Joe Cullen dumped out in surprising end to opening day at Baltic Sea Darts Open 2025; Recap all the Day One action right here

The opening day of the 2025 Baltic Sea Darts Open has reached a conclusion this Friday evening in Kiel, with Justin Hood taking the final second round spot on offer thanks to an upset 6-3 victory over former Premier League Darts finalist Joe Cullen.

Earlier in the evening, there had been wins for the likes of Dirk van Duijvenbode, Niko Springer, William O'Connor, Daryl Gurney, Mike de Decker and Ricardo Pietreczko. The story of the evening however, came in the form of a dramatic defeat for Dutch darting icon Raymond van Barneveld.

In a tantalising first-round clash at the Baltic Sea Darts Open, Belgium’s Andy Baetens edged out Van Barneveld 6-4 in a nervy, error-strewn affair that saw momentum swing wildly before Baetens ultimately held his nerve.

This meeting between four-time Lakeside champion Van Barneveld and Baetens – who lifted the Lakeside title in 2023 – had all the ingredients of a classic. But it was the Belgian who struck first, taking the opening two legs as Barney struggled to find his rhythm. A frustrated grimace already etched across the face of the veteran Dutchman told its own story: things weren’t clicking.

Yet just as Baetens looked set to race into a 3-0 lead, Van Barneveld conjured a moment of brilliance from nowhere – a superb 140 checkout that injected some much-needed energy into the match. The question then: could this be the turning point?

The match settled into a tense rhythm, filled with missed doubles and scrappy legs. Baetens coped the better with the pressure, opening up a 4-2 lead as both players struggled for consistency. But Van Barneveld, ever the battler, clawed his way back to 4-4, pinning crucial finishes and becoming the first player since the opening leg to hold throw – a reflection of the topsy-turvy nature of the contest.

Ultimately, though, Baetens showed greater composure in the closing stages. With the match finely poised, he took the final two legs to seal a 6-4 victory and book his place in the second round.

For Van Barneveld, it was a disappointing exit – a performance marked by flashes of quality but far too many unforced errors. Baetens, meanwhile, continues his strong form and will look to build on this solid start as the tournament progresses.