Jan Schmidt Grand Slam of Darts 2026: Group N
Jan Schmidt Grand Slam of Darts 2026 marks a first for German darts. The German makes his major-tournament debut at the Grand Slam of Darts 2026, at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. For a player ranked 145th on the PDC Order of Merit, this is the kind of week that can change a career, and it comes after a demanding few days in Hildesheim.
On this page
- Jan Schmidt Grand Slam of Darts 2026: A Major Debut
- Group N: Dobey, Schindler and Schmidt
- The Road to Wolverhampton: PDC Europe Super League 2026
- Super League Group Stage: The Winners
- The Race to Wolverhampton
- Grand Slam of Darts 2026: The Format
- Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Prize Money
- Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Schedule
- Where to Watch the Grand Slam of Darts 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Schmidt has been drawn in Group N against Chris Dobey, the world number 16, and Martin Schindler, the world number 20 and the European Championship finalist. It is a tough introduction, but a genuine opportunity too, because only the group winner reaches the last 16. The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 schedule sets out the full week, from the opening matches to the final on Sunday 22 November.
Jan Schmidt Grand Slam of Darts 2026: A Major Debut
A major-tournament debut is a milestone for any player, and for Schmidt it comes at the Grand Slam of Darts 2026. The tournament runs from 14 to 22 November 2026 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. The 48-player field is split into 16 groups of three, and the group stage is short and sharp: only the winner of each group goes through.
Schmidt arrives as a World Youth Championship finalist. He faces Cam Crabtree in the World Youth Championship final on 29 November at Butlin’s Minehead Resort, so a strong showing in Wolverhampton would be ideal preparation for Minehead. He is ranked 145th on the PDC Order of Merit with £7,000 as of 26 October 2026, and eighth on the PDC Europe NEXT GEN Order of Merit with €2,983. The group format gives every player a chance: two matches decide who goes through, and a debutant in form can beat anyone over nine legs.
Group N: Dobey, Schindler and Schmidt
Group N brings together three players with very different profiles. Chris Dobey is the seeded player in the group, shown as the number 14 seed, and the world number 16. Dobey is a Players Championship event winner in 2026, so he arrives in Wolverhampton in winning form. He is an experienced major-tournament player, and he will expect to win the group.
Martin Schindler is the world number 20 and the European Championship finalist. As Germany’s leading player at this level, he brings major-final experience to the group. For Schmidt, facing Schindler means meeting the player who has set the standard for German darts in recent seasons. Schmidt is the debutant and the lowest-ranked player of the three, which makes him the outsider in Group N. But with only three players in the group, the Jan Schmidt Grand Slam of Darts 2026 campaign comes down to two matches against opponents he can study in detail.
| Player | World ranking | Group N note |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Dobey (14) | World number 16 | Players Championship event winner in 2026 |
| Martin Schindler | World number 20 | European Championship finalist |
| Jan Schmidt | World number 145 | Major-tournament debut; World Youth Championship finalist |
Groups A to H finish on Monday 16 November, Groups I to P on Tuesday 17 November, and the last 16 starts on Wednesday 18 November. The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 groups page lists all 16 groups, and the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 draw shows how the groups feed into the knockout bracket.
The Road to Wolverhampton: PDC Europe Super League 2026
Schmidt’s route to Wolverhampton went through the PDC Europe Super League 2026 in Hildesheim, from 10 to 13 November. The Super League carries a prize of its own: the winner earns a World Darts Championship place at Alexandra Palace. That made Hildesheim a serious competition in its own right, and Schmidt’s performance there showed why he belongs in the conversation.
In the Super League group stage, Schmidt finished second in Group A with seven wins from ten matches, which put him into the last 16. The group was won by René Eidams, who won nine from ten matches; the one match Eidams lost was against Schmidt, and Eidams avenged that defeat 6-3 in the return fixture. Schmidt’s three defeats were the two matches against Florian Preis and the return fixture against Eidams.
Super League Group Stage: The Winners
Four players won Super League groups: Eidams won Group A with nine wins from ten, and Kevin Jußen won Group B with eight wins. Paul Krohne won Group C with nine wins and the highest group-stage average at 89.98. Marcel Hausotter won Group D as the only unbeaten player, winning ten from ten with a leg difference of plus 28.
| Group | Winner | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | René Eidams | Nine wins from ten; only defeat was to Jan Schmidt |
| Group B | Kevin Jußen | Eight wins from ten |
| Group C | Paul Krohne | Nine wins from ten; highest group-stage average at 89.98 |
| Group D | Marcel Hausotter | Ten wins from ten; only unbeaten player; leg difference +28 |
Sixteen players reached the last 16, and the knockout stage started in Hildesheim on Thursday 12 November at 8pm, with Schmidt due to face Lukas Nußbaum at 10.30pm. The PDC Europe Super League 2026 guide has the full picture of the event.
The Race to Wolverhampton
Schmidt’s week is shaped by the calendar as much as by his opponents. The Super League final in Hildesheim is on Friday, and his first Grand Slam match in Wolverhampton is on Saturday. If he wins through to Friday’s final in Hildesheim, he faces a quick race to Wolverhampton for his first Grand Slam match on Saturday.
