Martin Schindler will begin his defence of the Elten Safety Shoes International Darts Open against Thomas Lovely, with the draw and schedule of play confirmed ahead of this weekend’s tournament.
The third European Tour event of 2025 will see a star-studded 48-player-field battling it out from April 4-6 in Riesa, as German number one Schindler bids to go back-to-back on home soil.
Schindler memorably defeated Gerwyn Price in last year’s showpiece to capture his maiden European Tour title, before going on to double his tally in Basel in the penultimate event of the 2024 season.
Friday’s first round will feature 16 matches across two sessions, and reigning champion Schindler will take centre stage on Day One at the WT Energiesysteme Arena.
Emerging star Niko Springer will also feature on home soil when he plays Dirk van Duijvenbode, while Ricardo Pietreczko plays Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski in a battle of the former European Tour winners.
There will also be four Host Nation Qualifiers in action on Friday’s opening day, with Patrick Klingelhoefer and Paul Goyer up against Dutch stars Raymond van Barneveld and Gian van Veen respectively.
Former Tour Card Holder Daniel Klose faces a tough opener against World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker, while Kevin Knopf meets an in-form Cameron Menzies for a place in round two.
2022/23 World Champion Michael Smith kicks off his campaign against French number one Thibault Tricole, as 2020 International Darts Open winner Joe Cullen and Rob Owen go head-to-head in Friday evening’s finale.
The 16 PDC Order of Merit Qualifiers will enter the fray in Saturday’s second round, as world number one Luke Humphries opens his title bid against either Van Duijvenbode or Springer.
Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen will also be in action in Riesa, and the second seed will play former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding or Ireland’s William O’Connor in his opening tie.
Price – a four-time winner of the International Darts Open – faces a potential second round showdown with De Decker, while Schindler will take on third seed Rob Cross if he overcomes Lovely.
Fifth seed Jonny Clayton has been pitted against Van Barneveld or Klingelhoefer, as 2017 champion Peter Wright prepares to face European Champion Ritchie Edhouse or Czech debutant Petr Krivka.
Ryan Searle and Darius Labanauskas lock horns for the right to play Stephen Bunting, while Dimitri Van den Bergh will aim to end his winless run on the European Tour against Michael Smith or Tricole.
Fresh from his victory in Gottingen, Nathan Aspinall begins his challenge for back-to-back European Tour titles against Cullen or Owen, while Chris Dobey faces an opening assignment against Wessel Nijman or Radek Szaganski.
Luke Woodhouse or Matt Campbell will await sixth seed Dave Chisnall in round two, with Josh Rock and Van Veen poised to renew their rivalry on the European Tour stage.
Following Saturday’s second round, the last 16 will take place on Sunday afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a bumper evening session.
Live coverage from the International Darts Open 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' worldwide.
2025 Elten Safety Shoes International Darts Open
April 4-6, WT Energiesysteme Arena, Riesa
Tournament Draw Bracket - Second Round Onwards
Players seeded based on PDC Order of Merit position
(1) Luke Humphries v Dirk van Duijvenbode/Niko Springer
(16) Ross Smith v Ricardo Pietreczko/Krzysztof Ratajski
(8) Damon Heta v Callan Rydz/Mario Vandenbogaerde
(9) Chris Dobey v Wessel Nijman/Radek Szaganski
(4) Stephen Bunting v Ryan Searle/Darius Labanauskas
(13) James Wade v Cameron Menzies/Kevin Knopf
(5) Jonny Clayton v Raymond van Barneveld/Patrick Klingelhoefer
(12) Danny Noppert v Jermaine Wattimena/Karel Sedlacek
(2) Michael van Gerwen v Andrew Gilding/William O’Connor
(15) Josh Rock v Gian van Veen/Paul Goyer
(7) Gerwyn Price v Mike De Decker/Daniel Klose
(10) Nathan Aspinall v Joe Cullen/Rob Owen
(3) Rob Cross v Martin Schindler/Thomas Lovely
(14) Dimitri Van den Bergh v Michael Smith/Thibault Tricole
(6) Dave Chisnall v Luke Woodhouse/Matt Campbell
(11) Peter Wright v Ritchie Edhouse/Petr Krivka
Schedule of Play
Friday April 4
First Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Wessel Nijman v Radek Szaganski
Callan Rydz v Mario Vandenbogaerde
Ritchie Edhouse v Petr Krivka
Cameron Menzies v Kevin Knopf
Andrew Gilding v William O'Connor
Luke Woodhouse v Matt Campbell
Gian van Veen v Paul Goyer
Ryan Searle v Darius Labanauskas
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Jermaine Wattimena v Karel Sedlacek
Ricardo Pietreczko v Krzysztof Ratajski
Raymond van Barneveld v Patrick Klingelhoefer
Michael Smith v Thibault Tricole
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Niko Springer
Martin Schindler v Thomas Lovely
Mike De Decker v Daniel Klose
Joe Cullen v Rob Owen
Saturday April 5
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
James Wade v Menzies/Knopf
Danny Noppert v Wattimena/Sedlacek
Ross Smith v Pietreczko/Ratajski
Damon Heta v Rydz/Vandenbogaerde
Chris Dobey v Nijman/Szaganski
Stephen Bunting v Searle/Labanauskas
Dave Chisnall v Woodhouse/Campbell
Dimitri Van den Bergh v M Smith/Tricole
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Jonny Clayton v Van Barneveld/Klingelhoefer
Rob Cross v Schindler/Lovely
Gerwyn Price v De Decker/Klose
Luke Humphries v Van Duijvenbode/Springer
Michael van Gerwen v Gilding/O’Connor
Peter Wright v Edhouse/Krivka
Nathan Aspinall v Cullen/Owen
Josh Rock v Van Veen/Goyer
Sunday April 6
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Third Round
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Sunday’s games played in Draw Bracket order
NB: From the original list of entries, Daryl Gurney has withdrawn from the event and has been replaced by Callan Rydz. Reigning World Champion Luke Littler and two-time World Champion Gary Anderson did not enter the International Darts Open.