Andy Baetens
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Short description|Belgian darts player (born 1989)}}
{{Infobox darts player
| name = Andy Baetens
| image = Andy Baetens.png
| caption = Baetens in 2022
| fullname =
| nickname = {{nowrap|"The Beast from the East"}}
| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1989|2|24|df=y}}}}
| birth_place = Nieuwerkerken, East Flanders, Belgium
| death_date =
| death_place =
| hometown = Erembodegem, East Flanders, Belgium
| since = 2014
| darts = 22g Bull's NL
| laterality = Right-handed
| music = "Kernkraft 400" by Zombie Nation
| BDO = 2014–2020
| PDC = 2024–
(Tour Card: 2024–)
| WDF = 2014–2023
| currentrank ={{PDC Rankings|Andy Baetens}}
| BDO World = Winner (1): 2023
| World Masters = Last 32: 2022
| World Darts Trophy = Last 16: 2018
| Zuiderduin Masters = Last 24: 2016, 2017
| Australian Open = Winner (1): 2023
| Dutch Open = Runner Up: 2023
| PDC World =
| Matchplay =
| Grand Prix =
| UK Open = Last 128: 2024
| Premier League =
| Masters = Last 32: 2025
| results = {{aligned table|leftright=y|fullwidth=y|class=nowrap
| Belgium Masters | 2017
| Bruges Open | 2022, 2023
| Belfry Open | 2023
| Catalonia Open | 2021
| Croatian Masters | 2023
| Croatian Open | 2023
| Czech Open | 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023
| Denmark Masters | 2023
| Denmark Open | 2023
| England Masters | 2017
| FCD Anniversary Open | 2021
| Romanian Classic | 2017
}}
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's Darts}}
{{MedalCountry | {{BEL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | WDF Europe Cup}}
{{MedalBronze | 2022 Gandía | Men's singles}}
}}
Andy Baetens (born 24 February 1989) is a Belgian professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He is a former WDF World Champion, having won the 2023 World Championship to become the first Belgian player to win a world title. Baetens is also a four-time winner of the Czech Open and the 2023 Australian Darts Open champion. He was also the runner-up at the 2023 Dutch Open and a bronze medalist at the 2022 WDF Europe Cup. From May 2023 to January 2024, he was ranked number one in the World Darts Federation men's ranking.
Career
Baetens took part in his first international tournaments shortly after he started playing darts. He reached the quarter-finals at the 2015 Antwerp Open. In 2016, he reached the quarter-finals of the Polish Open. With his final victory over Darryl Fitton at the 2016 Czech Open, Baetens was able to win his first title in the British Darts Organisation (BDO) before he finally made his breakthrough on the tour in 2017.
By winning the Romanian Classic, Belgium Masters and England Masters, Baetens was able to qualify for his first BDO World Darts Championship at the 2018 event. He also reached the semi-finals of the German Masters and the final of the Denmark Open. At the 2018 BDO World Championship, he entered the tournament in 13th place on the seeding list and defeated Scott Baker in the first round. In second round, he defeated Scott Mitchell 4–2 in sets. In the quarter-finals, Baetens missed six match darts and lost to Scott Waites 5–4.
Baetens returned to international tournaments at the 2020 Dutch Open, where he made the quarter-finals. He beat Dirk van Duijvenbode and Mario Vandenbogaerde before being eliminated by Brian Raman in a deciding leg in their quarter-final match. In September 2021, he won the Catalonia Open and FCD Anniversary Open. In November 2021, he won the Czech Open for a second time.
In April 2022, he played at the 2022 WDF World Darts Championship. In the first round he beat Dave Parletti 3–1. In the second round he beat Scott Marsh. His three-dart average for the match of 102.79 was the third highest ever at the Lakeside.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-07 |title=Baetens hits third highest ever Lakeside average in Marsh win, Tricole ends Hine's run |url=https://dartsnews.com/wdf/baetens-hits-third-highest-ever-lakeside-average-in-marsh-win-tricole-ends-hines-run |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Dartsnews.com |language=en}} In the quarter-finals he played Thibault Tricole and lost 4–3.
At the end of September, Baetens qualified for the 2022 Belgian Darts Open via the Host Nation Qualifier, but lost in the first round to Madars Razma. After a few weeks, Baetens won a title at the Bruges Open. In November 2022, he won the Czech Open for the third time, defeating Antony Allen 5–0 in the final. He qualified for the 2022 World Masters, where he reached the fourth round.
