The European Championship firmly had it all. Ross Smith winning yet another major title, Luke Littler losing late in his bid for darting supremacy and even Luke Humphries going out before a dart was thrown with stomach flu.

But what are the main points to divulge from this weekend? Our discussion as ever looks back on the past few days in Dortmund with the controversy and also the big takes from the weekend as we head on towards ProTours and the Grand Slam of Darts in the next few weeks.

Praise for Smith and Schindler and bold Woodhouse takes

Samuel Gill, Head Editor for DartsNews.com, praised Smith and Schindler as well as giving a big take for the future of majors.

I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. Well, in a way. I feel like Chris Mason is picking Ross Smith as his dark horse. In our predictions for the pre-event, my winner was Ross Smith.

He has been exceptional as of late and is one of my favourite players to personally watch. It has been a long time, so to finally see him win more titles is brilliant, and I always get the feeling in my waters about him that he will do more than he has, and he is showing that.

Smith and Schindler made Samuel Gill very happy indeed.

I also have an ongoing bit in our predictions picking Martin Schindler on the European Tour for the past two years. Often he has been in the bank when it comes to these events, and to see him finally back to it makes me overjoyed.

A brilliant player when he is on and a true trailblazer for German darts – just what is needed. I have also said in the past that Luke Littler for me will go through a dip and then likely win the Grand Slam and the World's. In my view that will still happen; every player has a bump in the road.

While Luke Woodhouse, as ever, was one of those to impress me, like Smith, I think his breakthrough is coming very soon. The Bewdley ace for me will be the next major winner.

"Get Ross Smith in the Premier League."

Lucas Michael, editor for DartsNews.com, was unequivocally clear in his plea to get Ross Smith in the Premier League.

"Get Ross Smith in the Premier League! That should be the biggest takeaway from the European Championship, aside from the fact that he has gone up a level in 2026. His floor form has been brilliant for years, but finally the European Tour titles have come, and so have the majors. That first title in Dortmund was most certainly no fluke. Now up to sixth in the world, the heavy scoring is getting him through legs, and while there were some blips on the outer ring, he has cemented himself as one of the best and most reliable players in the world.

"The question surrounding Luke Littler being unbeatable has been dismissed, and rightfully so, but is the fear factor still around him? When at his best, Littler will win. However, it feels like when his level drops, even to a 99 average against Krzysztof Ratajski, the opposition is wise to this chance. The last three major tournaments showcase that. Is he still the favourite in every match and event he plays in? Of course he is. But that inevitable factor surrounding Littler has diminished these past couple of months.

"That should have the rest of the PDC Tour excited. A winner can come from anywhere. If Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price are not playing their best game, there could be about 20 players who would fancy their chances of winning the Players Championship Finals title with no Littler in Minehead."

"It is crazy what a confidence boost can do in sport. Martin Schindler went to Maastricht with his spot not guaranteed. He got in and, throughout the tournament, improved with some big wins. He is a trailblazer for German darts, and this could be the start of a rejuvenation for ‘The Wall', whose 2026 has been very underwhelming. However, it is key he now kicks on. Now in the Grand Slam of Darts, it has been a brilliant weekend for Schindler on home soil.

"While a lot of praise will go the way of Schindler, the crowd should also get its flowers. Aside from a few incidents, they showcased themselves well in a period where darts crowds are continuously scrutinised. When even Littler suggests that he may stop boycotting German European Tour events, that means something is going right."

Our man on the ground hypes Schindler

Nicolas Gayer, editor for DartsNews.DE, as expected, lauded praise on Martin Schindler.

“Sometimes this game is crazy,” Martin Schindler said on Saturday evening after his victory over Jermaine Wattimena. And it would be difficult to find a better way to sum up the weekend in Dortmund. At one of the most difficult stages of his PDC career to date, of all times, Schindler produced the greatest major run of his career — and wrote a new chapter in German darts history in the process.

Hats off to Martin Schindler, but also to another man who deserves enormous credit: Johannes Lipsius. The darts mental coach played his part in Germany's first-ever major final appearance. Lipsius is the man who, over the summer, helped Ricardo Pietreczko escape the devastating grip of darts in the space of just a few weeks, getting the German back into shape in time for an outstanding World Cup of Darts campaign. Schindler, too, emphasised this weekend just how much the mental coach had helped him, particularly in his preparations for Maastricht — and the benefits were still clear to see a week later in Dortmund.

But “The Wall” did not just impress at the Oche this weekend. He was equally impressive in his press conferences. Schindler stood out with open, honest and remarkably thoughtful comments on subjects such as male vulnerability, self-doubt and the importance of talking about the things that are troubling you. Germany's number one was the perfect ambassador for German darts at this European Championship on home soil — in every possible sense.

