Kim Huybrechts, long accustomed to the glare of expectation on home soil, produced the performance of the day in Wieze, dispatching Germany’s Niko Springer 6-4 with a polished average north of 101.
Roared on by a partisan crowd inside the Oktoberhallen, Huybrechts delivered with the sort of conviction that has too often eluded him in recent seasons.
“This is what you play darts for,” reflected Belgium’s former World Cup finalist, who will go head-to-head with Josh Rock in round two.
“The feeling you get when you play in front of your home crowd, and you win -- this is amazing.
“I’m feeling really good lately. I’m working very hard on my game with Eric (Clarys), and you have to work hard to be at the top level.”
Andy Baetens ensured Belgian supporters had further cause for celebration, prevailing in a high-quality contest against Joe Cullen.
The Englishman averaged 101 but still fell short, edged out in a deciding leg as Baetens held his nerve.
The reward is a formidable assignment against fifth seed Stephen Bunting, though on this evidence, he will not be easily brushed aside.
Big names fall
Cullen’s exit was one of several notable departures, with the Netherlands’ Raymond van Barneveld enduring a particularly chastening start to his European Tour campaign.
The five-time world champion was dismantled 6-1 by Croatia’s Boris Krcmar.
Krcmar’s finishing, including checkouts of 116 and 121, sets up an eye-catching clash with Luke Littler, one of several elite names entering the tournament at the second-round stage.
Elsewhere, Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki produced one of the more quietly impressive performances of the day, ending Wessel Nijman’s hopes of consecutive European Tour titles. Averaging just shy of 100, Bialecki now faces Welshman Jonny Clayton, the Premier League table-topper, in what promises to be a tougher test.
Mickey Mansell delivered a pair of ton-plus finishes, including a superb 161, in a 6-3 victory over Michael Smith. Mansell’s reward is a daunting encounter with Michael van Gerwen.
There was further progress for Spain’s Cristo Reyes, whose 160 checkout proved decisive in a 6-4 win over Krzysztof Ratajski, as Dutchman Niels Zonneveld continued his solid form with a ton-plus average against Jani Haavisto to book a meeting with Belgium’s Mike De Decker.
Dirk van Duijvenbode ensured a renewal of his increasingly familiar rivalry with world number two Luke Humphries, seeing off Lukas Wenig 6-3, while Dave Chisnall swept past France’s Thibault Tricole with a five-leg burst to seal a 6-2 victory.
Chisnall will meet Chris Dobey for a place in the last 16.
Ricky Evans matched that scoreline against Scott Williams and will face Ryan Searle, as Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney brushed aside Ian White to set up a clash with Australia’s Damon Heta.
Ryan Joyce also progressed, overcoming Adam Gawlas to arrange a repeat of last year’s European Darts Trophy final against Nathan Aspinall -- a fixture that should carry more weight than its scheduling might suggest.
There was no such joy for Belgium’s other representatives; Pascal Devroey and Francois Schweyen both exited at the first hurdle, leaving Huybrechts and Baetens to carry local hopes into the weekend.
Ireland’s William O’Connor and Scotland’s Cameron Menzies completed the second-round line-up with emphatic 6-1 victories. O’Connor now faces Germany’s Martin Schindler, while Menzies meets Ross Smith in the opening match of Saturday’s session.
Results
Afternoon session
Niels Zonneveld 6-4 Jani Haavisto
Luke Woodhouse 6-2 Pascal Devroey
Ricky Evans 6-2 Scott Williams
Ryan Joyce 6-4 Adam Gawlas
Cameron Menzies 6-1 Sietse Lap
William O'Connor 6-1 Tyler Thorpe
Ryan Meikle 6-4 Francois Schweyen
Mickey Mansell 6-3 Michael Smith
Evening session
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Thibault Tricole
Cristo Reyes 6-4 Krzysztof Ratajski
Andy Baetens 6-5 Joe Cullen
Sebastian Bialecki 6-3 Wessel Nijman
Boris Krcmar 6-1 Raymond van Barneveld
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Ian White
Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Niko Springer
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Lukas Wenig