European Darts Open Saturday Evening Session Round-Up | Nathan Aspinall impresses with 107 average as Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen best of the rest
PDCSaturday, 11 July 2026 at 22:50
It was a stacked line-up tonight with Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen, Nathan Aspinall and Jonny Clayton all involved at the European Darts Open in Leverkusen with most of the big names moving through.
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Joe Cullen spoke after he won against Charlie Manby saying that Michael van Gerwen wasn't to be feared and that he's beaten him before and can again. But Cullen was well beaten by MVG in a 6-2 win for Mighty Mike.
Van Gerwen led 1-0 early on. He pinned 142 brilliantly to go ahead. Cullen was back with a 122 checkout. He made it 1-1. Cullen was broken with a 130 checkout and Van Gerwen holding for 4-1. Cullen held with 35 but MVG was back with 47. The Green Machine hit a 76 checkout after initially being on a nine-darter to break and swat aside Cullen.
It was a bit of a Dutch glut with Gian van Veen and Kevin Doets moving into the final day like MVG pretty comfortably. Van Veen had a tricky test on paper in Niko Springer but it was not manifesting like that early on. He broke on double eight and then held on 81 for 3-0. He held again with four 180's between them in one leg but a 4-1 scoreline.
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Van Veen hit double four to go 5-2 up. He was now one away from the win and sealed the win on double 20 claiming it 6-3. While Doets defeated another German hopeful in Martin Schindler. Doets hit double six and double 16 en route to a 3-0 lead. He pinned 92 to go 4-1 up in the race to six. Doets was one away. He missed 170 but returned for 25 to go 5-2 up. He hit 180 to leave 48 but Schindler made it 5-3. He sealed the win with an 88 checkout.
Aspinall best of the night
Nathan Aspinall is also through with the standout display of the night. He hit a 107 average to ease past Mickey Mansell 6-1. 'The Asp' hit a 42 checkout to go 1-0 up. Aspinall hit a 51 checkout for 2-1. Mansell had hit back with a 92 for 1-1.
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Aspinall broke throw. He missed 164 but returned for 45 after Mansell had missed double 12. Aspinall went one away. He pinned double 20 for 4-1 and has now just hit 84 for 5-1. He eased through to the Final Day. He sealed a 6-1 win over Mickey Mansell with an 81 checkout.
Nathan Aspinall was superb.
Jonny Clayton eased past Karel Sedlacek in a 6-1 win also. He broke on double 16 and then again on double 12. Sedlacek broke back with a 46 checkout for 3-1. Clayton pinned double six for 4-1 and was one away hitting double 20. A 58 checkout for Clayton to seal the deal at 6-1. James Wade is also through seeing off Maik Kuivenhoven in a 6-4 win.
But the same couldn't be said for Stephen Bunting who lost out to Ryan Joyce. Joyce held after breaking on double 12 early for 2-0. Bunting hit back with a 78 checkout for 2-2.
Bunting held for 3-2 on double 10 but Joyce was back on double eight for 3-3. He broke with a 69 checkout for 4-3. He broke back with an 80 checkout but Joyce hit a 90 checkout to go one away. Joyce hit 80 for the win from there.
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Ross Smith also was the final player through easing past Niels Zonneveld 6-1 with a 98 average. He opened up with a 68 checkout before breaking throw on double 10. He held with a 47 checkout for 4-1 before breaking again for 5-1 on double 18. He closed it out on the same target.
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