There was also a remarkable sense of agreement around the Westfalenhalle throughout the weekend. Whether I was speaking to fellow members of the media, stewards or fans, one phrase kept coming up: “What an incredible tournament!” The sheer unpredictability of the European Championship brought smiles to faces all around the arena. In a season dominated by one of the most formidable players the sport has ever seen, tournaments like this are exactly what darts needs right now.

Krzysztof Ratajski claimed the first victory of his career over Luke Littler. Martin Schindler reached his maiden major semi-final with a stunning 10–1 demolition of Jonny Clayton. Ross Smith secured the third major title of his career. These were extraordinary sporting stories, but there was one thing that made the weekend even more special: the crowd.

And I say this without any German bias, backed up by the words of players such as Luke Littler, Ross Smith and Jonny Clayton: the Dortmund crowd provided the perfect example of how a darts audience should behave. Unconditional support for their home hero, combined with the utmost respect for every other player on stage. The perfect setting for a truly special weekend of darts.

Issues again for MVG and co.

Mats Leering, editor for DartsNieuws.com, adds a Dutch verdict.

"As in previous years, the European Championship once again delivered its fair share of surprises. Had anyone told me before the tournament that Martin Schindler would reach the final, I would probably have thought they were crazy. However, the German seemed to grow wings in front of his home crowd, producing some outstanding darts at times. His victories were not only impressive but also thoroughly convincing.

"Ross Smith, meanwhile, has capped off his strong performances on the European Tour by claiming the title. Looking at both his performances throughout the year and his displays this weekend, the Englishman is a thoroughly deserving champion. He has been in superb form over the past few months, and if he can maintain this level heading into the final months of the season, he could make a serious case for a place in the Premier League Darts. In my opinion, he deserves to be in the conversation already. As for the Dutch contingent, it was a hugely disappointing tournament. With eight Dutch players in the field and not a single one making it to the quarter-finals, the Netherlands endured a disastrous campaign."

"Entitled to have an off tournament" - Dutch hopes fade

Pieter Verbeek, editor for DartsNieuws.com, remained positive about the Dutch hopes.

The European Championship has produced its fair share of surprise winners in recent years, and the 2026 edition certainly continued that trend. Ross Smith entered the tournament as the number one seed thanks to his outstanding performances on the European Tour, but how many people would genuinely have included him among their top three favourites for the title?

Yet Smith once again proved that he can deliver when it matters most. Having already won the World Series of Darts Finals earlier this season, he claimed his second major title of the year in Dortmund. With two major trophies to his name in 2026, surely a place in the 2027 Premier League Darts is now almost impossible to deny him.

Martin Schindler also made history, becoming the first German player ever to reach a PDC major final. It was a fantastic milestone for German darts and something that was bound to happen sooner or later. What surprises me most, however, is the timing. In a season when Germany's leading players have largely struggled to find their best form, a German suddenly found himself competing in a major final.

For the Netherlands, meanwhile, the tournament was far less successful. Of the eight Dutch players in the field, only Gian van Veen, Jermaine Wattimena and Kevin Doets made it through to the second round. Not a single Dutch player reached the quarter-finals. That's disappointing, especially considering the excellent performances Dutch players have produced over the past few months. But let's keep things in perspective: after so much success, they're entitled to have an off tournament every now and then. And if it has to happen, I'd much rather see it happen now than at the World Darts Championship.

'Finally, finally' as Schindler hits the top

Oliver Ried, Editor for DartsNews.DE as expected spoke highly of Martin Schindler and also aired concerns about Michael van Gerwen.

"Finally, finally, from a German perspective! Martin Schindler has become the first German to reach a major final. And, with all due respect, surely nobody saw that coming. He only just qualified for the tournament, had been enduring his worst year in a long time and had given us more cause for concern than optimism.

"But in Dortmund, everything finally came together again. His scoring, his finishing and his incredible timing all clicked this weekend, with the exception of the final. Ultimately, you can only congratulate Martin, including on his qualification for the Grand Slam of Darts. This tournament could give Germany’s number one a huge boost for the rest of the season. Brilliant stuff, Martin — keep it up!

"Of course, tournament winner Ross Smith also deserves plenty of praise. He claimed his second major title of 2026 and, in my opinion, has now surely secured his Premier League place. He did not necessarily play his best darts, apart from against Luke Woodhouse, but his timing was incredible. The number of 180s he hit to leave himself a manageable finish and move ahead of his opponent was remarkable. Smith is finally in the world’s top 10 — a position he thoroughly deserves.

"For Krzysztof Ratajski, this tournament was also a reward for an excellent season. He is putting together another typically strong campaign and once again demonstrated his consistency. That victory over Littler clearly meant a great deal to the Pole.

"I remain concerned about Michael van Gerwen. The Dutchman suffered yet another first-round exit, and it is almost becoming the norm. Against Kevin Doets, he was the underdog, and at no point did I feel he was going to win the match.

"Ultimately, the European Championship did not produce the highest averages, with a few exceptions, but it was still an exciting tournament. And, as always, seeing different faces in the final was refreshing."