European Championship (darts)

Last updated
European Championship
European Championship (darts) logo.svg
Tournament information
Venue Westfalenhallen
Location Dortmund, Germany
Established2008
Organisation(s) PDC
FormatLegs
Prize fund £600,000 (2023)
Month(s) PlayedVarious (2008–2013)
October/November (2014–)
Current champion(s)
Flag of England.svg Ritchie Edhouse

The European Championship is a PDC darts tournament which was created to allow the top European players to compete with the highest ranked players from the PDC Order of Merit. Since 2016, the tournament has taken place at the end of October, and features the top 32 players on the PDC European Tour Order of Merit.

Contents

History

The inaugural tournament – the 2008 European Championship – was held at the Südbahnhof in Frankfurt, Germany and featured a prize fund of £200,000. [1]

The tournament moved to the Claus Hotel & Event Center in Hoofddorp, Netherlands for 2009 featuring a similar prize fund. [2] The tournament returned to Germany in 2010, where it was held at Dinslaken. The 2011 tournament remained in Germany, only this time, it took place in Düsseldorf – the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. From 2012 to 2014, the tournament took place in Mülheim, Germany, then between 2015 and 2017, the tournament took place in Hasselt, Belgium, but in 2018, the tournament returned to Germany, moving to the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund. It moved to Göttingen in 2019, before moving to the König Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen in 2020, and then the Salzburgarena in Salzburg, Austria in 2021, before returning to Dortmund again in 2022.

Phil Taylor won the tournament on each of the first four stagings of the event, before Simon Whitlock took the title in 2012. Adrian Lewis gained his third major win after beating Whitlock in the 2013 edition of the tournament. Michael van Gerwen won the tournament for the first time in 2014 beating Terry Jenkins in the final. In 2015, van Gerwen came back from 7–10 behind to defeat Gary Anderson 11–10 in the final, then he beat Mensur Suljović 11–1 in the 2016 final, and he won it for a fourth year in a row in 2017, when he defeated Rob Cross 11–7 in the 2017 final. In 2018, James Wade won the title, and in 2019 Rob Cross became European champion, then Peter Wright won in 2020, before Cross regained the title in 2021.

Finals

YearChampion (average in final)ScoreRunner-up (average in final)Prize moneySponsorVenue
TotalChampionRunner-up
2008 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor (104.35)11–5 Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis (96.56)£200,000£50,000£25,000 PartyPoker.net Flag of Germany.svg Südbahnhof, Frankfurt
2009 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor (109.35)11–3 Flag of England.svg Steve Beaton (97.16)£20,000 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Claus Event Center, Hoofddorp
2010 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor (105.74)11–1 Flag of England.svg Wayne Jones (94.64) Flag of Germany.svg Stadthalle Dinslaken, Dinslaken
2011 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor (109.29)11–8 Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis (98.72) Flag of Germany.svg Maritim Hotel, Düsseldorf
2012 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Whitlock (94.91)11–5 Flag of England.svg Wes Newton (89.47) Flag of Germany.svg RWE-Sporthalle, Mülheim
2013 Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis (103.34)11–6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Whitlock (99.59)
2014 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen (98.16)11–4 Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins (92.90)£250,000£55,000£25,000 888.com
2015 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen (107.28)11–10 Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson (102.42)£300,000£65,000£35,000 Unibet Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ethias Arena, Hasselt
2016 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen (111.62)11–1 Flag of Austria.svg Mensur Suljović (85.91)£400,000£100,000£40,000
2017 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen (108.91)11–7 Flag of England.svg Rob Cross (102.39)
2018 Flag of England.svg James Wade (91.44)11–8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Whitlock (88.81) Flag of Germany.svg Westfalenhallen, Dortmund
2019 Flag of England.svg Rob Cross (93.12)11–6 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Gerwyn Price (84.51)£500,000£120,000£60,000 Flag of Germany.svg Lokhalle, Göttingen
2020 Flag of Scotland.svg Peter Wright (104.33)11–4 Flag of England.svg James Wade (95.28) Flag of Germany.svg König Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen
2021 Flag of England.svg Rob Cross (92.91)11–8 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen (93.66) Cazoo Flag of Austria.svg Salzburgarena, Salzburg
2022 Flag of England.svg Ross Smith (101.32)11–8 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith (100.47) Flag of Germany.svg Westfalenhallen, Dortmund
2023 Flag of Scotland.svg Peter Wright (97.39)11–6 Flag of England.svg James Wade (92.09)£600,000Machineseeker
2024 Flag of England.svg Ritchie Edhouse (90.55)11–3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jermaine Wattimena (84.64)

