Ross Smith won the 2026 Machineseeker European Championship after defeating Martin Schindler 11-8 in the final in Dortmund on Sunday. Smith – whose first Premier title came in Dortmund four years ago – doubled his trophy tally at the Westfallenhalle with a stellar run of performances, including victory over Schindler in the showpiece. After four […]
Ross Smith won the 2026 Machineseeker European Championship after defeating Martin Schindler 11-8 in the final in Dortmund on Sunday.
Smith – whose first Premier title came in Dortmund four years ago – doubled his trophy tally at the Westfallenhalle with a stellar run of performances, including victory over Schindler in the showpiece.
After four holds of throw, Smith rattled off six legs straight to take a commanding 8-2 lead to move three legs away from a dominant win.
However, Schindler battled back, winning four legs straight including checkouts of 116 and 127 to reduce the deficit to 9-6 and threaten a remarkable fightback.
Nevertheless, Smith calmed matters with a hold of throw to go one leg away, before eventually sealing victory with his fifth match dart to secure the title in Dortmund.
“To have this trophy in my hands and to win another major, I’m absolutely over the moon,” said Smith, who also claimed the World Series of Darts Finals crown in September last month.
“I was a little bit nervous going into that last break. Martin wouldn’t let up would he? Full credit to him.
“I’ve played Martin many times on the circuit and he’s fantastic. He’s a really lovely guy as well, but he’s so hard to play. He’s a fighter.
“I just play the game in front of me. Every game I play is a final, I’m buzzing to have won another major, and that’s for my Mum and Dad!”
Top seed Smith kicked off his title bid with a hard-fought 6-4 win over Karel Sedlacek on Thursday, before fending off Damon Heta with a 10-7 triumph on Saturday.
The 37-year-old then produced a cracking 107 average during his 10-6 victory over Luke Woodhouse, defying an average of over 103 and 60% checkout success rate from his opponent.
The World Series Finals champion saw off Gerwyn Price 11-7 in the last four, recovering from 4-1 down to reach a third TV final of his career – where he maintained his 100% success rate in Premier finals to see off home hero Schindler.
Smith joins Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Rob Cross and Peter Wright as a multiple winner of the European Championship, scooping the £150,000 top prize and third Premier title while jumping up to world number six in the process.
“It’s a strange one. I really don’t think I played great this week,” assessed Smith, who became the first top seed to win the European Championship since 2017.
“I had a really good game against Luke Woodhouse; I think a lot of players let me off as well, but sometimes you have to win ugly.
“I’m proud of doing that because you have got to dig deep. You have to really fight hard and I think I’ve done that this weekend.
“I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. I’m loving the darts and I’m enjoying playing in front of amazing crowds like this. They were so respectful. They’ve been absolutely brilliant today!”
Despite just falling short of a first Premier title, Schindler made history in reaching the European Championship final on home soil, becoming the first German to reach a televised final.
Schindler began his campaign with a tense deciding-leg victory over second seed Wessel Nijman on Friday, before sweeping aside Jermaine Wattimena 10-4 with a clinical display to reach the last eight.
The German number one produced a jaw-dropping performance to eviscerate Jonny Clayton 10-1, averaging over 103 and missing only five darts at double while restricting the world number five to just two attempts at the outer-ring throughout the contest.
The former World Youth Championship runner-up then denied Krzysztof Ratajski in the semi-finals, holding off a late-match fightback from the Polish number one to triumph 11-6 and reach the final.
Despite succumbing in the showpiece, Schindler crucially secured his Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts qualification by finishing as runner-up, moving up to world number 20 after a reinvigorated campaign.
“When I started playing darts ten years ago, I didn’t expect anything and now I made a major final,” confessed an emotional Schindler, who entered Dortmund as the 31st seed after securing qualification in the final European Tour event of the year.
“I tried everything to win this one, but fair play to Ross, he played well.
“I lost but I’m still very happy, I really am, and I’m going to be in the Grand Slam now. That’s probably the best part of it!
“The crowd were always supporting me and I really appreciate it. Thank you Dortmund!“
Ratajski dumped out world number one Luke Littler to reach a first Premier semi-final since 2021, fending off a fightback from the World Champion to prevail 10-6.
In the other quarter-final, Price dispatched Stephen Bunting 10-3 with ease, averaging north of 103 to capitalise on a profligate outer-ring performance from the former Masters winner.
Click here for match stats & results.
2026 Machineseeker European Championship
Sunday October 25
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Ross Smith 10-6 Luke Woodhouse
Gerwyn Price 10-3 Stephen Bunting
Martin Schindler 10-1 Jonny Clayton
Krzysztof Ratajski 10-6 Luke Littler
Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Ross Smith 11-7 Gerwyn Price
Martin Schindler 11-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Final
Ross Smith 11-8 Martin Schindler