Nathan Aspinall gave Saturday at the 2026 European Darts Open a sharper edge by beating Mickey Mansell 6-1 with an average above 107. In Leverkusen, the defending champion did not just win his opener: he reminded the field that he remains one of the names to beat before Finals Day.
The local thread is still alive too. Jan Schmidt extended his dream weekend by beating Mike De Decker 6-5, a day after his comeback against Cameron Menzies. And even though Niko Springer eventually lost to Gian van Veen, his level across the weekend still matters just days before his World Matchplay opener against Luke Littler.
Aspinall puts pressure on before Finals Day
The key evening story is clear: Aspinall shut down the Mansell danger quickly. After a 14-dart hold in the opening leg, the Englishman conceded only one leg and then closed the match by winning four legs in five visits. On a day where the last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all follow in quick order, that kind of clean start can matter very quickly.
His next opponent will be Ross Smith, who beat Niels Zonneveld 6-1. Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen defeated Joe Cullen 6-2 with finishes of 142 and 130, while Van Veen held off Springer 6-3 in a high-level contest.
Springer adds weight to his clash with Littler
Springer didn’t just need to get through this first round. Above all, he had the chance to show that his upcoming clash with Luke Littler won’t be a mere curiosity on the draw, but a genuine test. By beating Labanauskas 6-2 with an average of over 105, he has set the bar high, leaving little room for doubt.
This result also changes the outlook for his next match in Leverkusen. Springer will face Gian van Veen, the tournament’s number one seed, for a place in the last 16. Put another way: even before his much-anticipated clash with Luke Littler in Blackpool, he has another chance to prove that his current form holds up under pressure.
Schmidt upsets Menzies in the day’s madcap match
The most spectacular turnaround came from Jan Schmidt. Trailing 5-1 to Cameron Menzies, the German qualifier won five legs in a row to secure a 6-5 victory. The PDC reports that Schmidt himself admitted he didn’t really know what had just happened, before explaining that things had finally fallen into place in the second half of the match.
The answer came on Saturday afternoon: Schmidt beat Mike De Decker 6-5 in the second round. This is no longer only the story of one spectacular comeback, but of a home player able to go again less than twenty-four hours later. On the European Tour, that kind of follow-up matters more than a single flash of form.
Saturday afternoon already cuts down the seeds
The session did more than confirm Schmidt. Dirk van Duijvenbode knocked out Chris Dobey 6-2, Sebastian Bialecki beat Danny Noppert 6-3, and Jermaine Wattimena whitewashed Kim Huybrechts 6-0. Wessel Nijman also moved through quickly, beating Bradley Brooks 6-0.
Put another way: the second round has already thinned the field before the evening session has even started. Damon Heta saw off Rob Owen 6-4, Luke Woodhouse defeated Dragutin Horvat 6-0, and Krzysztof Ratajski ended Max Hopp’s run 6-3. The scoreline says one thing, the momentum tells a little more: several established names never really got into their Saturday.
Hopp knocks out Cross, Cullen takes on Van Gerwen
The crowd at the Ostermann-Arena also saw Max Hopp beat Rob Cross 6-3, with six successful doubles out of ten according to the PDC. This is no minor detail: against a former world champion, accuracy on the doubles often makes the difference between putting up a good fight and securing a genuine victory.
In the other standout match of the evening, Joe Cullen beat Charlie Manby 6-4 despite a series of big checkouts from Manby, including 106, 124, 146 and 164. Cullen therefore earned the right to face Michael van Gerwen in the second round. It’s the sort of fixture that instantly adds excitement to Saturday evening.
| Marker | Key point |
|---|---|
| Jan Schmidt | 6-5 win over Cameron Menzies on Friday, then 6-5 over Mike De Decker on Saturday |
| Niko Springer | 6-2 against Darius Labanauskas with a 105.21 average, then a 6-3 defeat to Gian van Veen despite a strong level |
| Notable Saturday exits | Chris Dobey, Danny Noppert and Kim Huybrechts knocked out in round two |
| Heavy scorelines | Wattimena 6-0 Huybrechts, Nijman 6-0 Brooks, Woodhouse 6-0 Horvat |
The Sunday bracket is now set up
The evening session confirmed several strong angles. Van Gerwen will face Damon Heta, Van Veen will meet Krzysztof Ratajski, Schmidt plays James Wade and Aspinall has Ross Smith in his path. The draw is not settled, but it is clearer: a defending champion in form, a German crowd still involved, and several Dutch players capable of pushing deep.
For Schmidt, the marker remains clear. An opening-round upset makes noise, but a second win over De Decker changes the reading of the weekend. For Aspinall, the message is different: the defending champion does not need long to look dangerous again. Primary source: the official PDC report.
