Andy Baetens dethrones Rob Cross at the Baltic Sea Darts Open
Andy Baetens dumped defending champion Rob Cross out of the Baltic Sea Darts Open in Round Two on Saturday, as Luke Humphries survived a scare in Kiel.
Belgian star Baetens had dispatched Raymond van Barneveld in Friday’s opening round, and he claimed another major scalp in Cross – who landed a 170 checkout in leg five.
However, Baetens was unfazed, reeling off three consecutive legs to wrap up a convincing 6-2 victory and reach the Last 16 of a European Tour event for only the second time.
Meanwhile, 2023 champion Dave Chisnall was condemned to a 6-3 defeat at the hands of an in-form Daryl Gurney, ensuring a new name on the trophy come Sunday evening.
Stephen Bunting was another high-profile casualty in Kiel as home favourite Niko Springer averaged 101 to make it back-to-back European Tour wins over the second seed.
Humphries, last year’s runner-up, almost suffered an early exit of his own, surviving a match dart in the deciding-leg of his clash against Grand Slam semi-finalist Mickey Mansell.
The world number one will now take on Ryan Searle for a place in the quarter-finals, after the Somerset star averaged 100 to win a quick-fire clash with Cameron Menzies.
Dutch number two Danny Noppert also averaged above 100 in defeating World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker, crashing in seven 180s on his way to a 6-3 success.
Noppert will face Nathan Aspinall in Round Three, after the Stockport star began his bid for a third European Tour title of 2025 with a 6-4 win over Ricardo Pietreczko – who reeled off three straight legs from 4-1 down to threaten a comeback.
German number one Martin Schindler ran out a comfortable 6-3 victor against Jermaine Wattimena, and his reward is an all-German showdown against Springer.
Northern Ireland’s World Cup winner Josh Rock delivered another eye-catching performance to thrash Justin Hood 6-1, and he will renew his rivalry with Welsh number one Jonny Clayton in the Last 16.
Clayton defied spirited effort from World Youth Champion Gian van Veen to triumph 6-4 in a high-quality encounter, before his compatriot Gerwyn Price averaged 101.7 in a 6-1 rout of William O’Connor.
Gary Anderson also impressed in Kiel, converting six of his nine attempts at doubles to begin his bid for a second European Tour title of the season with a 6-3 win over Krzysztof Ratajski.
Former European Champion Ross Smith kicked off his campaign with a brutal whitewash of Kim Huybrechts, and he will now take on fifth seed Chris Dobey – who produced an accomplished all-round display to dispatch Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3.
James Wade produced a ruthless display to hammer Luke Woodhouse 6-1, while Wessel Nijman ran out a 6-3 winner against last week’s Players Championship 20 winner Damon Heta.
Baltic Sea Darts Open 2025 Day Two Results
Saturday July 12
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Ryan Searle 6-3 Cameron Menzies
Damon Heta 3-6 Wessel Nijman
Gary Anderson 6-2 Krzysztof Ratajski
Danny Noppert 6-3 Mike De Decker
Dave Chisnall 3-6 Daryl Gurney
Ross Smith 6-0 Kim Huybrechts
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Gian van Veen
James Wade 6-1 Luke Woodhouse
Evening Session
Gerwyn Price 6-1 William O’Connor
Rob Cross 2-6 Andy Baetens
Stephen Bunting 2-6 Niko Springer
Luke Humphries 6-5 Mickey Mansell
Josh Rock 6-1 Justin Hood
Martin Schindler 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Ricardo Pietreczko
Chris Dobey 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode
