Wessel Nijman produced a stunning performance to defeat Gary Anderson 6-2 in the Poland Darts Open on Saturday afternoon, averaging just over 103 in a dominant display. Anderson, a recent World Championship semi-finalist, took the opening leg with a 14-darter and an 80 checkout, but Nijman responded with three consecutive legs in 13, 12 and 13 darts to surge into a 3-1 lead. Anderson then missed eight darts at a double in leg five, allowing Nijman to break for 4-1, and after a comfortable hold in 14 darts put Nijman on match point, the Dutchman wrapped up the contest in leg eight with another 14-darter to reach the third round.
In another dramatic encounter, Jermaine Wattimena edged out Danny Noppert in a last-leg decider in an all-Dutch clash. Noppert opened with a 13-darter, but Wattimena immediately leveled with a 12-darter. Wattimena broke after Noppert missed five darts at a double, only for Noppert to break straight back for 2-2. Wattimena produced another 12-darter to break again, but Noppert hit back instantly in 12 darts, then held in 14 to lead 4-3. Wattimena leveled in 14 darts, but Noppert fired a brilliant 10-darter to move to match point. Noppert missed his first match dart in leg ten, allowing Wattimena to force a decider, where Noppert squandered two more match darts before Wattimena sealed victory on double 9 with his second dart in hand.
Nathan Aspinall and Cameron Menzies also impressed with victories. Aspinall overcame stern resistance from Darryl Pilgrim, who averaged over 101, with a series of clinical finishes to win 6-3. Menzies delivered one of the standout displays of the session, averaging close to 100 in a dominant 6-0 win over James Wade, who struggled throughout. Elsewhere, Boris Krcmar defeated Germany's Martin Schindler 6-4, Chris Dobey cruised to a 6-0 win over Connor Scutt, Ross Smith brushed aside Daryl Gurney 6-1, and Cristo Reyes continued his flying start to 2026 by defeating recent World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle 6-2 to book his spot in the third round.
