The Machineseeker European Championship begins on Thursday (October 22), as the top 32 players from the 2026 European Tour rankings compete for glory at Dortmund’s Westfalenhalle.
Reigning champion Gian van Veen will be aiming to go back-to-back on German soil, with world number one Luke Littler and last year’s runner-up Luke Humphries also set to take centre stage.
The tournament’s latest edition – taking place from October 22-25 – will see the sport’s biggest names vying for a boosted £150,000 top prize, including top seed and former champion Ross Smith. Round One will be held across evening sessions on Thursday and Friday, as 2022 winner Smith opens his challenge against Czechia’s number one Karel Sedlacek on the tournament’s opening night.
Smith secured top spot on the yearly European Tour rankings following a sensational campaign across the continent, featuring victories in Riesa and Budapest.
Thursday’s action will also be headlined by reigning champion Van Veen, who faces 2023 UK Open champion Andrew Gilding on his return to the Westfalenhalle.
Van Veen – a runner-up in February’s Poland Darts Open – ended the season with a hat-trick of semi-final appearances, while he also produced a record European Tour average of 120.24 in Maastricht last weekend.
“The last couple of weeks and months have been going a lot better than at the start of the year,” insisted the Dutch number one.
26/10/25: 2025 Machineseeker European Championship, Dortmund. Final. Gian van Veen v Luke Humphries. Picture: Michael Cooper
“Especially with the 120 average last weekend – even though it’s only six legs, that also gives me a massive confidence boost to know that the work I’ve been putting in is showing on stage.
“I think it will be very special to be back in Dortmund after last year. Of course it was where I reached my first major semi-final three years ago, so it’s a nice tournament for me.
“It would mean absolutely everything to retain the title. That trophy has had a special place in our house and it’s about to leave our house again, so I would like to have it back, otherwise it will feel empty!”
Van Veen edged out Humphries in a captivating final 12 months ago, and the world number two will also kick off his challenge against Ryan Searle on Thursday.
Humphries returned to winning ways with his second World Grand Prix triumph earlier this month, and he’s hoping to build on that success ahead of his sixth appearance in Dortmund.
“I don’t think the sport is in that position where you can just go and dominate,” conceded the 2023/24 World Champion.
“You just have to pick up the tournaments that are there when you see them. It’s a tough situation in darts now. You can’t pick up titles like you used to be able to. There are so many players playing really well, so now, I’ll try and take the confidence and go on and make sure I keep pushing to try and win more.”
Two-time champion Rob Cross plays Welsh number one Gerwyn Price in another blockbuster opening night tussle, while 2018 winner James Wade faces Australian number one Damon Heta.
Elsewhere, newly crowned Dutch Darts Championship winner Niels Zonneveld plays Cameron Menzies – the solitary Scotsman in this year’s field – as Dutch duo Danny Noppert and Dirk van Duijvenbode meet Stephen Bunting and Luke Woodhouse respectively.
World Champion Littler will be the star attraction on Friday evening, as the teenage sensation sets his sights on the only Premier televised title that currently eludes him.
Littler won two of the three European Tour events he competed in during 2026, and the 19-year-old faces Ireland’s William O’Connor for a place in round two.
Four-time champion Michael van Gerwen will come up against his compatriot Kevin Doets in another standout clash, as Josh Rock and Chris Dobey also lock horns.
Swiss Darts Trophy champion Jonny Clayton takes on home favourite Niko Springer, while German number one Martin Schindler has been handed a tough test against number two seed Wessel Nijman.
“I’m not in the very best phase at the moment, so I need to fight for every win,” admitted Schindler, who secured his qualification in last-gasp fashion in Maastricht. “It wasn’t happening for me on the European Tour for a couple of months, but I was never doubting or distrusting myself. I kept believing and even though it didn’t happen, I looked fear in the eye and I won.”
Friday’s other ties will see sixth seed Nathan Aspinall play Spain’s returning star Cristo Reyes, Poland’s premier player Krzysztof Ratajski will take on Dave Chisnall, and Ryan Joyce kicks off the evening’s proceedings against 2024 runner-up Jermaine Wattimena.
Round Two will take place across a bumper double session on Saturday, before the quarter-finals are held on Sunday afternoon, ahead of the semi-finals and final during a massive evening session.
The 2026 Machineseeker European Championship will be broadcast live on ITV4 in the UK.
