Poland Darts Open Friday Afternoon Round-up | Dave Chisnall bows out as dreadful form continues while Gilding and Menzies impress enroute to victory

The first ever Poland Darts Masters kicked off the 2026 European Tour in fine fashion with eight cracking ties in Krakow. The most noticeable player featuring was Dave Chisnall, who continues to raise concerns on the oche after a 6-4 defeat to Darryl Pilgrim.

One of the most successful players on the European Tour, Chisnall has won eight titles while showcasing some hugely impressive darts in that time. His final one came back in 2024 with just two quarterfinal appearances last year as his form dipped. A much slimmer Chizzy headlined the first ever Poland Darts Open afternoon session hoping to get back on track.

He could have done that instantly, missing tops to break as Pilgrim, in his fifth Euro Tour attempt, held throw. Missed doubles were already becoming a trend for Chisnall who was on the end of more punishment by Pilgrim who clinched an early break.

That lead was extended to 3-0 with a dart missed to make it four on the spin. Chisnall escaped more punishment and found double six to finally get on the board. He then breaks back on double 18 with Pilgrim now the one missing darts.

The roles were reversed once more as Mr P went inside on double 15, allowing Chisnall a chance to get back on level terms. He missed two darts on the 20’s and 10’s with Pilgrim making no mistake on double eight to break the throw. Chisnall continued the breaks and then had the chance to get level at 4-4. After seeing Pilgrim come close to a 152, he makes a real mess of 76 and saw Pilgrim move one away from the match. With his opponent on 40, it felt like Chisnall had to take out 109. He wired double 18 but was able to return to the oche to prolong the match as Pilgrim misses three match darts.

Both players seemed unable to find their intended doubles in the next, and ultimately, final leg. Chisnall had found himself miles ahead, but Pilgrim was afforded more efforts to wrap this tie up. With his seventh match dart, Pilgrim dashes Chisnall’s hopes in Krakow while setting up a tie against Nathan Aspinall.

Andrew Gilding found himself in s spot of bother in his opening round tie against Jeffrey de Graaf but managed to win six legs in a row while averaging over 106 to triumph 6-3.

De Graaf was lightning out of the blocks, finishing the first three legs in 15, 14 and 12 darts. That second one proved to be a critical break of throw which really put the former UK Open under the cosh. It looked like Gilding’s dreadful form on the Euro Tour at the end of 2025 was set to continue.

Three legs later, he was level thanks to an expert showcase on double 20. He broke back with an 11-darter before taking out 100 in two as he clawed his way back level. He was averaging almost 107 at this point, but de Graaf was still lurking. His first dart at double since the third leg was at double 16 for a 106 outshot but he could not convert. He could only watch as ‘Goldfinger’ missed tops for the first time in the match before dropping lower to find his favourite target to take the lead for the first time. The Swede would not have another attempt at a double for the rest of the match. A 128 on the bull moved Gilding within one leg before he sealed a stunning comeback on tops.

One of the other top Englishman, Ryan Joyce, also produced a high level of darts but he came unstuck by an inspired Boris Krcmar who averaged over 102 in a 6-3 win. Joyce had pokes at 138 and 167 in the very early stages but the usually clinical Joyce missed his chances. Resultingly, Krcmar pounced and jumped into a 2-0 lead. ‘Relentless’ made no mistake on the 147 after Krcmar missed the 167 on the bull himself. Checkouts of 80 and 115 followed and Joyce was now 3-2 ahead.

Krcmar quickly levelled before taking out 81 in two to snatch the lead back. He then raced away from the former Euro Tour finalist, taking out 81 in two before capitalising in missed doubles from Joyce. He then wrapped it up on double 18 for a huge win.

There was more luck for Luke Woodhouse who made lightwork of Euro Tour debutant Carl Sneyd in a 6-2 win. Still without a PDC title, ‘Woody’ is desperately hoping to finally get over the line in Krakow. He began well, going out into a 2-0 lead before Sneyd broke back with a 12-darter involving a 121 outshot.

