"The audience is me" - Emotional Mensur Suljovic celebrates his comeback at the Austrian Darts Open

Friday evening saw the long-awaited return of Mensur Suljovic to the big stage at the Austrian Darts Open — and the hall in Premstätten was transformed into a cauldron of noise and emotion. The legendary Austrian, a three-time European Tour champion, proved he remains a formidable force, defeating Ritchie Edhouse 6–3 to deliver one of the most emotional moments of the night.

“The Gentle” set the tone from the very first dart. Suljovic raced into a commanding 5–0 lead, producing vintage form with an electric start. Roared on by passionate chants of "Mensur" and "Super Mensur," he treated his adoring crowd to an average of over 100 across the first five legs.

However, the contest briefly took a tense turn. Edhouse fought back, capitalizing on a few minor errors to close the gap to 3–5 and spark hopes of an unlikely comeback. But Suljovic, showing all his experience, held firm. At the crucial moment, he checked out 76 in three darts to seal a celebrated victory — sending the Premstätten crowd into raptures.

What followed was a truly unforgettable scene. Suljovic, who has endured challenging times on and off the oche in recent years, was overcome with emotion. Fighting back tears, he turned to the audience and said, "Look at my people..." before adding, with great difficulty, "I can't talk, unfortunately. Absolute respect for this audience." It was a raw and heartfelt moment from the former world number five.

Master of Ceremonies Philipp Brezinski, conducting the post-match interview, was equally moved. "The first five legs with an average over 100 — that really reminded me of the old Mensur," he said. Though the match grew tense towards the end, Suljovic’s experience saw him across the line and into the second round.

Suljovic was quick to pay tribute to the fans for their role in his performance. "Without my crowd, I definitely wouldn’t have led 4–0," he admitted. Turning to Edhouse, he added honestly, "Unfortunately, Ritchie, they booed you a bit." Comparing his form to the previous day, Suljovic noted, "Yesterday I was playing a 75 average, today I’m playing 100 — absolutely different." His gratitude was unmistakable as he repeatedly thanked the fans, famously declaring, "I am the audience," into the microphone.

Just a day earlier, Suljovic had to battle his way through the Host Nation Qualifier to even earn his place in the main draw. As he left the stage on Friday night, the Vienna native bid farewell with a rousing "Thank you!" to his home supporters.

The 52-year-old's journey continues today, as he faces Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney in the second round. One thing is certain — the Premstätten crowd will be right behind their beloved “Gentle” once again.