European Darts Open fixtures and more as Luke Littler pulls out of tournament

THE Professional Darts Corporation have confirmed that Luke Littler has pulled out of this weekend’s European Open in Germany.

Warrington’s 17-year-old darting sensation, the winner of six titles in six months after his stunning run in the World Darts Championships over the last festive period, is one of five throwers from the original list of entries to have withdrawn.

Littler, who won the Poland Masters last weekend, Gary Anderson, Nathan Aspinall, Jonny Clayton and Ryan Joyce will no longer feature in Leverkusen and have been replaced by Ritchie Edhouse, Kevin Doets, Dylan Slevin, Jamie Hughes and Ryan Meikle from the reserve List, with Gian van Veen replacing Anderson as a seed.

Gerwyn Price will begin his defence of the NEO.bet European Darts Open against Gabriel Clemens or Dirk van Duijvenbode, with the draw and schedule for this weekend's event now confirmed.

The Ostermann-Arena will play host to the year's eighth PDC European Tour event from June 21-23, as 48 players battle it out for the £30,000 top prize.

Reigning champion Price could kick off his campaign against Van Duijvenbode in a repeat of last year's final, with world number one Luke Humphries and three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen also in action this weekend.

Friday's first round - which will be broadcast through PDCTV, Viaplay and DAZN - will feature 16 matches across two sessions, as German World Cup star Clemens takes on 2023 runner-up Van Duijvenbode in his opener.

2023 World Champion Michael Smith will play ten-time TV title winner James Wade in another blockbuster tussle, while five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld meets Poland's number one Krzysztof Ratajski.

UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh - a European Darts Open runner-up in 2022 - plays Ryan Meikle for a place in Saturday's second round, with 2023 UK Open champion Andrew Gilding up against in-form Swedish star Jeffrey de Graaf.

Former Masters champion Joe Cullen has been pitted against emerging youngster Owen Bates, Daryl Gurney faces Finland's Marko Kantele, while Mike De Decker and Luke Woodhouse collide in a crucial clash in the race for World Matchplay qualification.

The 16 seeded players will then enter the fray in Saturday's second round, as Price begins his title defence against home favourite Clemens or Van Duijvenbode.

Top seed Humphries will play 2012 champion Van Barneveld or Ratajski in his opener, while Van Gerwen opens his bid for a record-extending sixth European Darts Open crown against Jamie Hughes or Dylan Slevin.

Second seed Dave Chisnall has been pitted against De Decker or Woodhouse for a place in the last 16, while 2018 World Champion Rob Cross meets either Smith or Wade in a bumper second round tie.

Josh Rock - a winner at last month's Dutch Darts Championship - begins his bid for a second consecutive European Tour title against Meikle or Van den Bergh, as third seed Damon Heta faces either Radek Szaganski or Dom Taylor.

Germany's number one Martin Schindler gets his campaign underway against Karel Sedlacek or Matthew Dennant, with two-time European Darts Open champion Peter Wright up against Ritchie Edhouse or Jan Dueckers in round two.

Following Saturday's second round, the last 16 will take place on Sunday afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a bumper evening session.

Live coverage of all 2024 European Tour events will be streamed through Viaplay, and through DAZN for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Coverage will also be shown on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers' worldwide.

2024 NEO.bet European Darts Open

Ostermann-Arena, Leverkusen, June 21-23

Tournament Draw Bracket - Second Round Onwards

(6) Danny Noppert v Owen Bates/Joe Cullen

(11) Stephen Bunting v Benjamin Pratnemer/Kevin Troppmann

(3) Damon Heta v Radek Szaganski/Dom Taylor

(14) Chris Dobey v Jeffrey de Graaf/Andrew Gilding

(7) Michael van Gerwen v Jamie Hughes/Dylan Slevin

(10) Ryan Searle v Marko Kantele/Daryl Gurney

(2) Dave Chisnall v Mike De Decker/Luke Woodhouse

(15) Ricardo Pietreczko v Nico Blum/Kevin Doets

(5) Gerwyn Price v Gabriel Clemens/Dirk van Duijvenbode

(12) Martin Schindler v Karel Sedlacek/Matthew Dennant

(4) Rob Cross v Michael Smith/James Wade

(13) Peter Wright v Ritchie Edhouse/Jan Dueckers

(8) Josh Rock v Ryan Meikle/Dimitri Van den Bergh

(9) Ross Smith v Nico Kurz/Callan Rydz

(1) Luke Humphries v Raymond van Barneveld/Krzysztof Ratajski

(16) Gian van Veen v Andy Baetens/Nathan Rafferty

European Darts Open 2024 Schedule of Play

Friday June 21

First Round

Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)

Radek Szaganski v Dom Taylor

Karel Sedlacek v Matthew Dennant

Jamie Hughes v Dylan Slevin

Nico Blum v Kevin Doets

Ritchie Edhouse v Jan Dueckers

Jeffrey de Graaf v Andrew Gilding

Andy Baetens v Nathan Rafferty

Marko Kantele v Daryl Gurney

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)

Benjamin Pratnemer v Kevin Troppmann

Nico Kurz v Callan Rydz

Owen Bates v Joe Cullen

Raymond van Barneveld v Krzysztof Ratajski

Michael Smith v James Wade

Mike De Decker v Luke Woodhouse

Gabriel Clemens v Dirk van Duijvenbode

Ryan Meikle v Dimitri Van den Bergh

Saturday June 22

Second Round

Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)

Gian van Veen v Baetens/Rafferty

Stephen Bunting v Pratnemer/Troppmann

Damon Heta v Szaganski/D Taylor

Ryan Searle v Kantele/Gurney

Chris Dobey v De Graaf/Gilding

Dave Chisnall v De Decker/Woodhouse

Ross Smith v Kurz/Rydz

Ricardo Pietreczko v Blum/Doets

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)

Danny Noppert v Bates/Cullen

Rob Cross v M Smith/Wade

Gerwyn Price v Clemens/Van Duijvenbode

Michael van Gerwen v Hughes/Slevin

Martin Schindler v Sedlacek/Dennant

Luke Humphries v Van Barneveld/Ratajski

Peter Wright v Edhouse/Dueckers

Josh Rock v Meikle/Van den Bergh

Sunday June 23

Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)

Third Round

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Final