Records and statistics

As of 27 October 2024

Total finalist appearances

RankPlayerWonRunner-upFinalsAppearances
1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 41516
2 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 4049
3 Flag of England.svg Rob Cross 2138
4 Flag of Scotland.svg Peter Wright 20213
5 Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis 12310
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Whitlock 12311
Flag of England.svg James Wade 12316
8 Flag of England.svg Ritchie Edhouse 1012
Flag of England.svg Ross Smith 1015
10 Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson 0117
Flag of England.svg Steve Beaton 0115
Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins 0119
Flag of England.svg Wayne Jones 0114
Flag of England.svg Michael Smith 01111
Flag of England.svg Wes Newton 0116
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Gerwyn Price 01110
Flag of Austria.svg Mensur Suljović 01113
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jermaine Wattimena 0114

Champions by country

CountryPlayersTotalFirst titleLast title
Flag of England.svg England 61020082024
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 1420142017
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland 1220202023
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 1120122012

Nine-dart finishes

Four nine-darters have been thrown at the European Championship. The first one was in 2011.

PlayerYear (+ Round)MethodOpponentResult
Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis 2011, Semi-Final 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld 11–10
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 2014, Semi-Final 2 x T20, T19; 3 x T20; 2 x T20, D12 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld 11–6
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kyle Anderson 2017, Semi-Final 3 x T20; 3 x T20, T20, T19, D12 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 10–11
Flag of Portugal (official).svg José de Sousa 2020, Last 32 3 x T20; 2 x T20, T19; 2 x T20, D12 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jeffrey de Zwaan 6–3

High averages

Ten highest European Championship one-match averages
AveragePlayerYear (+ Round)OpponentResult
118.14 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 2009, Quarter-Final Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson 10–3
113.92 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 2008, Last 16 Flag of England.svg Mervyn King 9–3
113.33 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 2008, Semi-Final Flag of Scotland.svg Robert Thornton 11–7
113.04 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld 2012, Last 32 Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins 6–1
111.62 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 2016, Final Flag of Austria.svg Mensur Suljović 11–1
111.33 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Jonny Clayton 2019, Last 32 Flag of England.svg James Wade 6–0
111.03 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 2009, Last 32 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Toon Greebe 6–2
111.00 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 2014, Quarter-Final Flag of England.svg Dave Chisnall 10–5
110.88 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 2009, Last 16 Flag of Scotland.svg Robert Thornton 9–0
110.32 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 2018, Last 32 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Nicholson 6–2
Five highest losing averages
AveragePlayerYear (+ Round)OpponentResult
107.56 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Gerwyn Price 2021, Quarter-Final Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 8–10
106.12 Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson 2009, Quarter-Final Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 3–10
106.12 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 2015, Quarter-Final Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis 9–10
105.10 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 2019, Last 32 Flag of England.svg Ross Smith 5–6
104.92 Flag of Latvia.svg Madars Razma 2023, Last 32 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 5–6
Different players with a 100+ match average (Updated 27/10/24 afternoon session)
PlayerTotalHighest Av.Year (+ Round)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 30111.622016, Final
Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 26118.142009, Quarter-Final
Flag of Scotland.svg Peter Wright 14104.742015, Semi-Final
Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis 8108.622008, Quarter-Final
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Gerwyn Price 8107.562021, Quarter-Final
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld 7113.042012, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Dave Chisnall 6109.752019, Last 16
Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson 6106.262015, Semi-Final
Flag of England.svg Michael Smith 6106.092019, Last 32
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Danny Noppert 6102.412024, Quarter-Final
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Jonny Clayton 4111.332019, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Mervyn King 4104.002009, Last 16
Flag of England.svg Colin Lloyd 4104.002009, Last 16
Flag of England.svg Nathan Aspinall 4103.342021, Quarter-Final
Flag of England.svg Stephen Bunting 4102.682014, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Ryan Searle 4102.432022, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Luke Humphries 3106.492024, Last 32
Flag of Austria.svg Mensur Suljović 3105.502016, Quarter-Final
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Dirk van Duijvenbode 3104.152022, Quarter-Final
Flag of England.svg Rob Cross 3102.392017, Final
Flag of England.svg James Wade 3101.812011, Last 16
Flag of England.svg Ross Smith 3101.632022, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Ritchie Edhouse 2109.482024, Last 32
Flag of South Africa.svg Devon Petersen 2106.302020, Quarter-Final
Flag of England.svg Chris Dobey 2104.632022, Quarter-Final
Flag of Germany.svg Ricardo Pietreczko 2104.282023, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Mark Walsh 2104.102008, Last 32
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jelle Klaasen 2103.762013, Last 16
Flag of England.svg Ian White 2103.642020, Last 16
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Whitlock 2102.522011, Last 32
Flag of Scotland.svg Robert Thornton 2102.122008, Semi-Final
Flag of Germany.svg Martin Schindler 2101.782024, Last 32
Ulster Banner.svg Josh Rock 2101.692022, Last 16
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dimitri Van den Bergh 2101.532022, Last 32
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jermaine Wattimena 2100.872024, Last 16
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Gian van Veen 1107.342023, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Wes Newton 1106.092012, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Jamie Caven 1106.092013, Last 32
Flag of Portugal (official).svg José de Sousa 1105.282022, Last 32
Flag of Latvia.svg Madars Razma 1104.922023, Last 32
Ulster Banner.svg Brendan Dolan 1104.682014, Last 32
Flag of England.svg James Wilson 1103.642018, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Dennis Priestley 1102.352008, Last 16
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jeffrey de Zwaan 1101.872019, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Colin Osborne 1101.802009, Last 16
Flag of England.svg Steve West 1101.672018, Quarter-Final
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Damon Heta 1101.662021, Last 16
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Nicholson 1101.612011, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Ronnie Baxter 1101.452011, Last 32
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kyle Anderson 1101.092018, Last 32
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Vincent van der Voort 1101.092014, Last 32
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ronny Huybrechts 1100.972013, Last 32
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kim Huybrechts 1100.862015, Last 32
Flag of Spain.svg Cristo Reyes 1100.692015, Last 32
Flag of Norway.svg Robert Wagner 1100.592014, Last 32
Flag of Germany.svg Gabriel Clemens 1100.362020, Last 32
Flag of Lithuania.svg Darius Labanauskas 1100.062020, Last 32
Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins 1100.062014, Last 32
Five highest tournament averages
AveragePlayerYear
111.54 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 2009
108.20 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 2008
105.87 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 2016
105.53 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 2016
105.15 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 2015

