Day two of the 2026 PDC European Championship in Dortmund brought a mix of spectacular performances and shocking upsets. Darts sensation Luke Littler kicked off his campaign with a dominant display, recording the highest average of the tournament so far. However, the biggest headline was the stunning defeat of four-time champion Michael van Gerwen by fellow Dutchman Kevin Doets. Home favourite Martin Schindler thrilled the German crowd with a nail-biting victory, while other top players like Nathan Aspinall, Krzysztof Ratajski, Jonny Clayton, Josh Rock, and Jermaine Wattimena also secured their spots in the next round. The stage is now set for an exhilarating second day of action, featuring a highly anticipated clash between Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall.
European Championship Day 2: Upsets, Brilliance, and Thrilling Finishes
Littler Lights Up Dortmund
Darts sensation Luke Littler, a prodigy making significant waves in the sport, began his quest for a maiden PDC major title at the European Championship with an electrifying performance. He delivered the highest average of the tournament so far, a remarkable 105.15, including six maximums (180s), to comfortably defeat Irish debutant William O’Connor. This dominant victory sets up a highly anticipated second-round showdown with Nathan Aspinall.
Reflecting on his win, Littler stated, “I’m happy with the win… I meet Nathan again tomorrow. I’ve just got to take it game by game.” He acknowledged the pressure of seeking his first major title: “Obviously it’s the last one missing so I can’t put too much pressure on myself. I’m just happy to get back on stage and do my job.”
Van Gerwen Stunned in Shock Upset
Four-time European Championship winner Michael van Gerwen returned to the Westfalenhalle hoping for a fifth title, but his campaign was cut short by a stellar performance from fellow Dutchman Kevin Doets. In his tournament debut, Doets produced a fantastic display to triumph 6-3 against the darting legend.
Doets, enjoying a career-best year, showcased his form by following a 106 checkout with a sublime 132 finish on the bullseye to take a commanding 3-0 lead. He then withstood a spirited comeback attempt from Van Gerwen before delivering the decisive blow with a 12-darter.
A delighted Doets shared his thoughts: “It was a tough game… The draw comes out and I get Michael… it’s still Michael van Gerwen. He is the one I looked up to for years and the most successful player from the Netherlands.” He added, “He didn’t play like he can, but I’m really happy to win. I felt through the whole game that I was the better player.” Doets will now face Krzysztof Ratajski in Saturday’s second round.
Home Hero Schindler Thrills German Crowd
Martin Schindler, who only secured his place in the European Championship at the last qualifying event, became the darling of the passionate home crowd. In a thrilling last-leg decider, Schindler prevailed 6-5 against the second seed Wessel Nijman, who has had a record-breaking year with eight titles in 2026. Schindler’s victory was fueled by his impressive 55% checkout rate on his attempts at double, capitalizing on an uncharacteristically wasteful performance from Nijman.
“I’m very happy at the moment… I was really nervous, especially in the last leg,” Schindler admitted. “Right now I feel over the moon and very confident. Tomorrow is a new day and I will need to focus again.” Schindler will meet Jermaine Wattimena in round two.
Other Notable Victories on Day 2
- Nathan Aspinall rallied from 3-2 down against Cristo Reyes, winning four consecutive legs, including finishes of 134, 112, and 90, to advance 6-3.
- Krzysztof Ratajski, the Polish number one and third seed, recorded a comfortable 6-2 victory over Dave Chisnall. This marks his eighth consecutive win over Chisnall and only his second win at the European Championship in eight appearances.
- Jermaine Wattimena secured a 6-3 win over Ryan Joyce after missing two match darts for a whitewash, but recovered his composure to close out the match.
- Jonny Clayton’s trademark power scoring was on full display as he secured a 6-3 win over Niko Springer.
- Josh Rock delivered an assured 6-1 victory over Chris Dobey.
Looking Ahead: Saturday’s Thrilling Encounters
The 2026 PDC European Championship intensifies on Saturday, October 24, with a crucial double-header of Last 16 action. All Round Two matches will be played as the best of 19 legs.
Afternoon Session Matches (13:00-17:00 CEST)
- Cameron Menzies vs. Gerwyn Price
- Stephen Bunting vs. Kim Huybrechts
- Ross Smith vs. Damon Heta
- Defending champion Gian van Veen vs. 9-dart sensation Luke Woodhouse
Evening Session Matches (19:00-23:00 CEST)
- Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Kevin Doets
- Martin Schindler vs. Jermaine Wattimena
- Nathan Aspinall vs. Luke Littler – A highly anticipated clash between two of the sport’s most exciting talents!
- Jonny Clayton vs. Josh Rock
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
