As the 2025 Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy reaches its climactic final day at the Antwerp Expo in Belgium, the stage is set for a gripping showdown among some of darts’ biggest names. The tenth event of the PDC European Tour, running from August 29 to 31, has already delivered high-octane action, stunning upsets, and moments of brilliance. With a £175,000 prize fund and £30,000 awaiting the champion, the remaining 16 players are poised to battle for glory in front of a passionate Belgian crowd. Leading the charge are reigning World Champion Luke Littler and the ever-impressive Stephen Bunting, both of whom have dazzled fans with their performances so far.
The tournament has been a rollercoaster of surprises. Saturday’s second round saw several top seeds fall, including three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen, who suffered a shock 6-3 defeat to compatriot Gian van Veen. Defending champion Dave Chisnall also exited early, losing 6-4 to 22-year-old German sensation Leon Weber. Other big names like Peter Wright, Rob Cross, and Raymond van Barneveld were knocked out, thinning the field and opening the door for new contenders. Despite these upsets, Littler and Bunting have emerged as frontrunners, their form suggesting they could dominate Sunday’s proceedings.
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old prodigy nicknamed “The Nuke,” stormed into the last 16 with a commanding 6-0 whitewash over Ireland’s Dylan Slevin. His performance was flawless, hitting all six of his double attempts, a rarity even for a player of his caliber. “When I came up on stage, it just felt like home,” Littler said, reflecting on the warm reception from the Antwerp crowd. “I love coming here. I’m glad to play well tonight and now I can focus on tomorrow.” Littler’s confidence is palpable, and his recent successes—including titles at the World Matchplay and World Series events in Australia and New Zealand—make him a formidable favorite. In the third round, he faces Ryan Searle, a tough opponent he previously defeated at the World Matchplay. A win could set up a quarter-final clash with either Damon Heta or Ryan Joyce, the latter advancing via a bye after Gerwyn Price’s withdrawal due to a hand injury.
Stephen Bunting, known as “The Bullet,” has been equally electrifying. Fresh off a Players Championship win earlier in the week, Bunting demolished Joe Cullen 6-1, averaging an astonishing 107. His precision and composure have marked him as a serious contender, and his next challenge is a tantalizing third-round matchup against Josh Rock, a rising star who edged out Karel Sedlacek in a 6-5 thriller. “The Bullet will face Josh Rock in the last 16 in a mouth-watering tie,” commentators noted, anticipating a clash of styles between Bunting’s clinical finishing and Rock’s aggressive scoring. Bunting’s stellar 2025, which includes two World Series titles, adds weight to his campaign for a first Flanders Darts Trophy crown.
The final day’s schedule is packed with intrigue. The afternoon session, starting at 1:00 p.m. local time, features eight third-round matches, including James Wade versus Leon Weber, who is riding high after his upset over Chisnall. Gian van Veen takes on Martin Schindler in an all-European clash, while Danny Noppert faces home favorite Mario Vandenbogaerde, the only Belgian still in the tournament after a 6-3 win over Jonny Clayton. Other notable matches include Mensur Suljovic against Luke Woodhouse and Krzysztof Ratajski versus Daryl Gurney. The evening session, beginning at 7:00 p.m., will see the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final unfold, with matches escalating to best-of-11, best-of-13, and best-of-15 legs, respectively.
The absence of top seeds like Luke Humphries, Nathan Aspinall, and Gary Anderson, who withdrew before the tournament, has reshuffled the draw, elevating players like Rock, Schindler, and Searle to seeded status. This unpredictability has fueled excitement, with local fans rallying behind Belgian qualifiers like Vandenbogaerde and Kim Huybrechts, the latter of whom fell to Wade but electrified the crowd with his first-round win. As the tournament heads toward its conclusion, all eyes are on Littler and Bunting, but the depth of talent ensures that surprises could still be in store. Will Littler add another title to his burgeoning resume, or can Bunting—or an underdog like Weber or Vandenbogaerde—steal the spotlight? Antwerp is ready for a darting spectacle.
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