Cameron Menzies sends Gerwyn Price packing at the Slovak Darts Open
Cameron Menzies dumped Gerwyn Price out of the 2026 Slovak Darts Open courtesy of a stellar second round display in Bratislava on Saturday.
Menzies turned on the style to dispatch Price 6-2 with a blistering 106 average for a place in the Last 16 of the inaugural European Tour event.
The Scot rattled off three legs at the back-end of the match in 11, 12 and 10 darts to seal victory and set up a contest with European Tour debutant Tom Sykes on Sunday.
“That was a free hit,” insisted Menzies, who now sits inside the World Matchplay qualification spots.
“I was so nervous, but what helped is that my first dart was finding the treble most of the time.
“I needed that. I’m gutted I didn’t get a dart for the nine-darter, I’ll hit it one day, I know I will.
“All I want to do is win. I love Bratislava, and I hope I will be back here.”
Sykes also produced a brilliant display to continue his dream European Tour debut as he edged out Martin Schindler in a gruelling last-leg decider.
“I’m happy to get over the line. He hit the maximum at the start of the last leg and I just knew I had to follow it,” admitted Sykes.
“I never give up, I never will, I’ll always be there or thereabouts, so we’ll carry onto tomorrow and see what happens.”
Meanwhile, former World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker returned to winning ways with an impressive 6-2 defeat of William O’Connor, averaging 107 in the process.
De Decker’s victory sets up a clash with Ryan Joyce on Sunday, after he overcame Welsh number one Jonny Clayton in another tense last-leg decider.
Gian van Veen’s European Tour woes continued as he suffered another second round exit at the hands of midweek Players Championship event winner Rob Cross.
The former World Champion will take on Dutch star Kevin Doets in the opening match on Sunday afternoon, after the Dutchman swept aside Damon Heta 6-2.
Baltic Sea Darts Open champion Luke Woodhouse suffered a 6-4 defeat at the hands of Andrew Gilding – who avenged his recent defeat in a Players Championship final.
Gilding now meets Michael van Gerwen in Round Three after the Dutchman survived a scare in his battle against Krzysztof Ratajski, missing six match darts before prevailing against Poland’s number one in a decider.
Dutch duo Danny Noppert and Jermaine Wattimena will lock horns in Sunday’s afternoon session following comfortable wins over Madars Razma and Dave Chisnall respectively.
Nathan Aspinall will take on compatriot Ryan Searle in the Last 16 after the pair secured victories over Jim Long and Kim Huybrechts in their opening ties of the weekend.
Niels Zonneveld almost produced the comeback of the tournament so far, battling back from 5-2 down to force the decider against Stephen Bunting, but it was the former Masters champion who eventually held firm.
Bunting will now take ProTour Order of Merit leader Wessel Nijman, after the in-form Dutchman swept aside Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer 6-2.
Ross Smith held his nerve to deny Joe Cullen in a hard-fought last-leg shootout, while seventh Chris Dobey ended the hopes of Tyler Thorpe with a 6-4 success.
Slovak Darts Open 2026 Day Two Results
Saturday June 20
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Mike De Decker 6-2 William O’Connor
Damon Heta 2-6 Kevin Doets
Wessel Nijman 6-2 Benjamin Pratnemer
Danny Noppert 6-2 Madars Razma
Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Dave Chisnall
Chris Dobey 6-4 Tyler Thorpe
Ryan Searle 6-3 Kim Huybrechts
Luke Woodhouse 4-6 Andrew Gilding
Evening Session
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Jim Long
Tom Sykes 6-5 Martin Schindler
Cameron Menzies 6-2 Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross 6-3 Gian van Veen
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Ryan Joyce 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Niels Zonneveld
Ross Smith 6-5 Joe Cullen
