The Baltic Sea Darts Open witnessed a dramatic turn of events on March 16, 2024, as Belgian player Andy Baetens eliminated reigning champion Rob Cross from the tournament. In a fierce competition held at the Wunderino Arena in Kiel, Baetens secured a 6-2 victory, making headlines as he advanced to the last 16 for just the second time in a European Tour event.
Baetens, who had previously defeated Dutch veteran Raymond van Barneveld, faced a formidable challenge against Cross, who delivered a stunning 170 checkout in the fifth leg. Despite this impressive display, Baetens remained undeterred, clinching three consecutive legs to seal his win. The tournament, now without its defending champion, is set to crown a new Baltic Sea Darts Open champion on Sunday evening.
High-Profile Exits and Close Calls
Day two of the tournament saw several notable players exit early. Dave Chisnall, the 2023 champion, fell to Daryl Gurney in a 6-3 match, while Stephen Bunting also faced elimination, losing to home favorite Niko Springer. Springer showcased an impressive average of 101, marking his second consecutive European Tour victory.
Meanwhile, Luke Humphries, the world number one and runner-up to Cross in 2024, narrowly escaped an early exit. In a nail-biting clash against Mickey Mansell, Humphries survived a match dart in the deciding leg, ultimately prevailing to set up a quarter-final matchup against Ryan Searle. Searle advanced after a swift victory over Cameron Menzies, where he averaged over a ton.
Other standout performances included Danny Noppert, who averaged above 100 in his win against World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker. Noppert’s victory, which featured seven 180s, puts him in contention for the quarter-finals against Nathan Aspinall, who overcame Ricardo Pietreczko in a closely fought 6-4 match.
Exciting Matches and Future Fixtures
The tournament also highlighted strong performances from Martin Schindler, who defeated Jermaine Wattimena comfortably, and Josh Rock, who showcased his skill with a 6-1 victory over Justin Hood. Rock’s next challenge will be against Welsh number one Jonny Clayton, who emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against World Youth Champion Gian van Veen.
Adding to the day’s excitement, Gary Anderson continued his pursuit of a second European Tour title this season, winning 6-3 against Poland’s number one Krzysztof Ratajski. Former European Champion Ross Smith also commenced his campaign with a decisive win over Kim Huybrechts.
As the Baltic Sea Darts Open progresses, fans can look forward to an action-packed Sunday featuring the third round and concluding with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final in an exciting evening session. Viewers can catch all the action on Sky Sports, the official broadcaster for major darts events including the World Matchplay and Grand Slam of Darts.
