Swiss Darts Trophy begins in Basel with player withdrawals

The Swiss Darts Trophy 2026 is currently underway at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, serving as the penultimate stop of the PDC European Tour season. The tournament features 48 players competing for a £230,000 prize pool.

In early action, Niels Zonneveld was eliminated in the first round after losing 6-4 to Bradley Brooks. Meanwhile, William O'Connor secured a 6-1 victory over Jani Haavisto, though his match was marked by a bizarre moment where he stepped on a large insect that appeared on the dartboard.

The tournament field has seen significant changes due to several high-profile withdrawals. Gerwyn Price, Gary Anderson, Nathan Aspinall, and Ryan Joyce have all pulled out of the event. Anderson's withdrawal specifically impacts his standing in the Players Championship and European Championship qualifications. These absences have allowed Karel Sedlacek, Alan Soutar, Rob Owen, and Nick Kenny to enter the main draw as replacements.

Other notable players participating include Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and defending champion Stephen Bunting. Luke Littler is notably absent from the Basel lineup.