Bialecki
Jermaine Wattimena v Huybrechts/Price
Chris Dobey v Van Duijvenbode/Van de Weerd
Wessel Nijman v Wenig/Brooks
Krzysztof Ratajski v Cross/Hopp

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Stephen Bunting v Joyce/Varila
James Wade v Gurney/Kuivenhoven
Jonny Clayton v Sedlacek/Griffin
Michael van Gerwen v Cullen/Manby
Gian van Veen v Springer/Labanauskas
Martin Schindler v Doets/Gruellich
Nathan Aspinall v Mansell/Smejda
Ross Smith v Zonneveld/Klose

Sunday July 12
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

When is the World Matchplay live on Sky Sports?

The World Matchplay commences on Saturday, July 18 and ends on Sunday, July 26.

All nine days of the event will be shown live on Sky Sports, with coverage of the opening day commencing on Sky Sports+ at 7pm Not got Sky? Get instant access with NOW