The 2025 Austrian Darts Open, known as the 2025 Elten Safety Shoes Austrian Darts Open for sponsorship reasons, was a professional darts tournament that took place at the Steiermarkhalle in Premstätten, Austria from 25–27 April 2025. It was the fifth of fourteen PDC European Tour events on the 2025 PDC Pro Tour. It featured a field of 48 players and £175,000 in prize money, with £30,000 going to the winner.
| 2025 Elten Safety Shoes Austrian Darts Open | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament information | |||
| Dates | 25–27 April 2025 | ||
| Venue | Steiermarkhalle | ||
| Location | Premstätten, Austria | ||
| Organisation(s) | Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) | ||
| Format | Legs Final – first to 8 legs | ||
| Prize fund | £175,000 | ||
| Winner's share | £30,000 | ||
| High checkout | 170  Daryl Gurney (second round) | ||
| Champion(s) | |||
 Martin Schindler | |||
| |||
Luke Littler won the 2024 edition after beating Joe Cullen 8–4 in the final.[1][2] However, Littler chose not to play in the event, and thus did not defend his title.
Martin Schindler won the title, his third on the European Tour, defeating Ross Smith 8–4 in the final.[3]
Prize money
editThe prize fund remained at £175,000, with £30,000 to the winner:[4]
| Stage (num. of players) | Prize money | |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | (1) | £30,000 |
| Runner-up | (1) | £12,000 |
| Semi-finalists | (2) | £8,500 |
| Quarter-finalists | (4) | £6,000 |
| Third round losers | (8) | £4,000 |
| Second round losers | (16) | £2,500* |
| First round losers | (16) | £1,250* |
| Total | £175,000 | |
- Pre-qualified players from the Orders of Merit who lose in their first match of the event shall not be credited with prize money on any Order of Merit. A player who qualifies as a qualifier, but later becomes a seed due to the withdrawal of one or more other players shall be credited with their prize money on all Orders of Merit regardless of how far they progress in the event.[5]
Qualification and format
editIn a change from the previous year, the top 16 on the two-year main PDC Order of Merit ranking were now seeded and entered the tournament in the second round, while the 16 qualifiers from the one-year PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit ranking entered in the first round.[6][7] The seedings were confirmed on 27 March.[8]
The remaining 16 places will go to players from four qualifying events – 10 from the Tour Card Holder Qualifier (held on 2 April),[9] four from the Host Nation Qualifier (held on 24 April),[10] one from the Nordic & Baltic Associate Member Qualifier (held on 28 March)[11] and one from the East European Associate Member Qualifier (held on 15 February).[12]
Gerwyn Price, James Wade, Dimitri Van den Bergh and Cameron Menzies withdrew and were replaced by Thibault Tricole, Patrick Geeraets, Matthew Dennant and Lukas Wenig. Joe Cullen, Gian van Veen and Daryl Gurney moved up to become the 14th, 15th and 16th seeds respectively.[13]
The following players took part in the tournament:
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Draw
edit| First round (best of 11 legs) 25 April | Second round (best of 11 legs) 26 April | Third round (best of 11 legs) 27 April | Quarter-finals (best of 11 legs) 27 April | Semi-finals (best of 13 legs) 27 April | Final (best of 15 legs) 27 April | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Jermaine Wattimena 92.02 | 6 | 1 |  Jonny Clayton 96.69 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Zoran Lerchbacher 72.87 | 0 | Jermaine Wattimena 98.52 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wattimena 92.65 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Gurney 96.19 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Ritchie Edhouse 84.74 | 3 | 16 | Daryl Gurney 100.13 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mensur Suljović 92.13 | 6 | Mensur Suljović 93.48 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Gurney 89.27 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Rock 95.98 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lukas Wenig 91.85 | 1 | 8 | Danny Noppert 100.63 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Niko Springer 96.25 | 6 | Niko Springer 94.44 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Noppert 92.20 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Rock 100.81 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Krzysztof Ratajski 92.02 | 6 | 9 | Josh Rock 105.11 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mickey Mansell 88.90 | 3 | Krzysztof Ratajski 94.27 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Rock 87.53 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Schindler 90.54 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kevin Doets 95.93 | 6 | 4 | Nathan Aspinall 90.26 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Berry van Peer 89.27 | 3 | Kevin Doets 85.51 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doets 94.01 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Schindler 98.41 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew Dennant 88.87 | 6 | 13 | Martin