Gerwyn Price is set to defend his title at the NEO.bet European Darts Open, facing either Gabriel Clemens or Dirk van Duijvenbode. The draw and schedule for this weekend’s event have been finalized.
The Ostermann-Arena in Leverkusen will host the eighth PDC European Tour event of the year from June 21-23, featuring 48 players competing for the £30,000 top prize.
Defending champion Price might face Van Duijvenbode in a potential rematch of last year’s final. World number one Luke Humphries and three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen will also be in action during this event.
Friday’s opening round, broadcast live on PDCTV, Viaplay, and DAZN, will feature 16 matches. German World Cup player Clemens will face 2023 runner-up Van Duijvenbode.
2023 World Champion Michael Smith is set to clash with ten-time TV title winner James Wade. Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld will compete against Poland’s top player, Krzysztof Ratajski.
UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh, a runner-up at the 2022 European Darts Open, will battle Ryan Meikle for a spot in Saturday’s second round. 2023 UK Open champion Andrew Gilding will take on the in-form Swedish player Jeffrey de Graaf.
Former Masters champion Joe Cullen is matched against young talent Owen Bates. Daryl Gurney will face Finland’s Marko Kantele, while Mike De Decker and Luke Woodhouse will meet in a crucial match for World Matchplay qualification.
The 16 seeded players will join the competition in Saturday’s second round. Price will begin his title defense against Clemens or Van Duijvenbode. Top seed Humphries will face either 2012 champion Van Barneveld or Ratajski in his first match. Van Gerwen, aiming for a sixth European Darts Open title, will compete against Jamie Hughes or Dylan Slevin.
Second seed Dave Chisnall will play either De Decker or Woodhouse for a spot in the last 16. 2018 World Champion Rob Cross will meet either Smith or Wade in a high-profile second-round match.
Josh Rock, who won the Dutch Darts Championship last month, will aim for back-to-back European Tour titles against Meikle or Van den Bergh. Third seed Damon Heta will play Radek Szaganski or Dom Taylor.
Germany’s top player Martin Schindler will start his campaign against Karel Sedlacek or Matthew Dennant. Two-time European Darts Open champion Peter Wright will face Ritchie Edhouse or Jan Dueckers in round two.
The last 16 matches will take place on Sunday afternoon, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final in an action-packed evening session.
The European Darts Open is one of the longest running Euro Tour tournaments. The first edition was played back in 2012, when it was won by Raymond van Barneveld. Michael van Gerwen is the record winner of this tournament with five titles. In 2023, this event was won by Gerwyn Price, who beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 8-7 in a thrilling final.
(6) Danny Noppert v Owen Bates/Joe Cullen
(11) Stephen Bunting v Benjamin Pratnemer/Kevin Troppmann
(3) Damon Heta v Radek Szaganski/Dom Taylor
(14) Chris Dobey v Jeffrey de Graaf/Andrew Gilding
(7) Michael van Gerwen v Jamie Hughes/Dylan Slevin
(10) Ryan Searle v Marko Kantele/Daryl Gurney
(2) Dave Chisnall v Mike De Decker/Luke Woodhouse
(15) Ricardo Pietreczko v Nico Blum/Kevin Doets
(5) Gerwyn Price v Gabriel Clemens/Dirk van Duijvenbode
(12) Martin Schindler v Karel Sedlacek/Matthew Dennant
(4) Rob Cross v Michael Smith/James Wade
(13) Peter Wright v Ritchie Edhouse/Jan Dueckers
(8) Josh Rock v Ryan Meikle/Dimitri Van den Bergh
(9) Ross Smith v Nico Kurz/Callan Rydz
(1) Luke Humphries v Raymond van Barneveld/Krzysztof Ratajski
(16) Gian van Veen v Andy Baetens/Nathan Rafferty
Friday June 21
First Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Radek Szaganski v Dom Taylor
Karel Sedlacek v Matthew Dennant
Jamie Hughes v Dylan Slevin
Nico Blum v Kevin Doets
Ritchie Edhouse v Jan Dueckers
Jeffrey de Graaf v Andrew Gilding
Andy Baetens v Nathan Rafferty
Marko Kantele v Daryl Gurney
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Benjamin Pratnemer v Kevin Troppmann
Nico Kurz v Callan Rydz
Owen Bates v Joe Cullen
Raymond van Barneveld v Krzysztof Ratajski
Michael Smith v James Wade
Mike De Decker v Luke Woodhouse
Gabriel Clemens v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Ryan Meikle v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Saturday June 22
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Gian van Veen v Baetens/Rafferty
Stephen Bunting v Pratnemer/Troppmann
Damon Heta v Szaganski/D Taylor
Ryan Searle v Kantele/Gurney
Chris Dobey v De Graaf/Gilding
Dave Chisnall v De Decker/Woodhouse
Ross Smith v Kurz/Rydz
Ricardo Pietreczko v Blum/Doets
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Danny Noppert v Bates/Cullen
Rob Cross v M Smith/Wade
Gerwyn Price v Clemens/Van Duijvenbode
Michael van Gerwen v Hughes/Slevin
Martin Schindler v Sedlacek/Dennant
Luke Humphries v Van Barneveld/Ratajski
Peter Wright v Edhouse/Dueckers
Josh Rock v Meikle/Van den Bergh
Sunday June 23
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Third Round
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final