European Championship 2026 Second Round Preview: Littler vs Aspinall Headlines Saturday
The European Championship 2026 second round is down to its last 16, and Saturday in Dortmund promises to be the best day of darts so far this weekend. The European Championship 2026 second round takes over the Westfalenhallen with a double session, headlined by world number one Luke Littler against Premier League champion Nathan Aspinall under the evening lights.
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Friday night was full of drama. Littler averaged over 105 in a ruthless 6-3 win over William O’Connor, while four-time champion Michael van Gerwen crashed out to young Dutchman Kevin Doets. With defending champion Gian van Veen in action against nine-darter hero Luke Woodhouse, there is no shortage of storylines ahead of today’s second round, played over the best of 19 legs.
European Championship 2026 second round: Friday night’s headlines
Luke Littler sent a warning to the rest of the field with the performance of the tournament so far. The 19-year-old hit six 180s, averaged 105.05 and dismissed O’Connor 6-3, keeping alive his bid for a clean sweep of major titles — the only big event he has yet to win.
The biggest shock came courtesy of Kevin Doets, who dumped out Michael van Gerwen 6-3 on his European Championship debut. The three-time world champion admitted afterwards that opponents are finding another gear against him at the moment, while Doets felt he was the better player throughout.
There were no such worries for the top seeds. Nathan Aspinall came from behind to beat Cristo Reyes 6-3, winning four straight legs with finishes of 134, 112 and 90. Jonny Clayton saw off Niko Springer 6-3 and Josh Rock won six consecutive legs to thrash Chris Dobey 6-1, setting up an all-British clash between two of the tour’s most entertaining players.
Martin Schindler edged second seed Wessel Nijman 6-5 in a thriller, while Jermaine Wattimena beat Ryan Joyce 6-3 — Joyce had lost his luggage on the flight and borrowed darts from a local collector before their European Championship 2026 second round tie.
Saturday’s order of play
All 16 remaining players return on Saturday for the European Championship 2026 second round across two sessions at the Westfalenhallen, following the European Championship 2026 first-round draw. The afternoon session starts at 12:00 BST and the evening session at 18:00 BST, with every tie played over the best of 19 legs. A place in Sunday’s quarter-finals is the prize.
Afternoon session:
- Cameron Menzies v Gerwyn Price
- Stephen Bunting v Kim Huybrechts
- Ross Smith v Damon Heta
- Gian van Veen v Luke Woodhouse
Evening session:
- Krzysztof Ratajski v Kevin Doets
- Martin Schindler v Jermaine Wattimena
- Nathan Aspinall v Luke Littler
- Jonny Clayton v Josh Rock
Littler vs Aspinall leads the bill
There is no question which tie carries top billing in the European Championship 2026 second round on Saturday. Littler against Aspinall is a meeting of two of darts’ biggest characters and fiercest competitors, and the winner will be fancied to go deep into Sunday’s finals day.
Littler looked untouchable on Friday — his scoring devastating, his finishing clinical — and he clearly means business in Dortmund. Aspinall will relish the underdog tag, though — the Stockport man thrives in big atmospheres and produced a superb burst of finishing to get past Reyes.
The defending champion is also in action. Gian van Veen takes on Luke Woodhouse, who was the star of Thursday’s opening night with a nine-darter in his 6-3 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode. Woodhouse reached the 2024 semi-finals, while Van Veen survived a first-round scare against Andrew Gilding — a slow start would be punished.
More Saturday ties to watch
Gerwyn Price looked close to his best on Thursday, averaging 99.26 in a 6-2 win over Rob Cross, and he faces Cameron Menzies, who eliminated the newly crowned Dutch Darts Champion Niels Zonneveld 6-3. Price is hitting his 180s with regularity and looks a genuine title threat as the European Championship 2026 second round unfolds.
Stephen Bunting faces Kim Huybrechts in the round’s most unusual tie. Bunting produced a sensational 160 checkout to beat Danny Noppert in a deciding leg on Thursday, while Huybrechts — drafted in at the last minute after Luke Humphries withdrew through illness — averaged 103.81 in a stunning 6-1 demolition of Ryan Searle. That was the Belgian’s first European Championship win since 2015, and he will have nothing to lose in the European Championship 2026 second round.
Elsewhere, top seed Ross Smith takes on Damon Heta. Smith survived a spirited Karel Sedlacek 6-4, while Heta produced the comeback of the first round, fighting back from 5-3 down to beat James Wade 6-5 after the 2018 champion missed four match darts. Kevin Doets follows his Van Gerwen heroics with a meeting against Krzysztof Ratajski, and there is no reason the Dutch debutant cannot go further.
How to watch the second round
In the UK, the European Championship is live on ITV4 and streamed via ITVX, giving fans free-to-air coverage of the whole weekend. For viewers outside the UK, broadcast arrangements vary by territory — DAZN and Viaplay carry the action in selected regions, while PDCTV offers coverage in eligible areas subject to restrictions. The full 2026 darts schedule is on Sky Sports, and DartsNews is tracking live results from Dortmund.
Sunday’s schedule begins with the quarter-finals in the afternoon, followed by the semi-finals and the final in the evening session. Every match in the European Championship 2026 second round from here on is a genuine occasion, and with £150,000 going to the winner from a £750,000 prize fund, there is plenty on the line.
Our predictions
Littler is the man to beat in the European Championship 2026 second round and should have too much for Aspinall, though the Englishman will make him work for it in front of a noisy Dortmund crowd. Expect a high-quality 10-7 or 10-8 in Littler’s favour, with both players producing plenty of 180s.
Van Veen against Woodhouse is the toughest tie to call in the European Championship 2026 second round. The defending champion should have the extra class in the longer format, but Woodhouse’s confidence after his nine-darter cannot be underestimated. Price should edge past Menzies, while Bunting’s greater experience at the business end of majors could prove decisive against the fairytale Huybrechts.
FAQ
What time does the European Championship second round start?
The afternoon session on Saturday starts at 12:00 BST, with the evening session from 18:00 BST. All European Championship 2026 second round ties are best of 19 legs.
Who is the defending European champion?
Gian van Veen is the defending champion, having beaten Luke Humphries 11-10 in last year’s final in Dortmund.
Why is Luke Humphries not playing?
Humphries withdrew from the tournament through illness before the first round and was replaced by Kim Huybrechts, who won his opening match 6-1.
Where can I watch the European Championship?
In the UK the tournament is live on ITV4 and streamed on ITVX. International coverage is available through DAZN and Viaplay in selected territories, plus PDCTV in eligible regions.
Conclusion
The European Championship 2026 second round wraps up on Saturday night, setting up Sunday’s quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in Dortmund. Sixteen players, eight ties and eight quarter-final places on the line — and a headline act in Littler against Aspinall that could be an instant classic. With the defending champion, a nine-darter hero and the debutant who beat Van Gerwen all in action, the road to Sunday’s final runs through Saturday’s drama in Dortmund.
