Ross Smith defeated Martin Schindler 11-8 in Dortmund to claim his second European Championship title on October 25, 2026. The English player secured the major victory after a dominant run, while world champion Luke Littler suffered a quarter-final exit against Krzysztof Ratajski.
Ross Smith claimed his second European Championship title by overcoming German competitor Martin Schindler 11-8 in the final at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund on October 25, 2026. The English player previously won the tournament in 2022. The win brought Smith the European Championship title for a second time.
The final match saw Smith establish an early advantage during the best-of-21 encounter. After the opening legs were shared, Smith reeled off six legs in a row to build an 8-2 lead. Schindler rallied before a home audience, narrowing the gap to 9-7, but Smith steadied himself to cross the finishing line at 11-8.
Ross Smith Reflects on the Dortmund Final
Reflecting on the tense closing stages of the match, Smith acknowledged the relentless pressure applied by his opponent during the final session.
It’s absolutely amazing.
Ross Smith, via ITV
I’m not going to lie, I was a bit sweaty there. He wouldn’t let up would he? Full credit to him.
Ross Smith, via ITV
Having captured the World Series of Darts Finals in September, Smith emphasized the physical and emotional toll of his latest triumph.
To win another major, not just this year, but just to win another major, I’m absolutely over the moon and drained. I’m buzzing.
Ross Smith, via ITV
Martin Schindler Reaches Historic Milestone for German Darts
Despite the final defeat, the tournament marked the greatest achievement of Martin Schindler’s career. The 30-year-old became the first German player to reach the final of a PDC major, securing qualification for the Grand Slam of Darts in the process. His run included a dominant 10-1 victory over Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals, where he recorded an average of 103.16 points, a 167 checkout, and a double success rate exceeding 66 percent.
Martin Schindler explained that when he started ten years ago, he would not have expected to make it this far. He noted that he had tried everything to win the major final and, while he lost, he remained very happy and expressed respect for Ross Smith’s performance.
Schindler’s performance lifted him three positions to 20th in the world rankings.
SMITH 🆚 SCHINDLERHere we go! Ross Smith faces Martin Schindler for the 2026 Machineseeker European Championship!📺 https://t.co/C0gvzP3YL6#ECDarts | Final pic.twitter.com/zjMlxuA8zD
Luke Littler Exits in Quarter-Finals Amid Tournament Surrounds
World champion Luke Littler was knocked out in the quarter-finals during the afternoon session on Sunday, suffering a 10-6 defeat against Krzysztof Ratajski. Earlier in the tournament, Littler produced a statistical highpoint by averaging 114.47 points in a 10-5 win over Nathan Aspinall—a mark surpassed in tournament history only by Phil Taylor’s 118.14 average.
Addressing his exit on social media, Littler noted that his game simply failed to click when it mattered most, leaving his wait for a European Championship title to continue.
The four-day event also featured a nine-dart finish from Luke Woodhouse during his match against Dirk van Duijvenbode, representing the first perfect leg at the European Championship in six years. Broadcast coverage for the tournament was delivered in the United Kingdom via ITV4 and ITVX, with additional international distribution through Viaplay, DAZN, and PDCTV.
European Championship | Final (Bo21) – 3rd BreakMartin Schindler fights back! He wins the penultimate session 4-1 to keep his hopes alive in this Final. Ross Smith is still only two legs away from the title🏴 Ross Smith 9⃣-6⃣ Martin Schindler 🇩🇪Average: 93.94 – 92.09180's:…