International Darts Open 2023 | Day One Preview and Order of Play
The 2023 International Darts Open gets under way in Riesa on Friday as the qualifiers collide in the opening round.
The third of 13 Euro Tour events this season features 48 players battling it out for £175,000 in prize money at the SACHSENarena in Riesa, Germany, from March 31 to April 2.
The top 16 players from the ProTour Order of Merit (as of February 15) are seeded and enter at the Second Round stage, while 32 qualifiers battle it out for the right to join them.
The afternoon session features a clash between recent UK Open quarter-finalist Richie Burnett and 18-year-old debutant Liam Maendl-Lawrance – a Host Nation qualifier making his European Tour debut.
Keegan Brown, ProTour event winner last season, looks to continue his solid start to 2023 when he meets Canada’s Matt Campbell – making only his second appearance on the Euro Tour.
Ian White, a three-time Euro Tour event winner, looks to continue his resurgent run of form when he meets Spain’s Jose Justicia, while Belgian veteran Mario Vandenbogaerde takes on Latvian number one – Madars Razma.
Multiple ranking event winner Brendan Dolan starts out against first-time Tour Card holder Pascal Rupprecht, as former World Cup of Darts finalist Steve Lennon plays Andy Boulton – who reached the Last 16 of Players Championship Eight.
Belgian youngster Brian Raman aims to kick-start his campaign by overcoming Ryan Meikle – a quarter-finalist in last year’s Hungarian Darts Trophy.
Scottish star Alan Soutar opens up the afternoon’s action with a tie against Associate Member Qualifier Jeroen Mioch of the Netherlands.
The evening session includes a stand-out tie between reigning UK Open champion Andrew Gilding and two-time major winner Daryl Gurney.
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld is one of three players to receive a late call-up to the event via the Reserve List, and he starts out against three-time Challenge Tour event winner Stephen Burton.
Scott Williams, who also secured his spot via the Reserve List, looks to seize his opportunity at the expense of Host Nation qualifier Niko Springer.
Home hero Gabriel Clemens will be poised for a roof-raising reception when he steps out to face former European Champion Simon Whitlock – making his first Euro Tour appearance of the season.
Dutch Darts Championship semi-finalist Callan Rydz faces a tough opener against maximum machine Mike De Decker, as reigning European Champion Ross Smith faces Finnish debutant Paavo Myller – the Nordic & Baltic qualifier.
Kim Huybrechts, a ProTour event winner earlier this year, kicks off his campaign against Swindon’s Lee Evans, while German ace Florian Hempel faces the returning James Wilson.
The action gets under way from 12pm GMT, with First Round matches to be contested over the best of 11 legs.
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International Darts Open 2023 Day One Schedule
All times BST (Local time one hour ahead)
Friday March 31
First Round
Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm)
Jeroen Mioch v Alan Soutar
Steve Lennon v Andy Boulton
Mario Vandenbogaerde v Madars Razma
Brian Raman v Ryan Meikle
Brendan Dolan v Pascal Rupprecht
Ian White v Jose Justicia
Keegan Brown v Matt Campbell
Richie Burnett v Liam Maendl-Lawrance
Evening Session (6pm-10pm)
Kim Huybrechts v Lee Evans
Niko Springer v Scott Williams
Callan Rydz v Mike De Decker
Andrew Gilding v Daryl Gurney
Florian Hempel v James Wilson
Ross Smith v Paavo Myller
Raymond van Barneveld v Stephen Burton
Gabriel Clemens v Simon Whitlock
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