Van Baelen enjoys dream debut at the International Open as Van den Bergh and Kyle Anderson also turn on the style

Davy Van Baelen marked a dream European Tour debut with a 6-0 whitewash of Ole Lucklow in Round One of the 2019 International Open in Riesa on Friday, while Dimitri van den Bergh and Kyle Anderson also impressed.

Belgium’s Van Baelen came through the European qualifying event and quickly underlined his potential by thrashing German newcomer Lucklow with a 103.6 and six from seven on the doubles.

Van Baelen, who also landed three maximums in a stunning display, will now face last week’s European Matchplay champion Joe Cullen in Saturday’s Second Round.

World Youth champion Dimitri van den Bergh averaged 98.6 and missed just one dart at a double in seeing off fellow young gun Adam Hunt 6-3.

Australia’s Anderson held his nerve to edge out Arron Monk in a last-leg decider with an average of 99.6 and a high checkout of 124, with Monk missed one match dart at tops in the last leg.

Andy Boulton recovered from 3-0 and 4-1 down to force a decider against host nation qualifier Steffen Siepmann, only to squander five match darts in the final leg to gift-wrap the German the match.

Richard North reeled off four consecutive legs from 5-2 down in his first Euro Tour appearance of the season to defeat Russia’s Boris Koltsov 6-5 with the aid of three ton-plus checkouts, including a crucial 141.

Former Lakeside finalist Danny Noppert held firm to secure a narrow 6-5 win over Northern Ireland’s Mickey Mansell – who was left to rue three missed match darts in the decider.

World Cup of Darts finalist William O’Connor dispatched the returning Benito van de Pas 6-4 in the afternoon session with the aid of 147 checkout, while John Henderson battled past Brett Claydon 6-4 despite an average of just 79.

Justin Pipe failed to replicate his impressive midweek ProTour form but did enough to seal a 6-3 win over German debutant Christian Jentschke with an 81 average, as James Richardson saw off another host nation hopeful in Mike Poge 6-3 to set up a meeting with Glen Durrant in the next round.

Players Championship event winner Harry Ward overcame Reece Robinson 6-4 in the opening match of the day, while German darting stalwart Michael Rosenauer took advantage of a below-par Mike De Decker to close out a 6-4 triumph.

Luke Woodhouse, whose darts only arrived an hour prior to his match after his luggage was lost in transit to Riesa, made light work of German veteran Manfred Bilderl with a 6-1 rout, while Steve West saw off Sweden’s Daniel Larsson 6-3 with a 94 average and three 180s.

Jelle Klaasen, whose luggage also made it to the venue in the nick of time, fought back from 4-0 down to force a decider with Joe Murnan, but it was the Bolton ace who got over the line to set up a meeting with Jeffrey de Zwaan.

Ritchie Edhouse will face Peter Wright in Round Two after he defeated Belgium’s Davyd Venken 6-2 with a high checkout of 157.

The 16 seeded players will enter the competition at the Second Round stage on Saturday, with play commencing at 12pm BST.

Friday September 13

First Round

Afternoon Session 

Harry Ward 6-4 Reece Robinson

William O’Connor 6-4 Benito van de Pas

Christian Jentschke 3-6 Justin Pipe

Arron Monk 5-6 Kyle Anderson

John Henderson 6-4 Brett Claydon

James Richardson 6-3 Mike Poge

Mickey Mansell 5-6 Danny Noppert

Mike De Decker 4-6 Michael Rosenauer

Evening Session

Richard North 6-5 Boris Koltsov

Daniel Larsson 3-6 Steve West

Ritchie Edhouse 6-2 Davyd Venken

Manfred Bilderl 1-6 Luke Woodhouse

Adam Hunt 3-6 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Andy Boulton 5-6 Steffen Siepmann

Joe Murnan 6-5 Jelle Klaasen

Davy Van Baelen 6-0 Ole Luckow