Michael van Gerwen produced a champion's performance to fend off a brilliant Daryl Gurney in a last-leg decider at the Belgian Darts Open in Wieze. On his 40th birthday, Gurney averaged a staggering 109.73, but van Gerwen matched him with a phenomenal display, averaging 108.65 to win 6-5. The Dutchman missed a dart to break on double five early, but responded with an 82 checkout in three darts. Gurney missed double 18 for a 156, which van Gerwen punished with a clutch 129 checkout on the bull. Despite Gurney firing in a 12-darter and a 122 checkout, van Gerwen moved 5-4 ahead and sealed victory with a 12-dart leg after going seven darts into a perfect leg. Van Gerwen is now the only former champion left in the tournament.
Earlier, Luke Littler's run was obliterated by a world-class performance from Niels Zonneveld, who won 6-5 in a dramatic contest. Littler, averaging 105, missed a bull for a 170 checkout in the opening leg but broke throw, only for Zonneveld to break straight back. The world number one held with a 122 on tops, but Zonneveld broke back on double 10 after surviving a 160 checkout scare. Zonneveld missed a brace of darts to go 5-3 ahead, but took out 146 on double 13 to move one leg away. He then missed a match dart on 158 and two more, allowing Littler to force a decider with a 136 checkout. Zonneveld finally sealed the win with a 147 checkout on double 18. Zonneveld averaged 101.58 to Littler's 103.2.
Luke Humphries flexed his muscles with a 6-1 demolition of Jermaine Wattimena, winning six legs on the spin after an early exchange. Jonny Clayton recovered from 3-2 down to edge Ross Smith 6-5, breaking with an 84 outshot and surviving a missed match dart at double 12 for a 141 before eventually booking his quarter-final spot. Home favourite Andy Baetens, who does not have a tour card, continued his brilliant run with a 6-5 win over Martin Schindler, taking out 104 on tops and sealing victory with his seventh match dart. However, Kim Huybrechts fell 6-2 to Chris Dobey, who checked out 130 on the bull and 118 on double 19.
Danny Noppert salvaged a 6-5 win from a perilous situation against Ryan Searle, who averaged over 101 and threw six 180s. Noppert took out 81 in two darts in the decider after Searle missed a 121 checkout. The afternoon session concluded with Ryan Joyce beating Cristo Reyes 6-5, finishing with a 102 checkout on double 16 in the decider after Reyes had fought back from 3-0 down. The session featured six matches that went to an 11th leg, highlighting the thrilling drama in Wieze.
