Cristo Reyes crashes in nine-darter at the Austrian Darts Open
Cristo Reyes produced a sensational nine-darter en route to victory over Damon Heta at the Austrian Darts Open on Saturday.
Seven seeds were sent packing on Day Two in Graz, however it was Reyes who stole the show by producing his first big stage nine-darter in his victory over Australian number one Heta.
The Spaniard has been a revelation since reclaiming his PDC Tour Card in January and delivered another stellar showing in Austria, averaging 101.9 and hitting six 180s to seal a 6-4 success.
Reyes raised the roof with his nine-dart exploits in leg four, before defying a valiant fightback from Heta to wrap up proceedings with a brilliant 11-darter.
“I feel very happy,” reflected Reyes, who will face fifth seed Danny Noppert for a place in the quarter-finals.
“When I hit the nine-darter I got more nervous, but this is amazing. I want to say thank you to this fantastic crowd.”
Michael van Gerwen also impressed at the Stadthalle, averaging 103.4 and converting a trio of ton-plus checkouts to defeat Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 and open his bid for a fifth Austrian Open crown.
Van Gerwen will now set his sights on a showdown against two-time European Champion Rob Cross – who overcame William O’Connor by the same scoreline in the afternoon session.
Van Gerwen is now the highest-ranked player left standing in Graz after top seed Gian van Veen was ousted in a last-leg decider by Latvia’s Madars Razma.
Van Veen crashed out alongside his fellow countryman Wessel Nijman – who was incredibly whitewashed 6-0 by a rampant Niko Springer in a battle between two previous European Tour event winners.
Meanwhile, James Wade produced a vintage display to end the hopes of home hero Mensur Suljovic, averaging 103 and conjuring up a hat-trick of 11-darters en route to a dominant 6-2 win.
Reigning champion Martin Schindler also advanced in convincing style, firing in six maximums and reeling off five consecutive legs from 2-1 adrift to sweep aside a struggling Peter Wright – who averaged just 82.4.
Kim Huybrechts maintained his resurgence with a sensational deciding-leg win over Chris Dobey, following up a ten-dart break with a sublime 132 checkout on the bull to overturn a 5-4 deficit.
The Belgian will now face Andrew Gilding in the Last 16, after the 2023 UK Open champion averaged 101 in a 6-4 success against former European Championship runner-up Jermaine Wattimena.
Ross Smith – runner-up to Schindler in last year’s tournament – averaged 102 in disposing of Niels Zonneveld, and he will now renew his rivalry with the German number one in Sunday’s Last 16.
Luke Woodhouse also averaged 100 in his 6-1 thrashing of Rob Owen, setting up a showdown against third seed Wade on Sunday afternoon.
Northern Ireland’s World Cup champions Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney also safely advanced to Round Three courtesy of 6-3 victories against Patrik Kovacs and Ian White respectively.
Earlier in the day, Kevin Doets celebrated a first career victory over Ryan Searle to book a tie against Ryan Joyce, who condemned Mike De Decker to a sixth consecutive defeat on the European Tour.
Noppert completes Sunday’s last 16 line-up after surviving three match darts to sink Alan Soutar in a gruelling last-leg affair, with the Dutchman revealing post-match that he has been suffering with illness this weekend.
Austrian Darts Open 2026 Day Two Results
Saturday May 9
Second Round
Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm)
Jermaine Wattimena 4-6 Andrew Gilding
Mike De Decker 3-6 Ryan Joyce
Rob Cross 6-3 William O’Connor
Ryan Searle 2-6 Kevin Doets
Ross Smith 6-3 Niels Zonneveld
Damon Heta 4-6 Cristo Reyes – *Reyes hits a nine-darter*
Luke Woodhouse 6-1 Rob Owen
Chris Dobey 5-6 Kim Huybrechts
Evening Session (6pm-10pm)
Daryl Gurney 6-3 Ian White
Josh Rock 6-3 Patrik Kovacs
James Wade 6-2 Mensur Suljovic
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Danny Noppert 6-5 Alan Soutar
Gian van Veen 5-6 Madars Razma
Martin Schindler 6-2 Peter Wright
Wessel Nijman 0-6 Niko Springer
