European Championship 2026: 5 Must-Watch First-Round Ties
The wait is almost over. The European Championship 2026 first round ties begin tomorrow night at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, and the schedule of play has now been confirmed for all 32 first-round ties across Thursday and Friday.
On this page
- Table of Contents
- Gerwyn Price v Rob Cross: A 2019 Final Rematch (Thursday)
- Gian van Veen v Andrew Gilding: The Title Defence Begins (Thursday)
- Luke Humphries v Ryan Searle: Last Year’s Runner-Up Returns (Thursday)
- Luke Littler v William O’Connor: The Missing Major Hunt Starts (Friday)
- Michael van Gerwen v Kevin Doets: The All-Dutch Clash (Friday)
- European Championship 2026 First Round Ties: When and Where to Watch
- Conclusion
This is the business end of the European Tour season. Only the top 32 on the one-year European Tour Order of Merit made it to Dortmund, with £150,000 waiting for the winner on Sunday night. Defending champion Gian van Veen opens his title defence on Thursday’s opening night, while world number one Luke Littler takes centre stage on Friday.
Every tie matters in a straight knockout played in legs, but five first-round clashes stand out as genuinely unmissable. Here are the European Championship 2026 first round ties to look for.
Table of Contents
Gerwyn Price v Rob Cross: A 2019 Final Rematch (Thursday)
Thursday’s opening night delivers an absolute cracker. Two former champions collide in a repeat of the 2019 final, when Cross lifted the trophy at Price’s expense. Cross, the two-time winner (2019, 2021), against Price, one of the most watchable players in the sport — this could steal the entire weekend.
Cross arrives with questions to answer after withdrawing from last weekend’s Dutch Darts Championship, while Price has been one of the most consistent heavy scorers on the circuit this autumn. With both men capable of averaging well over a ton, expect fireworks rather than a cagey tactical battle.
Verdict: Cross’s big-match temperament in this event is hard to ignore, but Price’s scoring power gives him the edge. Price in a last-leg thriller.
Gian van Veen v Andrew Gilding: The Title Defence Begins (Thursday)
The defending champion returns to the scene of his finest hour. Twelve months ago Van Veen announced himself on the biggest stage, beating Michael van Gerwen 11-9 in the semi-final before edging Luke Humphries 11-10 in a final for the ages, sealing it with a 100 checkout after Humphries missed a match dart.
He arrives in Dortmund in frightening form after breaking the European Tour record average with a 120.24 on Saturday. The Dortmund crowd adores him, and opening-night headline slots are made for players like this.
Gilding, the surprise 2023 UK Open champion, will be no pushover — his awkward, deliberate style has unsettled plenty of favourites. But defending a major is a different kind of pressure, and how Van Veen handles the opening exchanges on Thursday will tell us everything.
Verdict: Van Veen’s form and the home crowd carry him through. Van Veen by three or four legs.
Luke Humphries v Ryan Searle: Last Year’s Runner-Up Returns (Thursday)
Luke Humphries has unfinished business in Dortmund. Humphries has since added the World Grand Prix to his collection, and revenge narratives tend to bring the best out of him.
Ryan Searle is a dangerous first-round draw for anyone. A World Championship semi-finalist with one of the most natural throwing actions in the game, “Heavy Metal” can run up a big average when his rhythm clicks. Seeded 12th after a thin European Tour season by his standards, Humphries will know he cannot afford a slow start.
Verdict: Humphries is playing too well right now. The favourite progresses.
Luke Littler v William O’Connor: The Missing Major Hunt Starts (Friday)
All eyes are on the world number one on Friday night. The European Championship is the one major title missing from Luke Littler’s already remarkable collection, and the 19-year-old will be desperate to tick it off. He won two of the three European Tour events he entered this season, but O’Connor is exactly the kind of opponent seeds dread in round one. The Irish number one is in form, plays with freedom, and has nothing to lose against the biggest name in the sport. A short best-of-11 format means one inspired session can turn the whole tournament on its head.
Littler’s motivation will not be in doubt — and a motivated Littler, hunting the final missing piece of his major collection, is a terrifying prospect for the rest of the field.
Verdict: Littler’s class tells in the end, but do not be surprised if this goes the distance.
Michael van Gerwen v Kevin Doets: The All-Dutch Clash (Friday)
Friday night also brings a fascinating generational battle. Michael van Gerwen, the four-time European Champion (2014–2017, a record he shares with Phil Taylor), takes on fellow Dutchman and major debutant Kevin Doets.
Van Gerwen’s season has been below his own towering standards — seeded 19th after losing his opening match at five European Tour events — but writing off the greatest European player of all time in Dortmund is a fool’s errand. The crowd will be firmly behind him, and big occasions still bring out his best.
Doets, meanwhile, is one of the stories of the season: a first ranking title at Players Championship 13 and a run to the Austrian Open final. He has earned his place and will relish the stage — this tie is close to a coin flip.
Verdict: Experience just about wins out. Van Gerwen edges it.
European Championship 2026 First Round Ties: When and Where to Watch
The schedule is confirmed: eight European Championship 2026 first round ties on Thursday from 6pm UK time, the remaining eight on Friday from 6pm. Saturday brings the eight second-round ties across afternoon (12pm) and evening (6pm) sessions, with the quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon and the semi-finals and final on Sunday evening.
UK viewers can watch every session free-to-air on ITV4 and ITVX, with Viaplay in the Netherlands, DAZN in Germany and PDCTV carrying the action further afield.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the European Championship 2026 start?
The tournament runs from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October 2026 at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund. Play starts at 6pm UK time on Thursday and Friday.
Who is the defending champion?
Gian van Veen. He won his maiden major title in Dortmund last year, beating Luke Humphries 11-10 in the final. He opens his defence against Andrew Gilding on Thursday night.
What is the format?
A straight 32-player knockout played in legs. The first two rounds are best of 11 legs, the quarter-finals best of 19, and the semi-finals and final best of 21.
How much prize money is on offer?
The total prize fund is £750,000, with £150,000 going to the winner and £7,500 guaranteed for every player in the field.
Can Luke Littler win his missing major?
It is the one major title he has never won. He opens against William O’Connor on Friday night and would likely need to beat several former champions along the way.
Conclusion
The European Championship 2026 first round ties take place on Thursday and Friday nights in Dortmund, promising some of the best first-round darts we have seen all season. The Price v Cross rematch, Van Veen’s title defence and Littler’s latest attempt at the one title that has eluded him give fans three box-office storylines before the weekend has even begun.
Add Humphries’ revenge mission and a mouth-watering all-Dutch clash between Van Gerwen and Doets, and this is a first round no darts fan should miss. Set a reminder for 6pm, and enjoy four days of high-stakes knockout darts.
