Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
Ross Smith beats Martin Schindler to win second European Championship
Ross Smith won the European Championship by beating Germany’s Martin Schindler 11-8 in the final in Dortmund.
The English player raced to an 8-2 lead, but Schindler fought back to make it 9-7 before Smith secured the win.
The final was played over a best-of-21 format, so the first player to reach 11 legs won.
Smith claimed the title for the second time, having also won the tournament in 2022.
He had beaten Luke Woodhouse and Gerwyn Price to reach the final, while Schindler had defeated Jonny Clayton and Krzysztof Ratajski.
World champion Luke Littler lost 10-6 to Ratajski in the quarter-finals, ending his bid for a first European Championship title.
Smith said he was delighted to win another major title after also winning the World Series of Darts Finals in September.
Ross Smith beat Martin Schindler 11-8 in Dortmund to win the European Championship for a second time.
Smith built an 8-2 lead in the final before Schindler fought back to 9-7.
The English player had also won the tournament in 2022.
Schindler reached his first ranked televised final after defeating Jonny Clayton and Krzysztof Ratajski.
World champion Luke Littler was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Ratajski.
- Who
- Ross Smith beat Martin Schindler.
- What
- Smith won the European Championship for a second time, with an 11-8 final victory.
- When
- 25 October 2026.
- Where
- Dortmund, Germany.
- Why
- Smith won the final by taking 11 legs; the sources do not state a further reason.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Smith won the European Championship for the first time.
Krzysztof Ratajski beat Luke Littler 10-6.
Smith beat Gerwyn Price 11-7, while Schindler beat Ratajski 11-6.
Smith beat Schindler 11-8 to claim the title.
- Final score
- Ross Smith 11-8 Martin Schindler
- Venue
- Dortmund, Germany
- Smith's previous title
- 2022
- Final scoreline at Smith's biggest lead
- 8-2
- Littler's quarter-final result
- Lost 10-6 to Krzysztof Ratajski
2 sources
What people are saying
It's absolutely amazing,
Full credit to him.
The wait for this one goes on.
Posts on X
127 AND GAME! This is REMARKABLE! Schindler fires in another ton-plus checkout to win a fourth consecutive leg! 📺 https://t.co/C0gvzP3YL6 #ECDarts | Final