Ross Smith is a two-time European darts champion after holding off home favourite Martin Schindler 11-8 in a tense final in Dortmund, surviving a late fightback to add another major title to a superb 2026 season. The Englishman had earlier looked in total control, racing into an 8-2 lead before Schindler dragged the match back to 9-7.
Ross Smith (Credits: BBC Sport)
Ross Smith Beats Martin Schindler 11-8 in European Championship Final
Smith, who first won this tournament in 2022, produced a blistering burst in the middle of the best-of-21 final, winning six legs in a row to open up what looked like a decisive advantage. The German crowd roared Schindler back into contention, however, and the home man closed the gap to just two legs before Smith steadied himself and closed out the match.
Speaking afterwards, Smith admitted the closing stages had been far from comfortable. He praised Schindler for refusing to give in, saying his opponent simply would not let up, and described himself as over the moon and drained after securing another major crown. The win continues a strong run of form that already included victory at the World Series of Darts Finals in September.
Luke Littler Knocked Out as Schindler Reaches Final
Smith’s route to the title had been demanding in its own right. He beat Luke Woodhouse 10-6 before overcoming Gerwyn Price 11-7 in the semi-finals, a result that underlined just how sharp his finishing was across the weekend.
Schindler, meanwhile, had enjoyed a remarkable run of his own to reach the final. He thrashed Jonny Clayton 10-1, then beat Krzysztof Ratajski 11-6 in the semi-finals. Ratajski had earlier produced the shock of the tournament by knocking out world champion Luke Littler 10-6 in the final match of the afternoon quarter-final session.
Littler, who has still never won the European Championship, later admitted the performance had simply not clicked for him on the day, despite a strong build-up to the event. He thanked fans for their support over the weekend and acknowledged that the wait for this particular title goes on.
For Smith, though, the story of the weekend is a second European crown and a growing reputation as a player for the biggest occasions. Having already lifted a major title in September, he now heads into the rest of the season with momentum, confidence and a trophy cabinet that keeps getting heavier.
Also Read: European Darts Championship 2026: Luke Littler Beats O’Connor, Van Gerwen Knocked Out by Doets | Fallon Sherrock Among 24 Amateurs Vying to Beat Luke Littler in Netflix’s $501,000 Special
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
