Mensur Suljovic progressed via to the second spherical on dwelling soil as he dumped Cameron Menzies out of the Austrian Darts Open on Friday.
The Austrian delighted his adoring crowd with a ruthless show, pinning 75 per cent of his makes an attempt at double to rejoice a powerful 6-2 victory.
Suljovic made a semi-final and a quarter-final throughout this week’s ProTour double-header in Hildesheim, and he constructed on that momentum to arrange a showdown in opposition to third seed James Wade within the second spherical.
Ian White claimed a significant scalp within the type of 2023 world champion Michael Smith, operating out a 6-4 victor to arrange a gathering in opposition to Daryl Gurney for a spot within the final 16.
Dave Chisnall was one other high-profile casualty on Friday night, shedding 6-3 to Spain’s Cristo Reyes.
Elsewhere, Peter Wright swept apart Austrian veteran Zoran Lerchbacher 6-2 to register his first European Tour victory in 2026, which sees him via to face defending champion Martin Schindler on Saturday.
Alan Soutar additionally triumphed 6-2, seeing off a dismal show from Raymond van Barneveld.
Raymond van Barneveld was dumped out within the first spherical by Alan Soutar
There have been combined fortunes elsewhere among the many Dutch contingent in Graz, with Dirk van Duijvenbode succumbing on the expense of Latvia’s Madars Razma, regardless of averaging over a ton in defeat.
Razma’s reward is a conflict in opposition to prime seed Gian van Veen, whereas Niels Zonneveld will face final 12 months’s runner-up Ross Smith after piling in a magical 135 checkout to sink James Hurrell in a decider.
Kevin Doets additionally impressed, averaging 99 to dump out his quick-fire compatriot Chris Landman, having celebrated his maiden PDC rating title at Gamers Championship 11 on Monday.
Earlier within the day, Niko Springer landed a trio of ton-plus checkouts – together with a wonderful 167 – to seal a 6-3 victory over Nick Kenny, and Wessel Nijman now awaits the German in an interesting tussle.
Nevertheless, Springer’s fellow countrymen Gabriel Clemens and Ricardo Pietreczko crashed out on the first hurdle, shedding out to Ryan Joyce and Hungarian qualifier Patrik Kovacs respectively.
Poland Krzysztof Ratajski got here via a stiff take a look at in opposition to Aaron Hardy to arrange a blockbuster showdown in opposition to three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen on Saturday, who will likely be among the many star points of interest on day two in Graz.
2026 Austrian Darts Open schedule/outcomes
Friday Might 8
Spherical OneAfternoon SessionRyan Joyce 6-3 Gabriel ClemensPatrik Kovacs 6-4 Ricardo PietreczkoNiels Zonneveld 6-5 James HurrellAndrew Gilding 6-4 Nick ZwittniggWilliam O’Connor 6-3 Anton OstlundKrzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Aaron HardyNiko Springer 6-3 Nick KennyKevin Doets 6-3 Chris Landman
Night SessionCristo Reyes 6-3 Dave ChisnallRob Owen 6-5 Joe CullenKim Huybrechts 6-3 Karel SedlacekPeter Wright 6-2 Zoran LerchbacherAlan Soutar 6-2 Raymond van BarneveldMensur Suljovic 6-2 Cameron MenziesMadars Razma 6-4 Dirk van DuijvenbodeIan White 6-4 Michael Smith
Saturday Might 9
Spherical TwoAfternoon Session (1300 native time, 1200 BST)Jermaine Wattimena v Andrew GildingMike De Decker v Ryan JoyceRob Cross v William O’ConnorRyan Searle v Kevin DoetsRoss Smith v Niels ZonneveldDamon Heta v Cristo ReyesLuke Woodhouse v Rob OwenChris Dobey v Kim Huybrechts
Night Session (1900 native time, 1800 BST)Daryl Gurney v Ian WhiteJosh Rock v Patrik KovacsJames Wade v Mensur SuljovicMichael van Gerwen v Krzysztof RatajskiDanny Noppert v Alan SoutarGian van Veen v Madars RazmaMartin Schindler v Peter WrightWessel Nijman v Niko Springer
Sunday Might 10
Afternoon Session (1300 native time, 1200 BST)Spherical Three
Night Session (1900 native time, 1800 BST)Quarter-FinalsSemi-FinalsFinal
