The final day of the 2026 European Tour began at the Dutch Darts Championship in Maastricht, where eight last-16 ties were played in a lively atmosphere. The quarter-final lineup has been confirmed, with plenty of Dutch representation on home soil while some top names fell short of the prize.
Gian van Veen, fresh from averaging 120.24 yesterday, continued his charge with a 6-1 demolition of Brendan Dolan. Dolan, who came off the reserve list after Rob Cross pulled out, made an impression in the first leg with a break of throw—the only leg van Veen has lost in this tournament—and van Veen took it personally. He broke back instantly before a 75 checkout put him 3-1 up. Two legs later, a brilliant 146 finish saw him move one away, and he had no issue getting it done. There was more Dutch delight as Niels Zonneveld stunned Gerwyn Price 6-4 to send one of the big title favourites packing. Price trailed 3-1 early, but a 109 checkout got him back on throw before making it three legs on the spin to lead 4-3. He had darts to lead 5-3 and 5-4, but they were wasted as Zonneveld made him pay. It is the first time Zonneveld has made Sunday in his last 10 European Tour appearances, and it is a fourth quarter-final in 2026.
Stephen Bunting ended his quarter-final drought with a commanding 6-1 victory over Nathan Aspinall, having earlier defeated Cameron Menzies 6-2 in the second round. Bunting was looking to reach the last session in a European Tour event for the first time since the Poland Darts Open at the start of 2026, and he did so in style. After a brace of holds, Aspinall almost took out a stunning 170 finish, narrowly missing the bull to break. He wasted more chances to nick the upper hand as Bunting cleaned up 25. A 70 checkout in two was backed up with a commendable hold, and Bunting stormed into a 4-1 lead. Aspinall was not playing at his best level, and Bunting was all over it. Two missed darts for an 89 checkout was Aspinall's last involvement in the tie as Bunting pinned double six to remain in contention for a third European Tour title.
Ryan Searle did brilliantly to keep his cool in the second round against Dirk van Duijvenbode and a partisan Dutch crowd, and he repeated those heroics in another hard-fought 6-4 win over Ross Smith. The first six legs were holds, with a 104 checkout from Smith getting him back on level terms. Then Searle found what could have been the pivotal break, but it was not to be. A terrific 150 from Searle was followed up before threatening a nine-darter. This timely burst ended on double 19 as Searle secured a spot in the quarter-finals, where he is chasing a first European Tour title.
Danny Noppert kept his hopes of a maiden European Tour title alive with a 6-3 win over Jermaine Wattimena in the Dutch derby. The solitary break of throw went Noppert's way in the fourth leg in the midst of a three-leg burst which ended with a 145 checkout to lead 4-1. Wattimena was unable to muster a response, and a 12-dart hold culminated proceedings. Noppert sets up a last-eight fixture against Luke Woodhouse, who is setting his sights on a second European Tour title after seeing off William O'Connor 6-4. Woodhouse got a break of throw from the off, extending his lead to 3-1. A 134 finish by the Irishman closed the gap, but the break deficit remained. It finally vanished in the eighth leg, but Woodhouse fought back and would throw it out. O'Connor missed darts on the outer ring to send it the distance, and it is a fourth quarter-final in 2026 on the European Tour for Woodhouse.
Wessel Nijman averaged 88 yesterday compared to Cristo Reyes' 110.26, but it was a new day and Nijman upped his game to win 6-3. The pair traded blows in the opening legs with breaks of throw apiece. An 81 finish by Nijman made it three breaks from four and he blasted himself ahead. Reyes was not able to find any sort of response against the throw and Nijman reached a first quarter-final on the PDC Tour since the end of August. Martin Schindler will leave Maastricht satisfied with the work put in, having secured a return to the European Championship, but his Dutch Darts Championship campaign ended at the hands of Damon Heta in a 6-4 loss, despite averaging over 104. Schindler began with a 10-dart hold before breaking. Heta responded and restored parity at 2-2 before making it three on the spin on double 10. Schindler managed to get himself back in contention, moving 4-3 ahead. From then, the Aussie produced some tidy checkouts of 81 and 97 before taking out 59 on tops to end Schindler's run with a 102.5 average.
