Austrian Darts Open 2025: No Littler, No Problem? The Showdown in Graz Begins

By Lewis Barnett 25 April, 2025 5 mins read 77 Views

I spent 45 minutes yesterday trying to explain to my girlfriend why I'm clearing my weekend schedule for the Austrian Darts Open. She just stared at me like I'd grown a second head. Whatever. Some people just don't get the beautiful tension of professional darts.

The Austrian Open kicks off today in Graz, and one thing's for damn sure – we're getting a fresh face lifting that trophy on Sunday. Last year's champ Luke Littler (that teenage dart-throwing machine who made me question all my life choices) has decided to skip defending his title. Can't really blame the kid... his schedule these days makes mine look like a retirement plan.

Remember when he demolished Joe Cullen 8-4 in last year's final? I had twenty quid on Cullen that day. Still bitter about it.

The Big Names Taking a Pass (and why that matters)

It's not just Littler giving Graz the cold shoulder. Luke Humphries, MVG, and Gerwyn Price are all sitting this one out too. That's basically like having a major tennis tournament without Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner all at once.

This absence of heavy hitters opens the door WIDE for Premier League regulars like Stephen Bunting, Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall. My buddy Tom (who follows the circuit religiously) texted me last night: "Bunting's gonna feast on this field." Harsh but probably accurate.

Wait... when is this happening again?

The tournament runs from today (Friday, April 25) through Sunday (April 27) at the Premstattner Halle. That's three straight days of arrows flying at treble 20s while I ignore all my weekend responsibilities.

God. I promised my mother-in-law I'd help her move some furniture on Saturday. That conversation's gonna be fun.

How to Actually Watch This Thing

Here's teh annoying part – UK viewers won't find this on regular TV. You'll need a PDCTV subscription, which I finally broke down and purchased last month after years of hunting for sketchy streams that buffer every 30 seconds.

A yearly subscription runs £49.99, but if you're just dart-curious, you can grab a three-day pass for £4.99. Worth it to see who capitalizes on the weakened field.

Or just follow The Sun's live blog. They do leg-by-leg coverage that's surprisingly decent when you're stuck in a work meeting and can't watch.

The Schedule (or "How I Explain My Disappearance to Friends")

First round kicks off today with afternoon (12pm BST) and evening (6pm BST) sessions. Sixteen matches of first-round action, all best of 11 legs.

Saturday brings the second round – another 16 matches split between afternoon and evening. This is where the seeded players enter the fray.

Sunday is when things get serious. Afternoon session gives us the third round, then the evening brings quarterfinals, semis, and the grand finale (best of 15 legs).

I've already warned my wife I'll be functionally unavailable on Sunday evening. She rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck.

Players to watch (if you're smart)

With the big dogs out, I'm keeping my eyes on Bunting. The man's been throwing heat lately, and this field looks ripe for him to pluck. Aspinall and Clayton could make serious runs too.

Don't sleep on Peter Wright either. Sure, Snakebite's form has been about as consistent as British weather in April, but these smaller events sometimes spark something in him.

And I've got a weird feeling about Barney. Raymond van Barneveld facing Karel Sedlacek in round one could be the start of an unexpected run. Just a hunch from someone who's watched way too many hours of darts.

Back in 2019, I drove 3 hours to see Barney play an exhibition match at a dingy pub in Manchester. Worth every minute of that traffic nightmare.

Who's your money on? I've put a fiver on Bunting at 8-1. Not life-changing odds, but enough to make Sunday interesting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I practice darts effectively if I'm playing alone?

Solo practice doesn't have to be boring—in fact, it's often more productive than casual games with friends. The key is having structured practice routines that target specific skills rather than just throwing randomly at the board.

What's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

What weight darts should beginners use?

For beginners, I generally recommend starting with medium-weight darts between 21-24 grams. This range offers enough heft to fly straight without requiring too much force, but isn't so heavy that it becomes tiring during longer practice sessions.

How do I improve my dart throwing technique?

Improving your dart technique comes down to consistency and deliberate practice. First, establish a comfortable stance—feet shoulder-width apart, with your dominant foot slightly forward. Your weight should be balanced and stable, not leaning forward or back.

My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?

Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.

I keep hitting 5s and 1s when aiming for 20s. How do I fix this?

This is probably the most common frustration in darts—those dreaded 5s and 1s when you're aiming for the 20 segment! The good news is that this specific problem usually stems from a few identifiable issues.

Statistics

The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
Phil Taylor has hit a record 22 televised nine-dart finishes throughout his professional career.
A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.

External Links

How To

Taking Your Game Public

Playing at home is one thing; throwing in a crowded, noisy bar is another beast entirely. My first league night was a disaster—I couldn't focus with people walking behind me and the pressure of teammates watching. Now I wear headphones with low music between throws and have a specific pre-throw routine to center myself.