Switzerland crowns a new champion! Stephen Bunting wins the Swiss Darts Trophy. With an 8–3 victory in the final against Luke Woodhouse, the Englishman secures his second European Tour title of the season. He becomes only the third player this year to win more than one event.
A spectacular final in St. Jakobshalle
Around 3,500 fans celebrated the finalists in Basel’s St. Jakobshalle. The final turned into a high-quality showdown. For the first five legs, both players went toe-to-toe. Eventually, Stephen Bunting pulled away, taking three legs in a row to lay the foundation for his triumph.
From dark horse to European Tour star
Stephen Bunting has become one of the biggest crowd favorites and top professionals on the tour. Week after week, the world number four delivers outstanding performances and thrilling matches. Known as “The Bullet,” he excites fans not only with his darts but also with his electrifying walk-on song that sets every arena buzzing.
“I’m so happy about this win. It means a lot to me. We work so hard behind the scenes – my management, my family, my sponsors, and myself – and this title is for all of you. Thank you so much for your support,” said a beaming Stephen Bunting after lifting the trophy.
Road to the final
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6–3 opening win against Chris Landman
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Convincing victories over Krzysztof Ratajski (6–3) and Raymond van Barneveld (6–2)
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Nail-biting semifinal decider against Gian van Veen
Woodhouse happy despite final defeat
Luke Woodhouse, who played in his very first European Tour final, impressed throughout the tournament – even setting a new event record.
After defeating Lukas Wenig in his opener, he went on to beat Dave Chisnall, Jermaine Wattimena, Ryan Searle, and Cor Dekker.
Despite the loss, Woodhouse remained positive: “For me, it’s all positive. Just reaching the final is a huge achievement. I definitely would have signed for that at the start of the weekend, and I hope I can build on this performance for the rest of the year.”
Additional tournament highlights
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Martin Schindler makes history for German darts: By reaching the last 16, “The Wall” climbs to number 16 in the world rankings – the highest-ever position achieved by a German player.
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Luke Woodhouse sets a new tournament record: In his second-round match, he averaged 110.69 points, not only breaking the event record but also setting a new personal best.
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Cor Dekker writes Norwegian darts history: The rising star reached his first European Tour final session and became the first Norwegian to reach a PDC European Tour semifinal.
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20,000 darts fans in Basel: Once again, around 20,000 enthusiasts packed the St. Jakobshalle to celebrate the biggest party in professional darts.
Looking ahead: Final European Tour stop in Hildesheim
The European Tour season concludes with a very special stop – the legendary ELTEN Safety Shoes German Darts Championship in Hildesheim. The event has been sold out for months, with only Friday afternoon tickets remaining.
