Home Favourite Suljovic Through as Smith and Van Barneveld Exit Austrian Open

The 2025 Austrian Darts Open served up a dramatic cocktail of jubilation and heartbreak on its opening day in Graz, as home hero Mensur Suljovic delighted the partisan crowd by advancing to the second round. However, the tournament was rocked by the early exits of two of the sport’s biggest names, with Michael Smith and Raymond van Barneveld both crashing out in stunning fashion.

For Suljovic, the win was more than just a victory; it was a statement of intent on familiar soil. For Smith and Van Barneveld, it was a sobering reminder that the depth of talent on the PDC circuit is now deeper than ever. Here’s your complete round-up of a breathless day of tungsten action in Austria.

Suljovic Silences Menzies with Vintage Display

The Steiermarkhalle erupted as Mensur Suljovic walked to the oche, feeding off the energy of a crowd that has supported him through thick and thin. The Austrian legend did not disappoint. Facing a dangerous Cameron Menzies, Suljovic produced a performance that mixed his trademark patience with moments of clinical brilliance.

Menzies, a rising force from Scotland, started strongly, holding his throw with a 96 average in the early exchanges. But Suljovic, known for his unorthodox grip and slow tempo, began to grind down his opponent. The key moment arrived in the seventh leg. With Menzies waiting on 40, Suljovic pinned a sensational 121 checkout (T20, T11, D14) to break the throw. The roof nearly lifted off.

From there, the 48-year-old never looked back. He closed out the match with a 3-1 victory, averaging 94.7 and landing three 180s. The statistics tell only half the story; his ability to force Menzies into rushed doubles was the decisive factor.

• Key Stat: Suljovic hit 45% of his doubles, compared to Menzies’ 28%.
• Moment of the Match: The 121 checkout to break serve in leg seven.
• Next Up: Suljovic will face either Ryan Searle or a qualifier in Saturday’s second round.

“This crowd is my engine,” Suljovic said in his post-match interview. “When I hear them, I feel 10 years younger. I am not finished yet. I want to go deep here. Very deep.”

Michael Smith Stunned by Qualifier’s Brilliance

If Suljovic’s win was the feel-good story of the day, Michael Smith’s exit was the seismic shock. The former World Champion and world number three was expected to cruise through his first-round clash against Dutch qualifier Jitse van der Wal. Instead, Smith produced a performance riddled with uncharacteristic errors.

Van der Wal, playing the match of his life, punished Smith’s profligacy on the doubles. Smith missed seven darts at double in the opening four legs, allowing the Dutchman to steal an early lead. Despite raising his game briefly in the middle of the contest—hitting a 107 finish to level the match at 2-2—Smith’s inconsistency on the outer ring proved fatal.

The deciding leg was a microcosm of the match. Smith, throwing first, had two darts at tops for a 72 checkout. He missed both. Van der Wal stepped in and coolly dispatched double 16 for a 3-2 victory. The result sent shockwaves through the tournament draw.

Expert Analysis: Smith’s doubling percentage of 31% is simply not sustainable at this level. While his scoring power remains elite (he averaged 101.3), the mental lapses on the doubles are a recurring concern. Van der Wal, to his immense credit, held his nerve superbly. This is a career-defining win for the Dutchman, but a massive missed opportunity for Smith to build momentum ahead of the summer majors.

Van Barneveld’s Fairytale Ends Early in Graz

The Austrian Open was supposed to be a happy hunting ground for Raymond van Barneveld. The five-time world champion has a strong following in central Europe and had spoken earlier in the week about feeling “rejuvenated” after a strong run of practice. However, the darting gods had other plans.

Barney faced a tricky test against England’s Ricky Evans, a player known for his blistering speed and unorthodox style. Evans, ranked 42nd in the world, came out firing on all cylinders. He raced into a 2-0 lead with a 101 average, leaving Van Barneveld visibly frustrated on the stage.

The Dutch legend showed his class by clawing back one set, hitting a beautiful bullseye finish to stay alive. But Evans refused to buckle. In the fourth leg, with Barney waiting on 32, Evans produced a stunning 130 checkout (T20, T20, D5) to break the throw and seal a 3-1 victory.

What went wrong for Barney? The stats are revealing. Van Barneveld’s first nine-dart average was a solid 93, but his finishing was pedestrian. He missed five darts at double in the crucial third leg, which would have leveled the match. Evans, by contrast, punished every single chance.

What These Results Mean for the Tournament

The exits of Smith and Van Barneveld have blown the bottom half of the draw wide open. With two of the pre-tournament favorites gone, the path to the final now looks significantly easier for several players. Here’s how the landscape has shifted:

• The Suljovic Factor: The home favorite now has a genuine chance. If he can replicate his first-round form, a deep run to the semi-finals is very realistic. The crowd will carry him.
• The Van der Wal Breakthrough: The Dutch qualifier has just announced himself on the biggest stage. His reward? A second-round clash against a wounded opponent. Momentum is a powerful thing in darts.
• Title Favorites Shift: With Smith out, the mantle of tournament favorite likely falls on players like Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen, who are in the opposite half of the draw. However, they will be wary of the chaos unfolding on the other side.

My Prediction: Don’t be surprised to see Mensur Suljovic in the quarter-finals. His experience, combined with the emotional boost of playing at home, makes him a dangerous proposition for any opponent. For Smith, this is a wake-up call. He needs to rediscover his finishing touch before the World Matchplay, or he risks falling down the rankings.

Looking Ahead: A Weekend of Reckoning

The Austrian Darts Open has already delivered drama, upsets, and a hero’s tale. The tournament is far from over, but the narrative has been rewritten. Friday was a day of reckoning for the established stars and a day of glory for the underdogs.

Mensur Suljovic will walk onto the stage on Saturday with the weight of a nation on his shoulders—and he has never looked more comfortable carrying it. Meanwhile, Michael Smith and Raymond van Barneveld will be left to ponder what might have been, their early exits serving as a stark reminder that in modern darts, reputation counts for nothing.

One thing is certain: the crowd in Graz will be roaring louder than ever. The Austrian Open is alive, and the home favourite is leading the charge.

Stay tuned for our full second-round preview, where we break down every match and provide exclusive betting insights.

Source: Based on news from Sky Sports.

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