Former world champions Michael Smith and Raymond van Barneveld suffered first-round exits at the Belgian Darts Open, marking a swift decline for the pair. Smith fell 6-3 to Ireland's Mickey Mansell, who secured two ton-plus checkouts, including a flawless 161. Mansell now faces Michael van Gerwen, while Van Barneveld, in his 2026 European Tour debut, lost 6-1 to Boris Krcmar after a goose egg in leg two.

Kim Huybrechts stole the spotlight with a dominant 101.76 average, defeating Niko Springer 6-4. The Belgian veteran praised his preparation with coach Eric Clarys, calling home-crowd energy "amazing." Meanwhile, Andy Baetens stunned Joe Cullen 6-5 despite a 101 average from the former Masters champion, setting up a clash with Stephen Bunting.

Wessel Nijman's bid for back-to-back European titles ended with a 6-3 loss to Sebastian Bialecki. Luke Littler, the reigning champion, advanced after defeating the Croatian Kim Huybrechts in a high-scoring match. Standouts like Dave Chisnall and Ricky Evans also progressed, with Baetens' last-leg thriller against Cullen highlighting the tournament's competitive depth.

With Luke Humphries defending his Premier League title, the Wieze event underscores the sport's evolving landscape. Van Barneveld's early exit and Mansell's explosive performance signal shifting power dynamics, while Huybrechts' form positions him as a title contender. The full 2026 schedule remains packed with high-stakes encounters.