Ross Smith wins European Darts Championship in Dortmund

Ross Smith secured his second European Championship title by defeating Germany’s Martin Schindler 11-8 in the final held at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund. The 37-year-old Englishman established an early lead, reaching an 8-2 advantage before Schindler mounted a significant comeback, narrowing the gap to 9-7.

For Martin Schindler, the runner-up finish marks a historic milestone as the first German player to reach a PDC Major final. Despite the loss, Schindler earned approximately £80,000 and secured a spot in the upcoming Grand Slam of Darts. His tournament run included notable victories over Wessel Nijman, Jermaine Wattimena, Jonny Clayton, and Krzysztof Ratajski.

Smith’s victory, which includes a £150,000 prize, moves him to sixth in the PDC world rankings. His path to the title involved defeating Karel Sedlacek, Damon Heta, Luke Woodhouse, and Gerwyn Price. The tournament also saw the unexpected exit of world number one Luke Littler in the quarter-finals.