The second day of the European Darts Championship in Dortmund delivered a rollercoaster of emotions and significant upsets. Martin Schindler thrilled the home crowd with a nail-biting 6-5 victory against Wessel Nijman, battling into the Last 16. However, it was a tough day for Niko Springer, who faced an opening-round defeat against Jonny Clayton. Top favorite Luke Littler showed his class with a strong start, but the biggest shock came as darts legend Michael van Gerwen crashed out in the first round, a result that sees him fall out of the world’s top 10 for the first time in 14 years.
European Championship Day 2: Key Highlights and Upsets
Schindler Survives Thriller in Dortmund
The most intense match of the evening unfolded in the Westfalenhalle, where Germany’s own Martin Schindler, nicknamed “The Wall,” kept his composure in a tense decider against Wessel Nijman. Schindler started strong, racing to a 3-0 lead as Nijman struggled to find his rhythm. However, the Dutchman clawed his way back, capitalizing on some missed doubles from Schindler to level the score. The match then became a true spectacle of high-scoring and clinical finishes:
- Schindler answered with a brilliant 10-darter.
- Nijman responded with a stunning 127 checkout.
- Schindler then took out a crucial 121 finish.
With the score tied, the match went to a deciding leg. With the throw in his favor, Schindler calmly hit his first match dart on 80 to secure a hard-fought 6-5 victory. He now advances to face Jermaine Wattimena on Saturday.
Springer’s European Championship Wait Continues
Germany’s new number two, Niko Springer, is still searching for his first win at the European Championship after a 6-3 defeat to Jonny Clayton. Despite similar statistics, Springer’s timing on the doubles proved costly. He missed two crucial checkouts in the very first leg, allowing “The Ferret” Clayton to pounce immediately. The Welshman quickly built a 3-0 lead and never looked back. Springer showed flashes of brilliance, including a 12-darter, but after the opening leg, he never truly had a chance to break Clayton’s throw again.
Littler’s Dominant Start
Teenage sensation Luke Littler, “The Nuke,” kicked off his Dortmund campaign in impressive fashion, securing a comfortable 6-3 victory over William O’Connor. Littler immediately set the tone with an average of 105.05, throwing an 11-darter and a 14-darter to quickly go 3-0 up. While O’Connor managed a superb 107 finish and claimed two more legs, Littler remained firmly in control, sealing his win with a 15-darter.
Shock Exit for Michael van Gerwen: Out of the Top 10!
In perhaps the biggest upset of the day, three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen, “Mighty Mike,” suffered a surprising 6-3 loss to Kevin Doets. Van Gerwen appeared to lack the clinical finishing and composure that defined his prime. Doets, “Hawk Eye,” was sharp from the outset, showcasing his skill with a magnificent 132 checkout and consistently finishing his legs in 15 darts or fewer. He quickly established a 4-1 lead. Although Van Gerwen briefly threatened a comeback with two 15-darters to make it 5-3, Doets closed out the match in 12 darts. This early exit is particularly significant as it means Michael van Gerwen will drop out of the world’s top 10 rankings for the first time in 14 years after this tournament.
Other Notable First-Round Encounters
- Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Cristo Reyes: Despite Reyes having his chances, his low 25% checkout rate on doubles proved insufficient. Aspinall, “The Asp,” secured crucial finishes, including a 134 and a 112 checkout, to pull away after a tight 2-2 start.
- Josh Rock 6-1 Chris Dobey: “Rocky” delivered the most dominant performance of the evening, sweeping aside Chris Dobey with a commanding 6-1 victory and a 100.74 average. Dobey’s dismal 8% on doubles left him no chance after winning the opening leg.
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-2 Dave Chisnall: “The Polish Eagle” Ratajski comfortably defeated Dave Chisnall, who struggled with an 88 average and a mere 14% on doubles. Ratajski took an early 3-0 lead with finishes of 72 and 104, eventually closing out the match.
- Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Ryan Joyce: Ryan Joyce, “Relentless,” had a tough day, compounded by his luggage not arriving. Wattimena, “The Machine Gun,” capitalized on Joyce’s struggles, taking a 4-0 lead with finishes of 106 and 120. Despite some missed match darts from Wattimena allowing Joyce to claw back to 5-3, the Dutchman eventually sealed the win.
Looking Ahead: The Last 16 Schedule
The second round of the European Championship 2026 will be played on Saturday, October 24, 2026, across two sessions. Each session will feature four exciting matches.
Saturday, October 24, 2026 – Afternoon Session (from 1:00 PM CEST)
- Cameron Menzies vs. Gerwyn Price
- Stephen Bunting vs. Kim Huybrechts
- Ross Smith vs. Damon Heta
- Gian van Veen vs. Luke Woodhouse
Saturday, October 24, 2026 – Evening Session (from 7:00 PM CEST)
(Order to be confirmed)
- Martin Schindler vs. Jermaine Wattimena
- Jonny Clayton vs. Josh Rock
- Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Kevin Doets
- Nathan Aspinall vs. Luke Littler
Tournament Format and Prize Money
The European Championship features a progressive format:
- First Round: Best of 11 Legs
- Last 16 (Second Round): Best of 19 Legs
- Quarter-Finals: Best of 19 Legs
- Semi-Finals: Best of 21 Legs
- Final: Best of 21 Legs
A substantial prize fund of £750,000 is on offer, distributed as follows:
- Winner: £150,000
- Runner-Up: £80,000
- Semi-Finalists: £50,000 each
- Quarter-Finalists: £35,000 each
- Last 16: £20,000 each
- First Round: £7,500 each
Where to Watch the Action
Fans can catch all the European Championship action live. In 2026, both Sport1 and the sports streaming service DAZN will be broadcasting the event.
Sport1 Broadcast Times:
- Saturday, Oct 24, 2026: 2nd Round – Afternoon Session: 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Live)
- Saturday, Oct 24, 2026: 2nd Round – Evening Session: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Live)
- Sunday, Oct 25, 2026: Quarter-Finals – Afternoon Session: 2:00 PM – 4:55 PM (Live)
- Sunday, Oct 25, 2026: Semi-Finals & Final – Evening Session: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Live)
DAZN will also provide live and HD coverage of all major tournaments, European Tour events, and World Series events. Viewers can watch on Smart TVs, smartphones, PCs, laptops, and tablets. DAZN offers various subscription plans, including an Unlimited annual subscription for €34.99/month or a monthly cancellable subscription for €44.99/month. A more affordable Super Sports subscription is available for €19.99/month (annual) or €24.99/month (monthly). A key benefit of DAZN is the ability to re-watch missed games at any time.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
