Mensur Suljovic sends Michael van Gerwen packing at the Swiss Darts Trophy as ten seeds crash out
Mensur Suljovic inflicted another early exit on Michael van Gerwen at the Swiss Darts Trophy on Saturday as ten seeds were sent packing in the second round.
Austrian veteran Suljovic maintained his dominant recent head-to-head record by recording a fourth straight win over a desolate MVG – who suffered his fourth opening match exit on the European Tour this season.
Suljovic produced a clutch 138 checkout en route to a 2-0 lead, before the duo trade two legs apiece again to leave the former World Matchplay finalist 4-2 in front.
A 13-darter in leg seven moved Suljovic to the cusp of victory, and though Van Gerwen rallied with back-to-back legs, he spurned two darts at double 16 to force a decider, gifting his opponent a 6-4 triumph.
Van Gerwen was one of a staggering ten seeds to bow out on Day Two in Basel, alongside Flanders Darts Trophy champion James Wade – who was beaten in a deciding leg by Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Wade uncharacteristically squandered four match darts as the Dutchman snatched victory to end the left-hander’s hopes of successive European Tour titles.
Van Duijvenbode will now face Michael Smith in Sunday’s Last 16 after the former World Champion continued his impressive resurgence by dumping out 13th seed Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 with a 102.6 average.
Newly-crowned World Grand Prix champion Luke Humphries avoided an such early exit, however, as he held his nerve in a high quality last-leg shootout to deny Kevin Doets, averaging 102.8 to the Dutchman’s 105.6.
Stephen Bunting’s European Championship qualification hopes continue to hang in the balance after his Swiss Darts Trophy title defence ended at the first hurdle following a 6-4 defeat to Sweden’s Jeffrey De Graaf.
De Graaf will take on Bradley Brooks in the Last 16 after the former World Youth champion punished an astonishing 28 missed doubles from a wasteful Chris Dobey to complete a 6-4 victory.
Recent Players Championship event winner Karel Sedlacek continued his terrific run of form by pulling off a 6-4 scalp of two-time European Tour event winner Wessel Nijman.
Spain’s Cristo Reyes reeled off four legs on the spin from 4-2 down to sink Ryan Searle – who squandered a staggering 17 darts at doubles.
Martin Schindler’s dismal European Tour form continued as he slumped to a 6-4 defeat at the hands of Tom Bissell – who fired in six 180s en route to reaching the Last 16 of a Euro Tour event for the first time.
Third seed Jonny Clayton produced the stand-out performance of the day, averaging 108.8 with 60 per cent on the outer ring in a 6-1 demolition of Maik Kuivenhoven.
European Champion Gian van Veen was in equally emphatic mood as he whitewashed Niko Springer 6-0 with a 98 average and six from nine on the doubles.
Two-time European Champion Rob Cross closed out a 6-4 win over last year’s Swiss Darts Trophy finalist Luke Woodhouse, while Krzysztof Ratajski ended home hopes in the event by dispatching Swiss number one Stefan Bellmont 6-2.
World Series of Darts Finals champion Ross Smith launched his bid for a third European Tour title of the year with a 6-4 success over William O’Connor, as Austrian Open champion Josh Rock battled his way to a last-leg victory over a plucky Dave Chisnall.
Damon Heta, meanwhile, continued his impressive run of form on the European Tour by dispatching eighth seed Danny Noppert 6-3.
Swiss Darts Trophy 2026 Day Two Results
Saturday October 10
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-2 Stefan Bellmont
Wessel Nijman 4-6 Karel Sedlacek
Luke Woodhouse 4-6 Rob Cross
Martin Schindler 4-6 Tom Bissell
Ryan Searle 4-6 Cristo Reyes
Ross Smith 6-4 William O’Connor
Chris Dobey 4-6 Bradley Brooks
Jermaine Wattimena 4-6 Michael Smith
Evening Session
Josh Rock 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Stephen Bunting 4-6 Jeffrey De Graaf
James Wade 5-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Jonny Clayton 6-1 Maik Kuivenhoven
Michael van Gerwen 4-6 Mensur Suljovic
Luke Humphries 6-5 Kevin Doets
Gian van Veen 6-0 Niko Springer
Danny Noppert 3-6 Damon Heta
