Austrian Darts Open 2022 | Day One Preview and Order of Play

The 2022 Austrian Darts Open gets under way in Graz on Friday as the 32 qualifiers battle it out in Round One.

The fourth of 13 European Tour events this year features 48 players competing for £140,000 in prize money at the Steiermarkhalle from April 29 to May 1.

The top 16 players from the ProTour Order of Merit (as of March 16) are seeded and enter at the Second Round stage on Saturday, while 32 qualifiers battle it out for the right to join them.

The afternoon session on Day One kicks off with a tie between recent Players Championship event winner Danny Jansen and Poland’s Radek Szagański.

Associate Member qualifier Wesley Plaisier, who enjoyed a terrific run to the Quarter-Finals of the German Darts Grand Prix a fortnight ago, returns to face Canadian World Cup star Matt Campbell.

Jim Williams, who has also picked up a ProTour title in his debut season as a Tour Card holder, faces resurgent Dutchman Berry van Peer, while former Euro Tour finalist Ricky Evans starts out against Sweden’s Johan Engstrom.

Josh Rock, the Northern Ireland youngster who has taken the ProTour by storm in his debut season so far, marks his first Euro Tour appearance with a show-down against former German Championship winner Devon Petersen.

Three-time European Tour event winner Ian White returns to the big stage to face Host Nation qualifier Patrik Gosnak, while former World Champion Steve Beaton faces a tricky opener against recent WDF semi-finalist Cameron Menzies.

Madars Razma, who reached the Last 16 in Munich last time out, opens up against Austria’s Michael Rasztovits, while the evening session sees World Championship quarter-finalist Callan Rydz take on home hopeful Dietmar Burger.

Mensur Suljovic, the godfather of Austrian darts, is set for a hero’s welcome when he steps up to face former World Matchplay semi-finalist Jeffrey de Zwaan.

France’s Thibault Tricole, runner-up in the inaugural WDF World Championship, marks his Euro Tour debut with a tie against former Tour Card holder Zoran Lerchbacher.

Reigning UK Open champion Danny Noppert faces an all-Dutch show-down with Jermaine Wattimena, while 2014 Lakeside Champion Stephen Bunting hosts Czech Republic star Karel Sedlacek.

Darius Labanauskas, who hit a nine-darter at Ally Pally in December, opens up against home favourite Rowby-John Rodriguez, while Brett Claydon meets debutant Host Nation qualifier Rainer Sturm.

Gabriel Clemens, the sole German representative in the field, faces a tie against Spanish debutant Tony Martinez – who came through this year’s European Qualifying School to secure a Tour Card.

The action gets under way from 12pm BST, with First Round matches to be contested over the best of 11 legs.

WATCH THE AUSTRIAN DARTS OPEN STREAMED LIVE HERE (18+)

Austrian Darts Open 2022 Schedule of Play

All times BST (Local time one hour ahead)

Friday April 29

First Round

Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm)
Radek Szaganski v Danny Jansen
Wesley Plaisier v Matt Campbell
Jim Williams v Berry van Peer
Josh Rock v Devon Petersen
Ricky Evans v Johan Engstrom
Madars Razma v Michael Rasztovits
Steve Beaton v Cameron Menzies
Ian White v Patrik Gosnak

Evening Session (6pm-10pm)
Dietmar Burger v Callan Rydz
Thibault Tricole v Zoran Lerchbacher
Tony Martinez v Gabriel Clemens
Danny Noppert v Jermaine Wattimena
Jeffrey De Zwaan v Mensur Suljovic
Stephen Bunting v Karel Sedlacek
Brett Claydon v Rainer Sturm
Darius Labanauskas v Rowby-John Rodriguez