Mike De Decker, Kim Huybrechts and Mario Vandenbogaerde were all victorious on home soil on Friday evening, as all three Belgians won their respective ties at the Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy on Friday.
De Decker came out on top in a gritty affair at the Antwerp Xpo, with both players struggling to find form throughout the match.
The Belgian number one sealed the victory with an excellent 84 checkout, which saw the Belgian pin the bullseye to beat Martin Lukeman 6-3 and advance to the second round.
The World Grand Prix Champion, who has hopes to make his second European Tour final of this year in his home country, will now face German number one Martin Schindler in mouth-watering tie on Saturday.
“Every opportunity I got, I took it,” said De Decker.
“I’m really happy with the doubles, but hopefully tomorrow the trebles go a bit better!"
“The crowd in Belgium has been amazing for the last couple of years, and it’s no different this year in Antwerp.
“They have been brilliant and hopefully I’ll see all of them again tomorrow.”
It was joy for another Belgian in the afternoon, as Antwerp-born Kim Huybrechts, who came through the Host Nation Qualifier on Thursday, edged past Lukas Wenig 6-5 in a last-leg decider and will face James Wade in the second round.
“I’ve played in the Premier League, the quarter-finals of a World Championship, and the finals of majors, but I’ve never been so nervous as today,” said Huybrechts.
“This is going to be in the top three of my best moments in life.
“To my hometown, I have to say thank you! They helped me.”
Mario Vandenbogaerde was the third Belgian to advance to the second round, as he triumphed 6-5 over former World Champion Michael Smith. Vandenbogaerde's victory means he sets up a tie with Jonny Clayton tomorrow evening in the final game of the session.
Raymond van Barneveld came back from 2-0 down to knock out Belgian qualifier Xanti van den Bergh 6-3, and will meet Ryan Searle on Saturday.
Dylan Slevin was the second player to topple a Belgian on the opening day, defeating Francois Schweyen 6-3 to set up a clash with World Champion Luke Littler.
Leon Weber saw past Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 despite averaging ten points less than his Dutch opponent. Weber's victory means he will face current Flanders Darts Trophy holder Dave Chisnall.
Gian van Veen hit a 155 checkout on his way to a 6-2 triumph over Adam Gawlas, and will now meet fellow Dutchman Michael van Gerwen in a tasty second round tie.
Ryan Joyce edged past last year’s finalist Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5, and will advance to Sunday’s finals day after receiving a Bye following the news that Gerwyn Price has pulled out with an infected hand.
Karel Sedlacek will play Josh Rock after winning 6-5 and defying a ton-plus average from Wessel Nijman, as the Dutchman was eliminated at the first round of a Euro Tour for just the second time this year.
Luke Woodhouse averaged just shy of 103 in his 6-1 rout of Johan Engstrom, earning his second round tie against Peter Wright.
Christian Kist defeated ProTour regular Cameron Menzies 6-5 earlier in the afternoon. The Dutchman pinned a beautiful 123 checkout in the penultimate leg of the match, as he sealed the victory with a brilliant 13-dart leg to set up a clash against Australian number one Damon Heta.
Krzysztof Ratajski, despite falling to Steve Lennon in the qualifier for this competition, beat the Irishman 6-3, whilst Austrian icon Mensur Suljovic beat Andrew Gilding 6-4, and the pair will play Premier League duo Chris Dobey and Rob Cross respectively.
Live coverage from the Flanders Darts Trophy continues tomorrow afternoon from 1200 BST (1300 CEST), and will be streamed on DAZN for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and through the DAZN Darts channel on Pluto TV.
Coverage will also be shown on PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers' websites worldwide.
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Click here for live scores, match stats & results.
2025 Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy
Friday August 29
First Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Leon Weber 6-5 Jermaine Wattimena
Dylan Slevin 6-3 Francois Schweyen
Luke Woodhouse 6-1 Johan Engstrom
Kim Huybrechts 6-5 Lukas Wenig
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Steve Lennon
Christian Kist 6-5 Cameron Menzies
Mensur Suljovic 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Gian van Veen 6-2 Adam Gawlas
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-5 Michael Smith
Ryan Joyce 6-5 Ricardo Pietreczko
Joe Cullen 6-1 Ian White
Karel Sedlacek 6-5 Wessel Nijman
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2 Jeffrey De Graaf
Daryl Gurney 6-3 Callan Rydz
Mike De Decker 6-3 Martin Lukeman
Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Xanti Van den Bergh
Saturday August 30
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Rob Cross v Mensur Suljovic
Peter Wright v Luke Woodhouse
Dave Chisnall v Leon Weber
Josh Rock v Karel Sedlacek
Damon Heta v Christian Kist
Chris Dobey v Krzysztof Ratajski
Danny Noppert v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
James Wade v Kim Huybrechts
Ryan Searle v Raymond van Barneveld
Ross Smith v Daryl Gurney
Stephen Bunting v Joe Cullen
Luke Littler v Dylan Slevin
Michael van Gerwen v Gian van Veen
Martin Schindler v Mike De Decker
Jonny Clayton v Mario Vandenbogaerde
Gerwyn Price has withdrawn from the Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy this weekend due to an infected hand. As Price withdrew after the tournament had begun, Ryan Joyce will receive a Bye straight into Round Three, whilst Ross Smith now takes on Daryl Gurney in the third match of the evening session on Saturday.