Martin Schindler missed out on his first major European Darts Championship title late Sunday at the European Darts Championship in Dortmund, losing 8-11 in the final to top-seeded English player Ross Smith after staging a late comeback.
Schindler Falls Short in Dortmund Final
The 30-year-old German reached his maiden major final at the Westfalenhalle, marking the second-biggest achievement in German darts history behind Gabriel Clemens reaching the World Darts Championship semifinals. Schindler struggled to match the high level he displayed earlier in the tournament during his 10-1 quarterfinal victory over Welshman Jonny Clayton and his 11-6 semifinal win against Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski.
With the score tied at 2-2, Schindler squandered a chance to check out the “Big Fish” finish of 170 points with three darts, missing the bulls-eye by mere millimeters. Smith capitalized immediately, stringing together six consecutive legs to build an 8-2 advantage that effectively put the match out of reach.
Smith Secures Second European Title
Ross Smith proved why he holds the upper hand this season, following up an 11-7 semifinal victory over Gerwyn Price with a commanding early surge against Schindler. The victory delivers Smith his second European Championship crown following his initial triumph in 2022.
Thousands of spectators packed the Westfalenhalle to watch the final, including Borussia Dortmund professional footballer Maximilian Beier. The partisan crowd watched the reigning world champion, 19-year-old Luke Littler, crash out earlier in the afternoon with a 6-10 defeat to Krzysztof Ratajski, leaving the European Championship as the lone major title missing from the English teenager’s resume.
Rankings and Prize Money Implications
Despite the final defeat, Schindler collects 80,000 pounds—roughly 95,000 euros—in prize money. The runner-up finish elevates him back into the top 20 of the PDC Order of Merit, strengthening his seeding for the upcoming World Darts Championship in London. Smith’s tournament victory propels him up eight spots in the rankings to sixth overall. Germany’s second representative in the Dortmund field, Niko Springer, exited the tournament in the first round following a defeat to Jonny Clayton.
World Darts Championship Runs from December to January
The 2027 World Darts Championship is scheduled to run from December 11, 2026, through January 3, 2027, in London, where Schindler enters the field with an improved ranking position.
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