Menzies sensational in win over Van Barneveld at European Darts Grand Prix

Cameron Menzies delivered a sparkling display on the opening day of the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix, while three former champions crashed out in Sindelfingen.The year's fifth European Tour event began with a bumper day of action at the Glaspalast, as a magnificent Menzies powered to a 6-3 win against a spirited Raymond van Barneveld. The 36-year-old produced a brilliant late flurry to confirm his progress, reeling off legs of 11, 13 and 13 darts to triumph with a 104.5 average and register a fifth straight victory over the Dutch legend. Premier League darts: Latest schedule and results ✅Darts in 2026: Key dates, calendar, results 📅Got Sky? Watch on the Sky Sports app 📱Not got Sky? Get instant access with NOW 📺"I felt tremendous there. I wish I could play like that all the time," quipped Menzies, who faces former European Champion Ross Smith in round two."I think every time I've played Barney I've played out of my skin, so I may not be on his Christmas card list this year! "I love and respect Raymond. He was a hero of mine growing up, but that was arguably my best game this year." Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Van Barneveld wasn't the only former World Champion to bow out in Sindelfingen, as Rob Cross and Peter Wright succumbed to Mickey Mansell and Jeffrey de Zwaan respectively. Also See: Stream Premier League Darts with NOW Premier League Darts schedule and table Latest darts videos and highlights Listen to the Love the Darts podcast Cross - a European Darts Grand Prix champion in 2023 - was beaten 6-2 by a clinical Mansell, who averaged 100.32 to set up a showdown against seventh seed Stephen Bunting.De Zwaan accounted for 2017 winner Wright in a hard-fought encounter, and the Dutchman's reward is a meeting with newly-crowned German Darts Grand Prix champion Nathan Aspinall.2019 champion Ian White also crashed out the Glaspalast, losing 6-2 to European Darts Trophy champion Wessel Nijman, who is eyeing a fifth PDC ranking title of 2026 this weekend.However, a resurgent Kim Huybrechts avoided the same fate as Cross, Wright and White, claiming the scalp of Dirk van Duijvenbode to begin his bid for a second European Darts Grand Prix crown.German star Niko Springer will go head-to-head with defending champion Gary Anderson in one of Saturday's stand-out fixtures, after opening his campaign with a 6-1 thumping of newcomer Robin Masino.Michael Unterbuchner also starred on home soil, landing a hat-trick of ton-plus checkouts during his deciding-leg success against William O'Connor. Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Unterbuchner's second win on the European Tour stage sets up a clash against two-time champion Michael van Gerwen, while Joe Cullen will play top seed Gian van Veen following a routine 6-1 win over Maik Kuivenhoven.Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price will lock horns in another blockbuster tie, after the eight-time European Tour winner closed out a gruelling 6-4 victory against Czechia's Petr Krivka.Keane Barry converted clinical 124 and 130 checkouts to seal a 6-3 success against an in-form Niels Zonneveld, which sets up an enticing clash against Premier League star Josh Rock in round two.Kevin Doets - a semi-finalist in Munich earlier this month - will face Jermaine Wattimena in an all-Dutch affair after fending off a valiant fightback from compatriot Jurjen van der Velde. Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Damon Heta navigated his way through a tough opening assignment against Madars Razma, and German number one Martin Schindler now awaits the Australian on Saturday evening.Nevertheless, there was joy for Razma's World Cup partner Valters Melderis, who edged past Czechia's number one Karel Sedlacek to become the latest Latvian to triumph on the big stage.Sweden's Oskar Lukasiak also advanced in dramatic fashion, relinquishing a 5-1 lead against Daryl Gurney before eventually sealing the win with his tenth match dart.Elsewhere, last year's runner-up Andrew Gilding and Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski completed the round two line-up, after defeating Host Nation duo Paul Krohne and Michael Hurtz respectively.2026 Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix: Results and schedule Friday April 17Round OneAfternoon SessionValters Melderis 6-5 Karel SedlacekWessel Nijman 6-2 Ian WhiteKeane Barry 6-3 Niels ZonneveldKrzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Michael HurtzKevin Doets 6-4 Jurjen van der VeldeAndrew Gilding 6-3 Paul KrohneMickey Mansell 6-2 Rob CrossDave Chisnall 6-4 Petr KrivkaEvening SessionMichael Unterbuchner 6-5 William O'ConnorJoe Cullen 6-1 Maik KuivenhovenJeffrey de Zwaan 6-3 Peter WrightCameron Menzies 6-3 Raymond van BarneveldDamon Heta 6-4 Madars RazmaKim Huybrechts 6-3 Dirk van DuijvenbodeOskar Lukasiak 6-5 Daryl GurneyNiko Springer 6-1 Robin MasinoSaturday April 18Round TwoAfternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)Mike De Decker v Krzysztof RatajskiJermaine Wattimena v Kevin DoetsRyan Searle v Wessel NijmanDanny Noppert v Oskar LukasiakChris Dobey v Andrew GildingGary Anderson v Niko SpringerStephen Bunting v Mickey MansellJosh Rock v Keane BarryEvening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)Ross Smith v Cameron MenziesGerwyn Price v Dave ChisnallNathan Aspinall v Jeffrey de ZwaanJames Wade v Kim HuybrechtsGian van Veen v Joe CullenMichael van Gerwen v Michael UnterbuchnerMartin Schindler v Damon HetaJonny Clayton v Valters MelderisWho will win this year's Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title and you can watch the action every single Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.