In May 2023, Baetens became the new number one ranked player on the WDF World Rankings.{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Samuel |date=2 May 2023 |title=Baetens succeeds Klaasen as number one in WDF rankings |url=https://dartsnews.com/wdf/baetens-succeeds-klaasen-as-number-one-in-wdf-rankings |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=Dartsnews.com}}
At the 2023 WDF World Championship, he defeated Sebastian Białecki, Gary Stone and Jonny Tata to the reach his first world championship semi-final, the first for a Belgian at the Lakeside. He then beat Dennis Nilsson to become the first Belgian in a world darts championship final. In the final, he beat Chris Landman to win his first world title.{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=Jamie |date=10 December 2023 |title=Andy Baetens claims historic Lakeside crown as Beau Greaves retains women’s world title |url=https://www.live-darts.com/wdf-darts/baetens-claims-historic-lakeside-crown-as-greaves-retains-womens-title/ |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=Live Darts}}{{Cite web |date=10 December 2023 |title=Brilliant Baetens beats Landman to become Belgium’s first Darts World Champion |url=https://dartswdf.com/news/brilliant-baetens-beats-landman-to-become-belgium-s-first-darts-world-champion |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=World Darts Federation}}
In January 2024, Baetens entered PDC European Q-School, earning an automatic two-year PDC Tour Card following victory in the final on day three of the second stage. {{cite web|url=https://www.pdc.tv/news/2024/01/13/baetens-bennett-become-latest-duo-secure-tour-cards|title=Baetens & Bennett become latest duo to secure Tour Cards|website=www.pdc.tv|date=13 January 2024|accessdate=19 January 2024}}
Baetens qualified for the 2025 PDC World Masters after defeating Darius Labanauskas in the final preliminary round.{{cite web |last1=Van Genechten |first1=Vincent |title=Andy Baetens plaatst zich met verve voor vernieuwde World Darts Masters en neemt het op tegen wereldkampioen Luke Littler |trans-title=Andy Baetens qualifies with flying colours for the revived World Darts Masters and takes on world champion Luke Littler |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20250129_95780235 |website=Het Nieuwsblad |access-date=31 January 2025 |date=29 January 2025 |language=nl}} He lost 3–0 to world champion Luke Littler in the first round.{{cite web |title=Littler cruises into second round at World Masters |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/darts/articles/c5ye2dlq0gqo |website=BBC Sport |access-date=31 January 2025 |date=31 January 2025}}
Career finals
= WDF major finals: 1 (1 title) =
| class="wikitable"
! Legend |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| World Championship (1–0) |
| class="sortable wikitable"
!width="80"| Outcome !width="20"| No. !width="50"| Year !style="width:250px;"| Championship !style="width:200px;"| Opponent in the final !width="70"| Score(l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets. |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#98FB98" |Winner | 1. | 2023 | {{Flagicon|NED}} Chris Landman | style="background:#e5d1cb;"|6–1 (s) |
{{reflist|group=N}}
World Championship results
=BDO/WDF=
- 2018: Quarter-finals (lost to Scott Waites 4–5)
- 2022: Quarter-finals (lost to Thibault Tricole 3–4)
- 2023: Winner (beat Chris Landman 6–1)
Performance timeline
BDO
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Tournament | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| colspan="30" align="left" |BDO Ranked televised events | |||
| style="background:#efefef;"| {{nowrap|World Championship}}
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|DNQ | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"| QF | |||
| style="background:#efefef;"| World Trophy
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|DNQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"| 2R | |||
| style="background:#efefef;"| Finder Masters
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"| RR | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"| RR | style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|DNP |
WDF
| class="wikitable" | |||||
| Tournament | 2017 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:#efefef;"| {{nowrap|WDF World Championship}}
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|Not yet founded | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"| QF | style="text-align:center; background:lime;"| W | |||||
| style="background:#efefef;"| Australian Open
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|Not held | style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|DNP | style="text-align:center; background:lime;"| W | |||||
| style="background:#efefef;" | World Masters
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|DNQ | style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|NH | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"| 4R | style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|NH | |||||
| style="background:#efefef;"| Dutch Open
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"| 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"| QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"| QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"| 7R | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"| F | |||||
| bgcolor="efefef"
| align="left" |WDF Year-end ranking | colspan="3" style="text-align:center;|– | style="text-align:center; background:#eee8aa;"|5 | style="text-align:center; background:#add8e6;"|1 |
PDC
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Tournament | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| colspan="11" style="text-align:left" |PDC Ranked televised events | ||
| style="background:#efefef;" | {{nowrap|World Masters}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|DNQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|1R | ||
| style="background:#efefef;" |UK Open
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|2R | ||
| colspan="16" align="left" |Career statistics | ||
| bgcolor="efefef"
| align="left" |Season-end ranking (PDC) | style="text-align:center;|95 | |
PDC European Tour
| class="wikitable" style="width:50%; margin:0" | |||||||||||||
| Season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center;"background:#efefef;" | 2022
| colspan="11" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|Did not participate | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|BDO | style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|GDT | |||||||||||||
| style="text-align:center;"background:#efefef;" | 2023
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|Did not participate | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|BDO | colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|Did not participate | |||||||||||||
| style="text-align:center;"background:#efefef;" | 2024
| colspan="5" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|DNQ | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|BSD | style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|DDC | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|EDO | colspan="5" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"|Did not qualify |
PDC Players Championships
| class="wikitable" style="width:28%; margin:0; font-size:84%"
! Season !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! 13 !! 14 !! 15 !! 16 !! 17 !! 18 !! 19 !! 20 !! 21 !! 22 !! 23 !! 24 !! 25 !! 26 !! 27 !! 28 !! 29 !! 30 !! 31 !! 32 !! 33 !! 34 |
| style="text-align:center;"background:#efefef;" | 2024
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|LEI |
| style="text-align:center; "background:#efefef;"| 2025
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|ROS | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|ROS | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|ROS | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|ROS | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|MIL | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|HIL | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|LEI | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|WIG | style="text-align:center; background:#;"|WIG |
{{TournLegend|RU=F}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=10204 Andy Baetens' profile and stats on Darts Database]
{{World Darts Championship (WDF)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baetens, Andy}}
Category:Belgian darts players
Category:British Darts Organisation players
Category:Sportspeople from Aalst, Belgium
Category:WDF world darts champions
Category:Professional Darts Corporation current tour card holders