It is important to be clear about what is known. At the time of writing, the result of Schmidt’s last-16 match against Lukas Nußbaum had not been confirmed, so this guide does not claim that Schmidt won or lost that match, or that he reached the quarter-finals or the final of the Super League. What is certain is the shape of the week: a player who goes deep in Hildesheim has almost no rest before the Grand Slam. The Jan Schmidt Grand Slam of Darts 2026 schedule is demanding either way, but Schmidt has already played ten group-stage matches in Hildesheim, plus a last-16 tie on Thursday night, so he arrives in Wolverhampton match-sharp. The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 opening day guide covers how the tournament begins.
Grand Slam of Darts 2026: The Format
The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 runs from 14 to 22 November 2026 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton, with 48 players divided into 16 groups of three. Each player plays the other two in his group, and only the group winner reaches the last 16. Group matches are played over the best of nine legs. The last 16 is played over the best of 19 legs, and the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are all played over the best of 31 legs.
- 48 players in 16 groups of three
- Only the group winner reaches the last 16
- Group matches: best of nine legs
- Last 16: best of 19 legs
- Quarter-finals, semi-finals and final: best of 31 legs
- Tournament dates: 14–22 November 2026
- Venue: WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton
Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Prize Money
The prize fund for the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 is a record £1 million. The winner takes £200,000 and the runner-up receives £100,000. The two beaten semi-finalists each receive £60,000, and the four beaten quarter-finalists each receive £35,000. The group stage also pays: the group runner-up receives £12,500, and the player who finishes third receives £5,000. For a player ranked 145th with £7,000, as Schmidt is, even the group-stage prizes are significant, and winning the group opens the door to the larger prizes.
| Stage reached | Prize money |
|---|---|
| Winner | £200,000 |
| Runner-up | £100,000 |
| Semi-finalists | £60,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | £35,000 |
| Group runner-up | £12,500 |
| Third in group | £5,000 |
The full breakdown is set out on the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 prize money page, along with the record £1 million total fund.
Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Schedule
The schedule moves quickly once the group stage is done: Groups A to H finish on Monday 16 November, and Groups I to P on Tuesday 17 November. The last 16 starts on Wednesday 18 November, with the quarter-finals on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November. The semi-finals are on Sunday 22 November in the afternoon, and the final follows that evening. For Schmidt, the key dates are the opening days: his first match is on Saturday, and his group is decided by Tuesday 17 November at the latest.
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| Saturday 14 November 2026 | Tournament begins; Schmidt plays his first Grand Slam match |
| Monday 16 November 2026 | Groups A to H finish |
| Tuesday 17 November 2026 | Groups I to P finish |
| Wednesday 18 November 2026 | Last 16 starts |
| Friday 20 November 2026 | Quarter-finals |
| Saturday 21 November 2026 | Quarter-finals |
| Sunday 22 November 2026 | Semi-finals in the afternoon; final in the evening |
Where to Watch the Grand Slam of Darts 2026
The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 is broadcast by Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland. DAZN and Viaplay carry it worldwide, and PDCTV carries the tournament with the exception of the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The guide to what channel is the Grand Slam of Darts on sets out the broadcast arrangements in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jan Schmidt?
Jan Schmidt is a German darts player who makes his major-tournament debut at the Grand Slam of Darts 2026. He is ranked 145th on the PDC Order of Merit with £7,000 as of 26 October 2026, and eighth on the PDC Europe NEXT GEN Order of Merit with €2,983. He is also a World Youth Championship finalist.
Who are Jan Schmidt’s opponents in Group N?
Schmidt is in Group N with Chris Dobey and Martin Schindler. Dobey is the number 14 seed, the world number 16, and a Players Championship event winner in 2026. Schindler is the world number 20 and the European Championship finalist.
When does Jan Schmidt play his first Grand Slam match?
Schmidt plays his first Grand Slam match on Saturday, the opening day of the tournament. The Jan Schmidt Grand Slam of Darts 2026 opener comes the day after the Super League final in Hildesheim. The tournament runs from 14 to 22 November 2026 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton.
How did Jan Schmidt reach the Grand Slam?
Schmidt’s route to Wolverhampton went through the PDC Europe Super League 2026 in Hildesheim, from 10 to 13 November. In the Super League group stage, he finished second in Group A with seven wins from ten matches, behind group winner René Eidams, who won nine from ten.
What is the prize money at the Grand Slam of Darts 2026?
The total prize fund is a record £1 million. The winner receives £200,000, the runner-up receives £100,000, semi-finalists receive £60,000, and quarter-finalists receive £35,000. The group runner-up receives £12,500 and the player who finishes third in the group receives £5,000.
Where can I watch Jan Schmidt at the Grand Slam of Darts 2026?
Sky Sports broadcasts the tournament in the UK and Ireland, and DAZN and Viaplay carry it worldwide. PDCTV also carries the tournament, excluding the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The World Darts Championship 2027 field guide looks ahead to Alexandra Palace, where the Super League winner earns a place.
Conclusion
Jan Schmidt Grand Slam of Darts 2026 is a debut worth watching. A German ranked 145th in the world, a World Youth Championship finalist, and a man who won seven of ten Super League group matches in Hildesheim, Schmidt arrives in Wolverhampton with form behind him and a tough group in front of him. Dobey and Schindler are established, highly ranked opponents, and only the group winner reaches the last 16. But the best-of-nine-legs format, the short group stage and the sharpness he brings from Hildesheim all give him a genuine chance. If he wins Group N, his debut becomes a run into the last 16.
