The Antwerp Expo buzzed with drama on Saturday, August 30, 2025, as the second day of the Flanders Darts Trophy, the tenth PDC European Tour event of the season, delivered stunning upsets and electrifying performances. Teenage sensation Luke Littler, fresh off emergency dental surgery, powered through pain to deliver a 6-0 whitewash over Ireland’s Dylan Slevin, while Michael van Gerwen suffered a shock 6-3 defeat to compatriot Gian van Veen. Stephen Bunting, meanwhile, stole the show with a scintillating 6-1 rout of Joe Cullen, averaging over 107, as the tournament’s £175,000 prize fund fueled intense competition.
Littler, the 18-year-old reigning PDC World Champion, arrived in Belgium nursing the aftereffects of a tooth extraction performed just two days prior in Manchester. “In pain for hours and hours, so had to get tooth out,” Littler shared on Instagram, describing the ordeal that left him “in shock and shaken.” Yet, the world No. 2 showed no signs of faltering in his second-round match against Slevin, who had earned his spot with a 6-3 win over Belgian qualifier François Schweyen. Littler’s performance was a masterclass, hitting 100% of his doubles and four 180s to secure a shutout victory in under 15 minutes. “When I came up on stage, it just felt like home,” he said post-match, reflecting on his love for Belgium, where he won the 2024 and 2025 Belgian Darts Open titles. “I’m glad to play well tonight and now I can focus on tomorrow,” he added, eyeing a third-round clash with Ryan Searle on Sunday.
The tournament took a dramatic turn with the elimination of Michael van Gerwen, the third seed and seven-time European Tour winner. Facing 22-year-old Gian van Veen, Van Gerwen struggled to find his rhythm, managing only one 180 as his younger compatriot unleashed four maximums and a 97.98 average to claim a 6-3 upset. The defeat marked another blow for the Dutch legend, whose 2025 season has been inconsistent despite his pedigree. Elsewhere, defending champion Dave Chisnall, who won the inaugural Flanders title in 2024, fell 6-4 to Germany’s Leon Weber, while Rob Cross and Peter Wright also exited early, stunned by Mensur Suljović and Gabriel Clemens, respectively.
Stephen Bunting emerged as a standout, demolishing Joe Cullen with a 107.32 average, the highest of the day. His six 180s and clinical finishing left Cullen reeling, signaling Bunting’s intent to claim his first European Tour title since 2014. “I’m playing with a lot of confidence,” Bunting said, crediting his recent World Grand Prix run for his form. Local heroes kept the Belgian crowd roaring, with Mario Vandenbogaerde upsetting Michael Smith 6-5 and Mike De Decker advancing past Ryan Meikle. Kim Huybrechts, fueled by home support, edged Lukas Wenig 6-5, calling it “one of the top three moments of my life.”
Littler’s path to the £30,000 top prize remains fraught with challenges. His third-round opponent, Searle, rallied from a 4-1 deficit to defeat Raymond van Barneveld 6-5, setting up a rematch of Littler’s 10-2 World Matchplay thrashing in July. A potential quarter-final against Damon Heta or Ryan Joyce looms, with Josh Rock, Martin Schindler, and Bunting also in contention. The absence of Luke Humphries, Nathan Aspinall, and Gary Anderson, who withdrew before the event, has opened the door for new faces, but Littler remains the bookmakers’ favorite, with experts noting his “unstoppable” scoring power.
Littler’s 2025 season has been a whirlwind, with the World Championship, World Matchplay, and World Series titles in Australia and New Zealand cementing his status as a generational talent. His record-breaking 140.91 set average against Meikle at the World Championship and 76 maximums earned him the Ballon d’Art trophy, showcasing his flair. Despite the dental setback, Littler’s Antwerp performance reaffirmed his resilience. “Everyone knows I love Belgium and hopefully I can play my best darts,” he said, echoing the sentiment that has made him a fan favorite. As Sunday’s third round, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final unfold in best-of-11, 13, and 15-leg formats, Littler’s quest for another title promises to keep the darts world on edge.
Leave a Reply