European Darts Open 2026 Roundup | Niko Springer fires 105 average warning to Luke Littler in Leverkusen as Max Hopp stuns Rob Cross

Niko Springer sent a major warning to Luke Littler ahead of their World Matchplay clash by averaging 105.21 in a dominant 6-2 victory over Darius Labanauskas on Friday evening at the European Darts Open. Max Hopp supplied the biggest result of the session, rolling back the years to defeat former world champion Rob Cross in front of a jubilant Leverkusen crowd.

Joe Cullen survived a spectacular Charlie Manby fightback, while Kevin Doets, Niels Zonneveld, Sebastian Bialecki, Maik Kuivenhoven and Kim Huybrechts also completed the last-32 lineup at the Ostermann-Arena.

Drawn against Littler on his upcoming World Matchplay debut, Springer delivered an emphatic statement before his trip to Blackpool. The German broke Darius Labanauskas immediately and quickly established control, opening up a 4-1 advantage while averaging around 107.

Labanauskas produced an unconventional 83 checkout through bull, single one and double 16 to get off the mark, but never seriously threatened the comeback. Springer closed out a dominant 6-2 victory with a session-best 105.21 average.

Hopp then supplied the emotional high point of the evening by sending the Leverkusen crowd into raptures with a 6-3 victory over Cross.

The German favourite immediately fed off a thunderous reception, breaking the Cross throw in the opening leg before doubling his advantage after the Englishman wired double 16.

Cross briefly reduced the deficit, but Hopp restored his two-leg cushion with a 14-darter and later produced a clinical 100 checkout to lead 4-2. The former world champion continued to hang on, twice finding double 18 to remain within striking distance, but Hopp refused to be denied.

Double four moved the German within one leg of victory before an 87 checkout, completed on double nine, sealed a memorable success with a 95.34 average. Cross averaged 93.30 but became the biggest casualty of the evening as the Ostermann-Arena erupted.

Cullen looked to be cruising after racing into a 4-0 lead against Manby, ruthlessly punishing a series of missed doubles from the highly rated youngster. Manby finally opened his account with a 146 checkout, but further missed opportunities allowed Cullen to move within one leg of victory at 5-1.

What followed was one of the most remarkable spells of finishing seen all evening. Manby took out 164 on the bull, followed it with a 124 checkout on the bull and then added a 106 finish to cut the deficit to 5-4.

Cullen eventually halted the charge on double 20, completing a 6-4 win with a 97.62 average. Manby averaged 93.69 and landed four consecutive ton-plus checkouts, but his earlier doubling problems left him with too much ground to recover.

Doets also survived a determined German challenge, recovering from 3-1 down to defeat Dominik Gruellich 6-4. Gruellich made a fast start and punished Doets with an 84 checkout to restore his two-leg lead, but the Dutchman reeled off three successive legs, including an 11-darter, to move 4-3 ahead.

The German briefly levelled, only for Doets to hold throw and then close out the contest on double 20. His 98.72 average was the second-highest of the session behind Springer.

Maik Kuivenhoven claimed another notable scalp by beating Daryl Gurney 6-3. A 156 checkout moved the Dutchman 2-1 ahead before Gurney twice fought back to level, but missed doubles proved costly for the Northern Irishman in the sixth leg.

Kuivenhoven capitalised on double 16, then moved within one of victory with a 112 checkout. Gurney briefly stayed alive after narrowly missing an audacious bull, single 15, bull combination for 115, but Kuivenhoven finished the job with an 80 checkout.

Sebastian Bialecki edged William O'Connor 6-5 in a fluctuating contest containing seven breaks of throw. O'Connor led 3-1 before Bialecki answered with a 12-darter and a 148 checkout to restore parity.

The Pole moved ahead for the first time at 4-3, only for O'Connor to regain control and throw for the match at 5-4. Four missed match darts allowed Bialecki to force a decider, where he held his nerve on double six to record his first victory over the Irishman.

Huybrechts experienced fewer problems in the opening match of the evening, brushing aside Euro Tour debutant Samuel Price 6-1. The Belgian raced into a 5-0 advantage before missing three match darts, allowing Price to claim his first leg on the circuit. Huybrechts responded immediately and completed the win with a 52 checkout on double 16.

Zonneveld brought the session to a close with a 6-2 victory over Daniel Klose, despite the German posting the marginally higher average. Klose produced the highlight of the contest with a 164 checkout on the bull, but repeatedly failed to convert chances at double.

Four missed darts to break back at 3-2 proved particularly damaging, with Zonneveld escaping before firing an 11-darter to move within one of victory. The Dutchman then sealed his place in Saturday’s second round with a 98.54 average, completing the European Darts Open last-32 lineup.