“It was a little bit windy on stage” – Niels Zonneveld overcomes bizarre disruption to seal Belgian Darts Open win

Niels Zonneveld made an immediate statement on his return to European Tour action at the 2026 Belgian Darts Open, showing clear signs of progress. The Dutchman secured a strong victory in a match that was not only competitive, but also affected by unusual conditions on stage. Despite that, Zonneveld remained composed, sharp and, above all, effective.

Zonneveld defeated Finland’s Jani Haavisto 6-4 in the opening round of the Belgian Darts Open. “I think it’s a pretty good start today,” Zonneveld said afterwards to Tungsten Tales. “I had a very tough opponent. Maybe I expected it to be a little bit easier, but he was playing really well and I had to be really good to beat him. I did that, so I’m really happy with the win.”

The match featured a notable moment immediately after the first leg. A light airflow on stage appeared to be affecting play, something that can have a direct impact in a sport where precision is everything.

Zonneveld was the first to notice it and checked with his opponent. “It was a little bit windy on stage, so I asked my opponent if he felt the same and he said yes. Then you can go to the referee.”

The situation was handled by referee Franz Engerer, who Zonneveld praised for his response. “I think he acted brilliantly. When we started again, my opponent let me start the leg again, which was really sporting from him.”

Rather than disrupting the match, the incident created a sense of fairness between all involved. “It was a really good feeling to have both the referee and your opponent behind you, because something clearly wasn’t right. After that first leg, everything was fine and we could just play the game.”

The win in Belgium follows another important moment in Zonneveld’s career. Just a week earlier, he recorded his first ever victory over Michael van Gerwen, a result that carries significant weight within Dutch darts. “It was really big for me because I’d never done it before, so it’s a milestone. Especially to beat Michael on stage.”

Despite that breakthrough, the respect for Van Gerwen remains clear.“At the same time, we shouldn’t forget he’s the best player the Netherlands has ever had, so I have a lot of respect for him. To be honest, he also showed a lot of respect to me after the match.”

Zonneveld’s performance is part of a broader trend, with Dutch darts currently enjoying a strong period. A new generation of players is emerging to complement the established names.

“I think Dutch darts is in a really good place at the moment. There are some very good talents coming through now," he explains. “I think maybe behind England, it’s the best country in darts right now.”

Alongside his recent results, Zonneveld also reflected on a recent meeting with Wessel Nijman, a player he knows well after previously living next door to him. “It is a strange feeling because you know each other so well, but at the end you’re there for yourself.”

On that occasion, Nijman came out on top with a standout performance. “He played so brilliantly, it was unreal, so I have to congratulate him on that win.”

Despite the rivalry, there is clear mutual respect between the two. “I think we’ll face each other many more times, but it’s never easy to play him. Of course you want to win, but if not, you’d rather see him win," Zonneveld concluded. “At the end it was difficult, but he played really well, so fair play to him.”