Slovak Darts Open Friday evening Round-Up | Sykes and Long impress as Cullen and Menzies lead first round winners

The live action continued on Friday evening at the Slovak Darts Open with Joe Cullen, Cameron Menzies, Niko Springer, Daryl Gurney and Rob Cross all in action. But it was a mixed night for said big names.

The stars of the show though were undoubtedly Tom Sykes and Jim Long though who produced some stellar displays to ease past both Niko Springer and Daryl Gurney.

Sykes surged ahead early in his tie and breezed into a 5-2 lead. He broke for 4-2 hitting an 86 checkout after initially breaking for 1-1. He then hit two 180's en route to a 2-1 lead and then broke again.

He then claimed the win from there hitting a brilliant 103 checkout to seal it. The Castleford Tiger roaring to the finishing line. Jim Long who will play next week at the US Darts Masters also offered a flavour of what he can do on the European Tour stage thrashing Daryl Gurney.

He opened with an 82 checkout to hold for 1-0. He then went 3-1 up pinning double 20 to break and to send Gurney into some early bother. He held on double 10 for 4-1 and it was all looking a bit bleak. This was confounded as the Canadian pulled away hitting double 19 to break for 5-1 before holding to win.

Cameron Menzies and Joe Cullen both had success but to say either were at their best was a bit of a stretch. Menzies eased past Gabriel Varaljay 6-1. He started well breaking on double 16 for 2-0. He hit double five for 3-0 and was halfway to victory.

He broke again to go 4-0 up hitting double 20 for the lead. Menzies missed 96 to go 5-0 up and Varaljay had a leg pinning double 16 to break throw at 4-1. Menzies hit back on double eight for 5-1 after Varaljay missed darts to hold for 4-2. Double eight for Menzies though sealed him the deal at 6-1.

Cullen too had issues at times. He went 3-1 up hitting double 20 but Keleman broke back on double 16 and then levelled with an 87 checkout. Cullen went 4-3 up. He pinned double eight after Keleman missed 112 for the break. Cullen won hitting double 20 and then double 16 albeit both times Keleman had chances to win the legs but spurned them and was broken at 5-3 which then Rockstar sealed.

Other winners included Rob Cross who followed up his ProTour win earlier in the week albeit he struggled at times to hit a double against Juraj Holub.

Cross led 1-0 albeit only after handing Holub chance after chance. Holub though came back to pin 40 with Cross missing 110 for a break. Cross was still having issues being clinical. He left his favourite 36 from 170 but had to go down to double four after missing it before eventually pinching a 2-1 lead. Cross broke pinning double four after initially missing 66. He is now 4-2 up throwing to go one away. Cross who missed 110 but has returned for double six. A 56 checkout and Cross was over the line in a 6-3 win.

While Madars Razma and Kim Huybrechts are also through. Razma faced off against Dirk van Duijvenbode and won through. Razma went 3-1 up but Van Duijvenbode hit back to make it 3-2. Razma was on the verge of a 4-2 lead.

Double eight for Razma made it 5-2. Van Duijvenbode got it back to 5-4 but Razma completed the job for 6-4. While Huybrechts took down Keane Barry.

Double 18 for Barry but Huybrechts followed with double six with Barry sat on 101. Barry led on the same target but Huybrechts returned for 40 and it was now at 2-2.

Huybrechts broke throw at 4-3 with Barry missing 103 and the Belgian hit 52. He went one away on double 20 for 5-3. That break proved to be the catalyst as he took out 32 to claim it 6-4 after Barry had hit 44 for 5-4.

Krzysztof Ratajski finally ended the night easing past Cristo Reyes in a bit of a surprise result. He broke in leg one and added to that on double 16. Ratajski was now aiming to hold for 3-1. He did so and then with missed darts at double from Reyes, Ratajski broke for 4-1 on double eight. Ratajski hit 91 to follow it up. Reyes returned with 113. But Ratajski hit 49 to seal the win and he is moving through to Saturday.