DRAW European Tour 1 Qualifier | Beau Greaves, Michael Smith, Peter Wright & Rob Cross hunt down Poland Darts Masters spot

The opening European Tour qualifier of 2026 immediately throws major names into a ruthless fight for limited spots, as the draw for the Poland Darts Open sets the tone for what qualification will look like this season.

With no stage safety net and no room to ease into form, the first qualifier of the year offers instant pressure from the opening board call.

At the centre of the draw is Beau Greaves, whose rapid rise now carries real weight in European Tour contexts. Her meeting with Mervyn King is one of the most compelling ties of the opening round, pitching one of the sport’s most-watched new forces against a player whose experience in qualification and early-round European Tour matches runs deep.

It is an immediate test of whether Greaves’ ProTour momentum can translate seamlessly onto the continental stage.

Several former world champions find themselves navigating the qualification route from the very first event of the European Tour season. Peter Wright opens against Jim Long, knowing that qualifiers offer little margin for error, while Rob Cross faces Cristo Reyes in a tie that carries genuine danger. Reyes has repeatedly shown he can thrive in high-pressure qualifier environments, making this far from a routine opener.

Michael Smith also begins his Poland Darts Open bid at the qualification stage, taking on Jeffrey Sparidaans in a match that will test patience and finishing rather than outright scoring. In qualifiers, control often matters more than averages.

Completing a strong cluster of headline names is Dimitri Van den Bergh, who faces Connor Scutt. Van den Bergh showed signs of recovery recently, but qualifiers have a habit of exposing inconsistency quickly, especially against opponents who apply sustained pressure.

Beyond the biggest names, the wider draw underlines the reality of European Tour qualification. Reputation offers no protection, momentum can disappear quickly, and one poor session can derail a weekend before it starts. As the race to reach the Poland Darts Open begins, the first qualifier of 2026 already feels decisive for a number of established careers.