Television coverage

The PDC announced on August 12, 2008 that ITV4 would broadcast the entire event. [1] This was the second PDC darts tournament that ITV4 have broadcast, after the inaugural Grand Slam of Darts – after its rating success ITV had chosen to broadcast this event as well as the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts.

The 2009 event was not televised in the UK, but the 2010 event was broadcast on Bravo, which screened live darts for the first time in its history. [3] However, Bravo ceased broadcasting at the start of 2011. On June 26, 2011, it was announced that ITV4 would broadcast the 2011 event. [4] In the Netherlands it is broadcast on RTL7 and in Germany it is broadcast on Sport1. On August 8, 2012 it was announced that ESPN would televise the event, becoming the first broadcaster to show both BDO and PDC dart tournaments. From 2013, the tournament returned to ITV4 as part of a deal between ITV and the PDC to show 4 tournaments from the PDC calendar.

List of United Kingdom broadcasters

Sponsorship

PartyPoker.net sponsored first six editions of the tournament – they also sponsored the US Open and the Las Vegas Desert Classic, two other non-defunct televised PDC events. In 2014, 888.com took over sponsoring of the tournament for one edition, with the tournament being sponsored by Unibet since 2015. [5] In 2021, the tournament will be sponsored by Cazoo, who will also sponsor the PDC World Cup of Darts and the Grand Slam of Darts. Ahead of the 2023 tournament, Machineseeker were announced to be the new title sponsors. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 PDC website report – European Championship Details Confirmed Archived 2008-08-15 at the Wayback Machine from the Professional Darts Corporation, retrieved 12-08-2008
  2. "European Championship Venue". pdc.tv. 2009-04-22. Archived from the original on 2009-04-25. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  3. "PDC Link Up With Bravo". pdc.tv. 2010-05-22. Archived from the original on 2010-05-25. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  4. "European Championship On ITV4". pdc.tv. 2011-06-24. Archived from the original on 2011-06-27. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  5. "888.com European Championship Darts Preview , Schedule of Play & Results - SportsNewsIRELAND". Archived from the original on 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  6. "Machineseeker to sponsor 2023 European Championship". www.pdc.tv. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2024.