Antwerp Field Thins as Top Names Withdraw
The field for this weekend’s Flanders Darts Trophy has been significantly altered following the withdrawal of four big names, including two-time world champion Luke Littler. The event in Antwerp will also proceed without any home nation representation after both Dimitri Van den Bergh and Mike De Decker failed to navigate the qualifiers. For De Decker, the failure to appear at a home tournament could result in a considerable drop in the world rankings.
The tournament does, however, feature a notable first-round clash between Beau Greaves and Damon Heta. Greaves has previously made her mark on the European Tour, becoming the first woman to win a match on the circuit with a 6-4 victory over Daryl Gurney in Prague.
These absences contribute to what has already been a remarkably unpredictable season on the continent. After twelve of the fifteen European Tour events in 2026, nine different players have already lifted a title. Luke Littler, Wessel Nijman and Ross Smith lead the way with two wins apiece, while Luke Humphries, Nathan Aspinall, Gerwyn Price, Josh Rock, Luke Woodhouse and Krzysztof Ratajski each have one. With three tournaments remaining, the open nature of the draw in Flanders presents an interesting picture for those following the latest darts betting markets.
Bunting Releases ‘Bulletproof’ Autobiography
Stephen Bunting has released his new autobiography, Bulletproof, detailing his life and career in the sport. The book, which took around eighteen months to complete, arrives at a time when the 41-year-old enjoys considerable popularity on the circuit, with his ‘Bunting Mental’ persona and walk-on to David Guetta’s ‘Titanium’ having become fan favourites.
Bunting, a former world number four in the PDC, is of course one of a select group of BDO World Champions to have found success after moving organisation. The book is said to explore his unique journey in darts, including the less public side of his professional life and the toll of facing abuse.
In Brief
- A new Netflix programme is reportedly offering amateur darters the chance to win £501,000 by beating Luke Littler in a single leg of 501. Dutch radio DJ Dylan Boet revealed he was invited to audition in England for the show but ultimately declined the opportunity.
- Two-time PDC World Champion Adrian Lewis hit a nine-dart finish while using a set of darts belonging to a fellow professional.
- In the MODUS Super Series, recent group winners included Van den Herik and Mawson, who both produced strong displays to top their respective tables.