Woodhouse asserted his authority again before sailing out into a 4-1 lead. He had chances to add another leg to the tally but double 10 did not treat him well and Sneyd found joy on double nine to close the gap. The world number 21 saw out the match by sealing the final two legs, taking out 68 in two darts as he won in a professional manner.

Jermaine Wattimena has become a very solid player on the PDC Tour. He would have been rubbing his hands when drawn against Polish qualifier Miroslaw Grudziecki but he struggled badly and only just squeezed through 6-4 with an abysmal display on the outer ring.

Wattimena began as many though he would continue as, pinning double 10 for a nice hold with Grudziecki miles back. However, the tables turned when Grudziecki sets up double one from 119. He does well to find the madhouse before taking out 71 in two and break the throw amid numerous missed attempts by Wattimena, who was averaging under 80.

‘The Machine Gun’ got back on level terms quickly but again found himself trailing as Grudziecki took out 80 on tops to re-take the lead. He had the chance to compound this with a hold, but some dreadful scoring visits saw Wattimena run away. He caught up as Wattimena missed more doubles but was afforded so much time he finally got his intended target.

At this point the Dutchman had 17 darts at a double and only nailed three of them. This was why pinning double 16 the first time of asking a huge relief. He takes out 58 in three to move 5-3 ahead, but five squandered match darts costs Wattimena as Grudziecki keeps the tie alive. Wattimena would then spurn eight match darts over two legs. Grudziecki closed the score to 5-4 but could not force a last-leg decider as Wattimena, with his 29th dart at a double, concluded the match.

It was a lot more simple for Niels Zonneveld as he knocked out Piotr Maciejczak 6-2 just before. It looked to be a routine win for the Dutchman on paper, and that was what it looked like as he raced into a 4-0 lead. This included checkouts of 131 with two tops and 112 right after the Home Nation Qualifier found a first 180, dampening his spirits.

The Pole’s moment would come. He missed three darts on the outer ring which left the door ajar for another 131 from Zonneveled. He teased it but ultimately it was too much to ask for. Maciejczak took his fifth chance and got a first leg on the Euro Tour. He then backed it up with a break but could not do anything in the final two legs as Zonneveld prevented any chance of a comeback to close out the match.

Cameron Menzies left Ally Pally with the headlines surrounding an outburst at the end of his first-round match. He was able to control his emotions today as an impressive scoring showing was enough to see off Ritchie Edhouse 6-4.

Menzies kicked off the inaugural Poland Darts Open in the perfect manner: with a maximum. The fleeting dream for a nine was never even close but Menzies did not care as he held in 14 darts. He was pegged back by Edhouse after missed double allowed the former European champion to break and move 2-1 ahead.

He almost had the chance to move 3-1 up with a 167 but Menzies replies with a 12-dart break. He then motors ahead with a showstopping 118 checkout before an 11-dart break with an 82 checkout puts him in charge. Three at tops were missed, and Edhouse showed him how it was done before traversing to double 10 to make it 4-4.

Menzies was averaging over 102 at this point and had thrown eight 180’s, but poor form on the outer ring really cost him. He continued to miss doubles late on but was fortunate that the Englishman could not get close to him in terms of scoring, and Menzies clinched victory.

William O’Connor and Andreas Harrysson are two very skilled darters, but today it was O’Connor who produced the goods for a 6-4 win. Four consecutive holds of throw were highlighted by some clinical finishing from both players. The tables started to turn in the favour of the Irishman after Harrysson started to miss doubles which saw ‘The Magpie’ race into a 4-3 lead.

‘Dirty Harry’ responds with composure after missing tops for a 119 checkout, cleaning up on double 10 before finding himself level. This would not last as a terrific 86 checkout on double seven shut down the boos in the crowd and gave O’Connor a platform to win the match from, which he comfortably did. A Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland clash is in store tomorrow with Josh Rock waiting in the wings.