The European Darts Championship burst into action with an unforgettable opening day! Fans witnessed a spectacular highlight as Luke Woodhouse achieved a rare 9-darter, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Defending champion Gian van Veen had a shaky start but ultimately secured his win, while last-minute replacement Kim Huybrechts delivered a stunning performance. Other matches were packed with drama, including Gerwyn Price’s dominant display, Stephen Bunting’s incredible comeback from a match dart down, and Damon Heta’s late surge to overcome James Wade. Get ready for a tournament filled with high stakes and thrilling darts!
Opening Day Highlights: Darts Drama Unfolds in Dortmund
The Westfalenhalle in Dortmund was electric from the very first throw as the European Championship 2026 kicked off. The initial matches set a high bar for excitement, featuring incredible skill, nerve-wracking finishes, and a moment of darting perfection.
Luke Woodhouse Hits a Stunning 9-Darter!
In the evening’s opening match, Luke Woodhouse dominated Dirk van Duijvenbode with a 6-3 victory, but the real highlight came when “Woody” achieved the ultimate darting feat: a 9-darter! This incredible accomplishment involves hitting a perfect game in the shortest possible number of throws (nine) to check out from 501. After two maximum 180s, Woodhouse flawlessly hit 141 (T20, T19, D12) to complete the historic moment, sending the crowd into raptures. He confirmed this break and sailed to a well-deserved win, leaving van Duijvenbode with limited opportunities.
Defending Champion Gian van Veen Survives Scare
It wasn’t a clean sweep for defending champion Gian van Veen, who faced a tough challenge from Andrew Gilding. Despite some “wobbly moments,” Van Veen showed his class in the crucial stages, securing a 6-4 victory. The match was finely balanced at 4-4, but Van Veen pulled away with a crucial 13-darter and a 70-finish, capitalizing on Gilding’s missed opportunity to level the score at 5-5.
Kim Huybrechts’ Remarkable Last-Minute Entry
What a turnaround for Kim Huybrechts! Having narrowly missed out on qualification just days before, he received a last-minute call-up to replace Luke Humphries and seized the opportunity with both hands. “The Hurricane” delivered an exceptional performance, averaging almost 104 and displaying brutal timing to dismantle Ryan Searle 6-1. His clinical finishing included checkouts of 64, 66, and 89, leaving no doubt about his readiness for the tournament.
Gerwyn Price Dominates Rob Cross
Former World Champion Gerwyn Price made an impressive start to his campaign, comfortably defeating Rob Cross 6-2. Both players started strong, with Price hitting a 127 checkout for a 12-darter, and Cross responding with an 80-finish. However, “The Iceman” quickly pulled away, securing legs in 12 and 14 darts. Despite a couple of missed doubles from both sides, Price maintained control, sealing his victory with a magnificent 135 combination checkout.
Stephen Bunting’s Epic Comeback
In a match that was far from a classic, Stephen Bunting pulled off a sensational 6-5 victory against Danny Noppert, surviving a match dart in the process. The game was tight throughout, with both players missing crucial doubles. “The Bullet” found himself trailing but clawed his way back. In the decisive leg, Noppert missed “tops” for the win, allowing Bunting to step up and incredibly check out 160 from nowhere, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Damon Heta Capitalises on James Wade’s Missed Match Darts
James Wade experienced a rare and painful defeat, holding a 5-3 lead but ultimately squandering four match darts, allowing Damon Heta to stage a dramatic comeback and win 6-5. Wade initially struggled, but then reeled off legs with an 11-darter and a 103 checkout to get within one leg of victory. However, he couldn’t convert his chances, giving “The Heat” an opening. Heta levelled the score and, after both players missed further opportunities in the final leg, Heta eventually closed it out with a 20-darter to advance.
Other Notable First Round Results:
- Ross Smith, despite missing 19 doubles, managed to beat a struggling Karel Sedlacek 6-4 in a scrappy affair.
- Cameron Menzies capitalized on Nils Zonneveld’s inconsistent performance, securing a 6-3 win. Zonneveld started with a 109 checkout but couldn’t maintain his form.
Looking Ahead: European Championship 2026 First Round Continues
The first round of the European Championship 2026 continues on Friday evening. Fans can expect more thrilling matches as the remaining players battle for a spot in the next stage.
Thursday, October 22, 2026: Evening Session Results
| Match | Score | Average (Winner) | Average (Loser) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Woodhouse vs Dirk van Duijvenbode | 6-3 | 99.11 | 84.82 |
| Danny Noppert vs Stephen Bunting | 5-6 | 90.92 | 89.81 |
| Niels Zonneveld vs Cameron Menzies | 3-6 | 90.00 | 93.75 |
| Gerwyn Price vs Rob Cross | 6-2 | 99.26 | 90.90 |
| James Wade vs Damon Heta | 5-6 | 96.48 | 91.48 |
| Kim Huybrechts vs Ryan Searle | 6-1 | 103.81 | 98.59 |
| Gian van Veen vs Andrew Gilding | 6-4 | 95.21 | 93.62 |
| Ross Smith vs Karel Sedlacek | 6-4 | 91.83 | 89.81 |
Friday, October 23, 2026: Evening Session Fixtures (Starts 7:00 PM CEST)
- Ryan Joyce vs Jermaine Wattimena
- Krzysztof Ratajski vs Dave Chisnall
- Nathan Aspinall vs Cristo Reyes
- Jonny Clayton vs Niko Springer
- Luke Littler vs William O’Connor
- Wessel Nijman vs Martin Schindler
- Kevin Doets vs Michael van Gerwen
- Josh Rock vs Chris Dobey
Tournament Structure & Prize Money
The European Championship features a progressive format, with the length of matches increasing as the tournament progresses:
- First Round: Best of 11 Legs
- 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 is on offer, rewarding top performers:
- Winner: £150,000
- Runner-Up: £80,000
- Semi-Finalists: £50,000
- Quarter-Finalists: £35,000
- Second Round: £20,000
- First Round: £7,500
Total Prize Fund: £750,000
Fans can follow the European Championship action on various sports broadcasting platforms, which typically provide live coverage and highlights of major darts tournaments.
Photo Credit: Michael Cooper/PDC
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
