Michael van Gerwen reaches last 16 of Slovak Darts Open in Bratislava

Dutch three‑time world champion Michael van Gerwen beat Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski 6‑5 to secure a place in the last‑16 of the 2026 Slovak Darts Open held in Bratislava. After the match he praised the enthusiastic Slovak crowd, saying the atmosphere was “absolutely amazing” and that fans had been waiting for his arrival. Van Gerwen also noted areas for improvement, acknowledging that he failed to turn periods of dominance into a larger scoreboard gap.

The event marked the first major PDC European Tour tournament in Slovakia, drawing a large Dutch contingent – seven Dutch players, including Danny Noppert, Wessel Nijman, Kevin Doets and Jermaine Wattimena, also qualified for the final day. Other top stars such as Nathan Aspinall, Rob Cross, Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price featured, with Aspinall highlighting the “fantastic” audience.

Overall, the tournament showcased growing interest in darts across Central and Eastern Europe, with players and fans alike lauding the venue and the vibrant atmosphere in Bratislava.