2023 Belgian Darts Open

2023 edition of Belgian Darts OpenTemplate:SHORTDESC:2023 edition of Belgian Darts Open

Darts tournamentTemplate:SHORTDESC:Darts tournament
The **2023 Blåkläder Belgian Darts Open** was the seventh of thirteen PDC European Tour events on the 2023 PDC Pro Tour. The tournament took place at the Oktoberhallen, Wieze, Belgium from 5–7 May 2023. It will feature a field of 48 players and £175,000 in prize money, with £30,000 going to the winner.

The defending champion was Dave Chisnall, who defeated Andrew Gilding 8–6 in the 2022 final, but he was defeated 6–4 to Josh Rock in the third round.

Michael van Gerwen won his first European Tour title of 2023 by defeating Luke Humphries 8–6 in the final.

## Prize money

The prize money was increased for the first time in 4 years for all European Tours, with the prize fund increasing to £175,000, with £30,000 to the winner:

* Seeded players who lose in the second round 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.

## Qualification and format

The top 16 entrants from the PDC ProTour Order of Merit on 9 March automatically qualified for the event and were seeded in the second round.

The remaining 32 places went to players from six qualifying events – 24 from the Tour Card Holder Qualifier (held on 21 March), two from the Associate Member Qualifier (held on 29 March), the two highest ranked Belgians automatically qualified, alongside two from the Host Nation Qualifier (held on 4 May), one from the Nordic & Baltic Associate Member Qualifier (held on 14 April), and one from the East European Associate Member Qualifier (held on 15 April).

On 4 May, it was announced that Cameron Menzies had withdrawn due to injury, and was replaced by Gabriel Clemens, who was top of the Reserve List Qualifiers.

The following players took part in the tournament:

2. Dave Chisnall  *(Third round)*
3. **Michael van Gerwen**  **(Champion)**
4. Damon Heta  *(Third round)*
5. Dirk van Duijvenbode  *(Quarter-finals)*
6. Rob Cross  *(Third round)*
7. Michael Smith  *(Quarter-finals)*
8. Nathan Aspinall  *(Quarter-finals)*
9. Danny Noppert  *(Third round)*
10. Peter Wright  *(Second round)*
11. Ryan Searle  *(Second round)*
12. Joe Cullen  *(Second round)*
13. Jonny Clayton  *(Quarter-finals)*
14. Martin Schindler  *(Third round)*
15. Josh Rock  *(Semi-finals)*
16. Andrew Gilding  *(Second round)*
* Krzysztof Ratajski  *(First round)*
* Bradley Brooks  *(Second round)*
* José de Sousa  *(Second round)*
* Jeff Smith  *(First round)*
* Daryl Gurney  *(Second round)*
* Ricky Evans  *(Second round)*
* Jermaine Wattimena  *(First round)*
* Ross Smith  *(First round)*
* Gary Anderson  *(Quarter-finals)*
* Robert Owen  *(First round)*
* Dylan Slevin  *(First round)*
* Graham Usher  *(First round)*
* Richard Veenstra  *(First round)*
* James Wade  *(First round)*
* Keane Barry  *(Second round)*
* Ian White  *(First round)*
* Damian Mol  *(Second round)*
* Callan Rydz  *(First round)*
* Raymond van Barneveld  *(Second round)*
* Chris Dobey  *(Second round)*
* Matt Campbell  *(Third round)*
* Martijn Kleermaker  *(Second round)*
* Ted Evetts  *(Second round)*
* Stefan Bellmont  *(Second round)*
* Sven Hilling  *(First round)*

**Highest Ranking Belgians**
* Dimitri Van den Bergh  *(Second round)*
* Kim Huybrechts  *(First round)*

**Host Nation Qualifier**
* François Schweyen  *(First round)*
* Andy Baetens  *(Third round)*

**Nordic & Baltic Qualifier**
* Dennis Nilsson  *(First round)*

**East European Qualifier**
* Dalibor Šmolík  *(First round)*

**Reserve List Qualifier**
* Gabriel Clemens  *(Third round)*

## Draw

The draw and schedule were revealed on 4 May.

## References

1. ↑ Nine-dart Chisnall ends title drought at Belgian Darts Open. PDC.
2. ↑ Van Gerwen ends title drought with Blåkläder Belgian Darts Open success (en). PDC (7 May 2023).
3. ↑ Cazoo UK Open & European Tour prize fund increases announced.
4. ↑ PDC Order of Merit Rules | PDC.
5. ↑ Players Championships 7-8 entries and & ET7-8 seeds confirmed.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 2023 Blåkläder Belgian Darts Open draw & schedule.