Schindler 99.36 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rowby-John Rodriguez 79.24 | 2 | Matthew Dennant 96.50 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Schindler 107.78 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Dobey 106.50 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ricardo Pietreczko 89.58 | 6 | 5 | Chris Dobey 105.09 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tom Bissell 87.81 | 3 | Ricardo Pietreczko 84.06 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Dobey 98.09 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nijman 89.40 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wessel Nijman 95.83 | 6 | 12 |  Mike De Decker 102.13 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 William O'Connor 92.11 | 4 | Wessel Nijman 102.64 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Schindler 93.66 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Smith 91.36 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrick Geeraets 88.82 | 5 | 2 | Stephen Bunting 104.54 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Matt Campbell 87.22 | 6 | Matt Campbell 102.42 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Campbell 97.28 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| van Duijvenbode 102.63 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dirk van Duijvenbode 106.18 | 6 | 15 | Gian van Veen 94.25 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 György Jehirszki 76.81 | 1 | Dirk van Duijvenbode 108.66 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| van Duijvenbode 101.89 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Smith 92.26 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luke Woodhouse 86.08 | 6 | 7 |  Peter Wright 89.37 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nathan Rafferty 85.20 | 5 | Luke Woodhouse 81.79 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Wright 93.28 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Smith 93.96 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Andrew Gilding 95.21 | 5 | 10 | Ross Smith 100.44 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Landman 90.93 | 6 | Chris Landman 83.05 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Smith 91.93 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joyce 87.13 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Raymond van Barneveld 83.55 | 2 | 3 |  Damon Heta 94.27 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Karel Sedláček 92.16 | 6 | Karel Sedláček 93.66 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Heta 100.20 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Cullen 89.05 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Thibault Tricole 96.96 | 6 | 14 | Joe Cullen 77.13 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christian Gödl 88.48 | 3 | Thibault Tricole 70.23 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Heta 90.58 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joyce 97.59 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Madars Razma 97.52 | 5 | 6 | Dave Chisnall 94.14 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ian White 96.97 | 6 | Ian White 91.71 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Chisnall 96.64 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joyce 95.53 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ryan Joyce 92.77 | 6 | 11 | Ryan Searle 92.11 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Teemu Harju 90.57 | 4 | Ryan Joyce 102.03 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Austrian Darts Open: 'Generational talent' Luke Littler claims second European Tour title after beating Joe Cullen". Sky Sports. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "'Generational talent' Littler wins Austrian Open". BBC Sport. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ "Schindler claims third Euro Tour title in Graz". Professional Darts Corporation. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ Gill, Samuel (25 April 2025). "Prize money Austrian Darts Open 2025: what's at stake in Graz?". Darts News. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "PDC Order of Merit Rules | 2025 PDC Order of Merit Rules, as at January 13 2025". PDC.
- ^ Shaw, Jamie (13 January 2025). "PDC confirm further controversial changes to European Tour criteria in 2025". Live Darts. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ Gill, Samuel (13 January 2025). "PDC European Tour rules change again in controversial move seeming to protect big names". Darts News. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ Gorton, Josh (27 March 2025). "2025 ET5-6 Seeds & Tour Card Holder qualifier entries confirmed". Professional Darts Corporation. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
- ^ "PDC ET05 Tour Card Holder Qualifier". DartConnect. 2 April 2025.
- ^ "PDC ET05 Host Nation Qualifier". DartConnect. 24 April 2025.
- ^ "PDCNB 2025 Tour ET5 Qualifier Final". Dart Connect. 28 March 2025.
- ^ "PDC ET05 E. Europe Qualifier". DartConnect. 15 February 2025.
- ^ "2025 Elten Safety Shoes Austrian Darts Open draw & schedule". Professional Darts Corporation. 24 April 2025.