Michael van Gerwen’s nightmare year went from bad to worse as he was knocked out of the Swiss Darts Trophy in his opening match by Mensur Suljovic 6-4 on Saturday night.
Suljovic led 5-2 before Van Gerwen threatened a comeback but three missed darts to force a decider allowed Suljovic to take advantage.
It was Suljovic’s fourth straight win over Van Gerwen and the fifth time in six tournaments that the Dutchman has been eliminated after a match.
Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen and Jonny Clayton all progressed to Finals Day as ten seeds were knocked out in an incredible day of action in Basel.
Newly crowned World Grand Prix champion Humphries was among the leaders on day two in St. Jakobshalle, where he won against Kevin Doets.
Despite racing 3-0 ahead at 122 and 121 boxes, Humphries was forced to survive a furious attack from Doets, defying the Dutchman’s 105.64 average to triumph in a breathless decider.
“I was really pleased with that performance,” reflected Humphries, who averaged almost 103 and hit 67% of his double-double attempts.
“I felt like I was the better player for most of the game but Kevin was really strong at the end so I had to knock my socks off.”
European champion Van Veen also impressed on Swiss soil, producing a hat-trick of huge chests to whitewash a shell-shocked Niko Springer in just under ten minutes.
Clayton, meanwhile, stole the show with an unstoppable performance against Maik Kuivenhoven, averaging 108.81 and scoring two bullseye finishes to launch his title bid in style.
The Welshman will face Rob Cross for a place in the quarter-finals after the former world champion stopped Luke Woodhouse’s fightback midway through the match to seal a hard-fought 6-4 victory.
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Speaking on Love The Darts, Stephen Bunting recalls that viral interview with Raymond van Barneveld on Ally Pally
A new champion will be crowned at the St Jakobshalle on Sunday evening after former champions Stephen Bunting and Martin Schindler were ousted in a day of turmoil in Basel.
Swedish star Jeffrey de Graaf produced a clinical doubles performance to account for defending champion Bunting, while Schindler saw off Tom Bissell, who will feature on Finals Day for the first time in his European Tour career.
Dirk van Duijvenbode recorded a fifth straight win against James Wade to end the left-hander’s bid for back-to-back European Tour titles and a resurgent Michael Smith now awaits the Dutchman in the last 16.
The 2023 world champion produced one of his best performances of the year to seal a 6-4 win over Jermaine Wattimena, turning 116, 124 and 144 boxes in a row in the process.
Smith averaged just 103 to cap off a quality display that also kept alive his hopes of qualifying for the European Machine Championships later this month.
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Michael van Gerwen was one dart away from a nine-dart striker before Michael Smith completed his run to the 2023 World Championship final.
Finals Day at the Swiss Darts Trophy will begin at 11am, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a blockbuster evening session, which starts from 5pm.
Swiss Darts Trophy 2026
Saturday, October 10
Second Round
Afternoon session
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-2 Stefan Bellmont
Karel Sedlacek 6-4 Wessel Nijman
Rob Cross 6-4 Luke Woodhouse
Tom Bissell 6-4 Martin Schindler
Cristo Reyes 6-4 Ryan Searle
Ross Smith 6-4 William O’Connor
Bradley Brooks 6-4 Chris Dobey
Michael Smith 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
Evening Session
Josh Rock 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Jeffrey de Graaf 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 James Wade
Jonny Clayton 6-1 Mike Kuivenhoven
Mensur Suljovic 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries 6-5 Kevin Doets
Gian van Veen 6-0 Niko Springer
Damon Heta 6-3 Danny Noppert
Sunday, October 11
Afternoon session (11:00)
the last 16
Josh Rock vs Karel Sedlacek
Jonny Clayton vs Rob Cross
Jeffrey De Graaf vs Bradley Brooks
Gian van Veen vs Tom Bissell
Mensur Suljovic vs Ross Smith
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Michael Smith
Damon Heta vs Cristo Reyes
Luke Humphries vs Krzysztof Ratajski
Evening session (17:00)
The quarterfinals
Rock/Sedlacek vs Clayton/Cross
De Graaf/Brooks vs Van Veen/Bissell
Suljovic/R Smith vs Van Duijvenbode/M Smith
Heta/Reyes vs Humphries/Ratajski
Sky Sports remains the home of darts with the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14-22) and the World Darts Championship (December 11-January 3) all live. Stream streaming arrows and more through NOW with no contract.
