The PDC European Tour wrote an impressive new chapter in darts history this weekend. With its premiere in Poland, the tournament series not only celebrated its season opener but also set new standards for atmosphere: over 13,000 spectators flocked fort he SUPERBET Poland Darts Open to the EXPO Kraków throughout the weekend, transforming the event into a true madhouse.
Van Veen’s nine-darter proves the turning point
The final saw a rematch of this year’s World Championship final between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen. In a high-class encounter, the Englishman once again held the upper hand with an 8-4 victory, securing his fifth title on the PDC European Tour.
Notably, this marks the third consecutive time the World Champion has won the opening event of the European Tour season. Following a brilliant start to the 2026 calendar year, the triumph in Krakow also represents his fourth tournament win of the year.
The absolute “goosebump moment” of the final was provided by the young Dutchman: “The Giant” hit his first-ever televised nine-darter.
“I was so excited about the nine-darter – my first one on the stage, and that probably cost me the final today” van Veen admitted candidly, while the crowd honored him with a standing ovation despite the defeat.
Highs and Lows for Local Favorites
For the Polish fans, the tournament was an emotional rollercoaster. Crowd favorite Krzysztof Ratajski started strong with a solid 6-3 victory over Mickey Mansell in the first round. In the second round against Luke Humphries, he appeared beaten but fought back with a furious comeback from 2-5 down to 5-5. However, luck deserted him in the deciding leg: despite having the throw, the “Polish Eagle” couldn’t find his rhythm and fell to a 5-6 defeat.
The four Host Nation Qualifiers Piotr Maciejczak, Miroslaw Grudziecki, Dawid Robak, and Krzysztof Kciuk had less fortune, as their home soil adventure ended in the first round.
Littler’s Magic
Another sporting highlight of the tournament was once again provided by Luke Littler. In his last-16 match against Mike de Decker, the World Champion paired a staggering 113.84 average with a perfect 100% checkout rate. This marked his second-highest average on the PDC European Tour, surpassed only by his 116.51 against Damon Heta at the 2024 Czech Darts Open.
Surprises and Comebacks
Following the late withdrawals of Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith and Callan Rydz stepped into the field. Michael Smith seized the opportunity, reaching a ProTour quarterfinal for the first time in eight months.Meanwhile, Cristo Reyes celebrated an impressive European Tour comeback, storming straight through to finals day before eventually being halted by Chris Dobey.Additionally, Adam Gawlas secured his first European Tour victory in nearly four years with a 6-3 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Next Stop: LOKHALLE Göttingen
After this explosive start, the PDC European Tour moves on to Germany. From March 13 to 15, the ELTEN Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy will take place in Göttingen. Fans can look forward to the next highlight of a thrilling season at the LOKHALLE.
