Dutch Darts Championship last 16: Van Veen opens Sunday after record-breaking display

Gian van Veen will open the Dutch Darts Championship last 16 against Brendan Dolan on Sunday after producing the highest average in European Tour history.

The Dutchman averaged 120.24 in a 6–0 victory over Sebastian Bialecki, setting an extraordinary standard before a final day that will require the eventual champion to win four matches.

Cristo Reyes completed the last-16 field by beating Chris Dobey 6–2. He faces Wessel Nijman, while Stephen Bunting and Nathan Aspinall meet in the final match of the afternoon session.

Play begins at 12pm UK time on Sunday 18 October, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final following in the evening session from 6pm.

Dutch Darts Championship last-16 order of play

Sunday’s matches follow draw-bracket order. The afternoon session starts at 12pm BST, which is 1pm in Maastricht.

Order	Match
1	Gian van Veen v Brendan Dolan
2	Ryan Searle v Ross Smith
3	William O’Connor v Luke Woodhouse
4	Danny Noppert v Jermaine Wattimena
5	Gerwyn Price v Niels Zonneveld
6	Wessel Nijman v Cristo Reyes
7	Damon Heta v Martin Schindler
8	Stephen Bunting v Nathan Aspinall

The matches run consecutively, so there are no guaranteed individual start times beyond the opening fixture. The schedule remains subject to change.

Van Veen sets the standard, but Sunday starts again

Van Veen’s record average makes his meeting with Dolan essential viewing. However, Saturday’s performance earns him the same starting position as the other 15 survivors: four victories away from the trophy.

Dolan reached this stage by beating Heine Uuldriks 6–4. The winner of their match will face either Ryan Searle or Ross Smith in the quarter-finals.

That makes the opening two matches particularly significant. Van Veen has supplied the weekend’s outstanding individual performance, but the draw immediately places another established contender between him and the semi-finals.

Bunting v Aspinall is our pick of the last 16

Bunting and Aspinall both progressed comfortably on Saturday. Bunting defeated Cameron Menzies 6–2, while Aspinall beat Michael Smith 6–1.

Their meeting offers an immediate test of whether those convincing wins can carry into the final day. With the last 16 played over the best of 11 legs, there is little room to recover from a slow start.

Heta also arrives with a strong result behind him after defeating defending champion Jonny Clayton 6–1. He faces Schindler, with the winner then meeting Bunting or Aspinall in the evening.

O’Connor looks to build on Van Gerwen upset

William O’Connor faces Luke Woodhouse after ending Michael van Gerwen’s tournament in a deciding leg.

Woodhouse, meanwhile, beat Andrew Gilding 6–1. Their quarter-final opponent will come from the all-Dutch meeting between Danny Noppert and Jermaine Wattimena.

Price takes on Zonneveld in the fifth match, with Nijman or Reyes awaiting the winner.

What time are the quarter-finals and final?

Sunday session	UK start time	Rounds
Afternoon	12pm BST	Last 16
Evening	6pm BST	Quarter-finals, semi-finals and final

The quarter-finals are best of 11 legs, the semi-finals best of 13 and the final best of 15. The final follows the earlier evening matches, so its exact start depends on how long they take.

Maastricht is the final European Tour event of 2026, meaning Sunday also concludes the qualification race for the European Championship.

How to watch the Dutch Darts Championship in the UK

UK viewers can stream the tournament through PDCTV, with a subscription required.

For viewers elsewhere, the announced coverage includes Viaplay in the Netherlands, DAZN in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and CANAL+ coverage in Poland. PDCTV’s territorial restrictions apply.

See our Dutch Darts Championship viewing guide for more coverage information, or check the Dave.Sport darts TV guide for the latest listings.

Follow Nine Dart News on X and Facebook for every darts result.