2026 European Darts Championship: Draw, schedule, prize money and format explained

2026 European Darts Championship: Draw, schedule, prize money and format explained originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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After 15 Euro Tour events in 2026, 32 of the best players remain to battle it out for the title of 2026 European Darts Champion.

The European Championship is a four-day event, starting Thursday, October 22, and ending Sunday, October 25.

What to know about the European Darts Championship

Let’s take a look at some of the specifics of the tournament.

MORE: 2026 European Darts Championship qualifiers

2026 European Darts Championship draw & schedule

Here is the schedule for the event.

Day 1 – first round (evening session)

MatchDateTime (local)Luke Woodhouse vs. Dirk van DuijvenbodeThurs., Oct. 227:15 p.m.Danny Noppert vs. Stephen BuntingThurs., Oct. 227:45 p.m.Niels Zonneveld vs. Cameron MenziesThurs., Oct. 228:15 p.m.Gerwyn Price vs. Rob CrossThurs., Oct. 228:45 p.m.James Wade vs. Damon HetaThurs., Oct. 229:15 p.m.Kim Huybrechts vs. Ryan SearleThurs., Oct. 229:45 p.m.Gian van Veen vs. Andrew GildingThurs., Oct. 2210:15 p.m.Ross Smith vs. Karel SedlacekThurs., Oct. 2210:45 p.m.

Day 2 – first round (evening session)

MatchDateTime (local)Ryan Joyce vs. Jermaine WattimenaFri., Oct. 237:15 p.m.Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Dave ChisnallFri., Oct. 237:45 p.m.Nathan Aspinall vs. Cristo ReyesFri., Oct. 238:15 p.m.Jonny Clayton vs. Niko SpringerFri., Oct. 238:45 p.m.Luke Littler vs. William O’ConnorFri., Oct. 239:15 p.m.Wessel Nijman vs. Martin SchindlerFri., Oct. 239:45 p.m.Kevin Doets vs. Michael van GerwenFri., Oct. 2310:15 p.m.Josh Rock vs. Chris DobeyFri., Oct. 2310:45 p.m.

Day 3 – second round (afternoon session)

MatchDateTime (local)Ross Smith vs. Damon HetaSat., Oct. 241:15 p.m.Gian van Veen vs. Luke WoodhouseSat., Oct. 242:15 p.m.Cameron Menzies vs. Gerwyn PriceSat., Oct. 243:15 p.m.Stephen Bunting vs. Kim HuybrechtsSat., Oct. 244:15 p.m.

Day 3 – second round (evening session)

MatchDateTime (local)Wessel Nijman/Martin Schindler vs. Ryan Joyce/Jermaine WattimenaSat., Oct. 247:15 p.m.Jonny Clayton/Niko Springer vs. Josh Rock/Chris DobeySat., Oct. 248:15 p.m.Krzysztof Ratajski/Dave Chisnall vs. Kevin Doets/Michael van GerwenSat., Oct. 249:15 p.m.Nathan Aspinall/Cristo Reyes vs. Luke Littler/William O’ConnorSat., Oct. 2410:15 p.m.

Day 4 – quarterfinals (afternoon session)

MatchDateTimeTBDSun., Oct. 251:15 p.m.TBDSun., Oct. 252:15 p.m.TBDSun., Oct. 253:15 p.m.TBDSun., Oct. 254:15 p.m.

Day 4 – semifinals (evening session)

MatchDateTime (local)TBDSun., Oct. 257:15 p.m.TBDSun., Oct. 258:15 p.m.

Day 4 – final (evening session)

MatchDateTime (local)TBDSun., Oct. 259:25 p.m.

Bracket

Here’s the bracket for the event.

First round

(1) Ross Smith vs. (32) Karel Sedlacek(16) James Wade vs. (17) Damon Heta(8) Gian van Veen vs. (25) Andrew Gilding(9) Luke Woodhouse vs. Dirk van Duijvenbode(4) Niels Zonneveld vs. (29) Cameron Menzies(13) Gerwyn Price vs. (20) Rob Cross(5) Danny Noppert vs. (28) Stephen Bunting(12) Kim Huybrechts vs. (21) Ryan Searle(2) Wessel Nijman vs. Martin Schindler(15) Ryan Joyce vs. (18) Jermaine Wattimena(7) Jonny Clayton vs. (26) Niko Springer(10) Josh Rock vs. (23) Chris Dobey(3) Krzysztof Ratajski vs. (30) Dave Chisnall(14) Kevin Doets vs. (19) Michael van Gerwen(6) Nathan Aspinall vs. (27) Cristo Reyes(11) Luke Littler vs. (22) William O’Connor

Second round

Ross Smith vs. Damon HetaGian van Veen vs. Luke WoodhouseCameron Menzies vs. Gerwyn PriceStephen Bunting vs. Kim HuybrechtsWessel Nijman/Martin Schindler vs. Ryan Joyce/Jermaine WattimenaJonny Clayton/Niko Springer vs. Josh Rock/Chris DobeyKrzysztof Ratajski/Dave Chisnall vs. Kevin Doets/Michael van GerwenNathan Aspinall/Cristo Reyes vs. Luke Littler/William O’Connor

Quarterfinals

Ross Smith/Damon Heta vs. Gian van Veen/Luke WoodhouseCameron Menzies/Gerwyn Price vs. Stephen Bunting/Kim HuybrechtsTBDTBD

Semifinals

TBDTBD

Final

TBD

Prize Money

*Data via Wikipedia

Position (num. of players)Prize money
(Total: £750,000)Winner(1)£150,000Runner-up(1)£80,000Semi-finalists(2)£50,000Quarter-finalists(4)£35,000Second round(8)£20,000First round(16)£7,500

Format

The European Darts Championship field totals 32 players who are all seeded based on the prize money they accumulated across the 15 European Tour events in 2026.

Since all players are seeded, there was no draw to determine matchups, with first-round matchups strictly based on the players’ positioning on the European Tour OoM.

The tournament starts on Thursday and ends on Sunday, with all the first-round games taking place on either Thursday (evening session) or Friday (evening session).

All players who advance to the second round (round of 16) will play during either the afternoon or evening session on Saturday.

The quarterfinals, semifinal and final will take place on Sunday.

First round games will be played best-of-11 legs.

The second round (round of 16) and quarterfinals will be played to best-of-19 legs.

The semifinals round and final will be played to best-of-21 legs.

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