The tournament will be played in the classic knockout system. The first four rounds will be played in a best of 11 legs format, the semi-finals in a best of 13 legs format and the final in a best of 15 legs format. All legs will be played in double-out mode.
Match schedule & sessions
Friday, 17 April 2026
Afternoon session (from 1 p.m.) – 1st round
Karel Sedlacek 5:6 Valters Melderis
Wessel Nijman 6:2 Ian White
Niels Zonneveld 3:6 Keane Barry
Krzysztof Ratajski 6:3 Michael Hurtz
Kevin Doets 6:4 Jurjen van der Velde
Andrew Gilding 6:3 Paul Krohne
Rob Cross 2:6 Mickey Mansell
Dave Chisnall 6:4 Petr Krivka
Evening session (from 7 p.m.) – 1st round
William O’Connor 5:6 Michael Unterbuchner
Joe Cullen 6:1 Maik Kuivenhoven
Peter Wright 3:6 Jeffrey De Zwaan
Cameron Menzies 6:3 Raymond van Barneveld
Damon Heta 6:4 Madars Razma
Dirk van Duijvenbode 3:6 Kim Huybrechts
Daryl Gurney 5:6 Oskar Lukasiak
Niko Springer 6:1 Robin Masino
Saturday, 18 April 2026
Afternoon session (from 1 p.m.) – 2nd round
Mike De Decker 4:6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Jermaine Wattimena 6:3 Kevin Doets
Ryan Searle 2:6 Wessel Nijman
Danny Noppert 6:5 Oskar Lukasiak
Chris Dobey 6:2 Andrew Gilding
Gary Anderson 3:6 Niko Springer
Stephen Bunting 6:3 Mickey Mansell
Josh Rock 6:3 Keane Barry
Evening session (from 7 p.m.) – 2nd round
Ross Smith 6:3 Cameron Menzies
Gerwyn Price 6:4 Dave Chisnall
Nathan Aspinall 6:1 Jeffrey De Zwaan
James Wade 6:3 Kim Huybrechts
Gian van Veen 3:6 Joe Cullen
Michael van Gerwen 6:2 Michael Unterbuchner
Martin Schindler 6:5 Damon Heta
Jonny Clayton 6:1 Valters Melderis
Sunday, 19 April 2026
Afternoon session (from 1 p.m.) – Round of 16
Joe Cullen 2:6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Danny Noppert 6:4 Niko Springer
James Wade 3:6 Nathan Aspinall
Josh Rock 5:6 Ross Smith
Michael van Gerwen 6:5 Jermaine Wattimena
Stephen Bunting 3:6 Wessel Nijman
Jonny Clayton 1:6 Martin Schindler
Gerwyn Price 6:4 Chris Dobey
Evening session (from 7 p.m.) – Quarter-finals, semi-finals & final
Krzysztof Ratajski 6:5 Danny Noppert
Nathan Aspinall 4:6 Ross Smith
Michael van Gerwen 2:6 Wessel Nijman
Martin Schindler 5:6 Gerwyn Price
Krzysztof Ratajski 5:7 Ross Smith
Wessel Nijman 4:7 Gerwyn Price
Ross Smith 6:8 Gerwyn Price
The top-ranked players in the PDC Order of Merit will enter the tournament in the second round, while the remaining players will compete in the first round.
Prize money
In 2026, the prize money for European Tour events was significantly increased. A total of £230,000 will be distributed as follows:
- Winner:£ 35,000
- Runner-up:£ 15,000
- Semi-finalists:£ 10,000
- Quarter-finalists: £ 8,000
- Round of 16:£ 5,000
- Second round:£ 3,500
- First round:£ 2,000
The prize money counts towards the PDC Order of Merit, the ProTour Order of Merit and the European Tour Order of Merit (qualification for the European Championship).
Qualification
The field of participants is made up of various qualification routes to ensure a mix of world stars and regional talent:
Top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit: Luke Littler*, Luke Humphries*, Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton, James Wade, Josh Rock, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Danny Noppert, Gary Anderson, Ryan Searle, Chris Dobey, Ross Smith, Nathan Aspinall, Martin Schindler
Top 16 of the ProTour Order of Merit: Wessel Nijman, Jermaine Wattimena, Damon Heta, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Luke Woodhouse*, Cameron Menzies, Niels Zonneveld, Niko Springer, Krzysztof Ratajski, Daryl Gurney, William O’Connor, Ryan Joyce*, Dave Chisnall, Andrew Gilding, Joe Cullen, Karel Sedlacek
Tour Card Holder Qualifier: Rob Cross, Maik Kuivenhoven, Keane Barry, Oskar Lukasiak, Kim Huybrechts, Jeffrey de Zwaan, Mickey Mansell, Madars Razma, Raymond van Barneveld, Jurjen van der Velde
Host Nation Qualifier: Michael Hurtz, Paul Krohne, Michael Unterbuchner, Robin Masino
Nordic & Baltic Qualifier: Valters Melderis
East Europe Qualifier: Petr Krivka
*Luke Littler and Luke Humphries withdrew from the tournament in advance. As a result, Mike De Decker and Kevin Doets entered the field via the Pro Tour Rankings, while Jermaine Wattimena and Mike De Decker moved into seeded positions. Luke Woodhouse, who would have qualified through the Pro Tour Rankings, withdrew for private reasons. This allowed Peter Wright to join the field as a replacement via the Pro Tour Rankings. Ryan Joyce, who would have qualified via the Pro Tour rankings, withdrew from the event. As a result, Ian White moved into the field of participants through the reserve list.
TV broadcast
Fans can watch the entire tournament live. The ELTEN Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix will be broadcast on the following channels:
PDC TV:
International live stream for subscribers (original commentary).
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Current scores and highlights can be found on the PDC Europe channels.
DAZN:
Broadcasts all sessions live in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in German.
SPORT1:
Live coverage of all sessions on German television.
Previous winners
- 2025: Gary Anderson 8:0 Andrew Gilding
- 2024: Gary Anderson 8:6 Ross Smith
- 2023: Rob Cross 8:6 Luke Humphries
- 2022: Luke Humphries 8:7 Rob Cross
- 2020: José de Sousa 8:4 Michael van Gerwen
- 2019: Ian White 8:7 Peter Wright
- 2018: Michael van Gerwen 8:3 James Wade
- 2017: Peter Wright 6:0 Michael van Gerwen
- 2016: Michael van Gerwen 6:2 Peter Wright
- 2015: Kim Huybrechts 6:5 Peter Wright
- 2014: Mervyn King 6:5 Michael Smith