Photo: Mads Magnussen/PDC Nordic & Baltic
Danish Darts Open starts today and as host nation, the PDC Nordic & Baltic will be represented by five players.
Troughout the entire season, the PDC Nordic & Baltic have one spot at every Europe Tour-event. This time, however, we have five spots, as we are the host nation.
But none of the five will be in action in the first match. The first match will be between Luke Woodhouse and World Cup-finalist William O’Connor.
After this we will also see Nathan Aspinall and Kyle Anderson in action. They will play against Mick Todd and Mike De Decker respectively.
But then we will have the first player from the PDC Nordic & Baltic region, as the Danish favorite Per ‘Peachie’ Laursen will go up against Reece Robinson.
“I hope it will be even better tomorrow (Friday). That I would love. That would be great,” Per Laursen said after the qualification-tournament, in which he averaged a little over 80.
“I don’t know Reece Robinson, but I hope he is good, so I have to step up.”
Afterwards we have another player from the PDCNB region, as Teuvo Haverinen will take the stage against Cody Harris. The first ever Europe Tour-event for the both of them.
The afternoon will be shut down with an all-Polish match, as Krzysztof Kciuk will go up against Krzysztof Ratajski.
The evening session starts with Kim Viljanen, who will take on young Martin Schindler.
“Not the worst draw, but Martin is a good player and is able to play on a high level. He has been playing really well the last couple of years and is a steady player. But if I can perform on my own level I think I can challenge him,” Kim Viljanen told pdc-nordic.tv
“I think my form is quite good at the moment. It’s only a week ago I played at the World Cup of Darts where we were playing quite okay, but unfortunately still lost to Australia.”
Glen Durrant will then go up against Kevin Burness, before Danish Niels-Jørgen Hansen will take on Ryan Harrington in his first ever match on a PDC-stage.
“It’s huge. This is what I have been playing for in the last two or three years. That is why I went for Q-School and now play on the Challenge Tour,” Niels-Jørgen Hansen said just after he had qualified.
“I hope to win, but I expect, that I at least makes a good performance.”
The afternoon also offers names as Steve West, who will face Chris Dobey, Mervyn King, Vincent van der Voort and Michael Smith. Michael Smith will go up against Steve Beaton.
In the last match of the evening, we will see the last PDCNB-player, as Dennis Nilsson will take on Steve Lennon.
“It will be a tough first match. I have to be focused from my first darts and I will try with all I have to win. Steve played in the final at the World Cup and played really well. But I know I am in a good shape, so I have a good chance,” Dennis Nilsson told pdc-nordic.tv.
“My confidence is good and I look forward to the match.”
The program starts at one o’clock, and the matches can be streamed at PDC.tv. You can get an overview of the program below:
First Round
Afternoon Session (13.00)
Luke Woodhouse v William O’Connor
Mick Todd v Nathan Aspinall
Mike De Decker v Kyle Anderson
Per Laursen v Reece Robinson
Cody Harris v Teuvo Haverinen
Jose De Sousa v Scott Taylor
Jose Justicia v Ryan Joyce
Krzysztof Kciuk v Krzysztof Ratajski
Evening Session (19.15)
Kim Viljanen v Martin Schindler
Glen Durrant v Kevin Burness
Niels-Jørgen Hansen v Ryan Harrington
Steve West v Chris Dobey
Gabriel Clemens v Mervyn King
Kirk Shepherd v Vincent van der Voort
Steve Beaton v Michael Smith
Dennis Nilsson v Steve Lennon