2026 IDF European Championship: Difference between revisions
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The '''2026 IDF European Championship''' is | The '''2026 IDF European Championship''' is a professional [[darts]] tournament organised by the [[International Darts Federation]] (IDF), taking place from 22 to 25 October 2026 at the [[Westfalenhallen]] in [[Dortmund]], Germany. | ||
The tournament | The tournament features the top 32 players from the final 2026 IDF European Tour Order of Merit. [[Alex Brow]] is the defending champion, having won the [[2025 IDF European Championship]]. | ||
The IDF introduced an expanded match format for the 2026 edition, with the second round and quarter-finals increasing to best of 21 legs, the semi-finals to best of 25 legs and the final to best of 31 legs. | The IDF introduced an expanded match format for the 2026 edition, with the second round and quarter-finals increasing to best of 21 legs, the semi-finals to best of 25 legs and the final to best of 31 legs. | ||
[[Elias Storm]] | [[Elias Storm]] is making his return to competitive darts at the tournament after missing several weeks with a broken wrist sustained during the break following the [[2026 IDF World Grand Prix]]. Despite missing the latter part of the European Tour season, Storm qualified fifth on the European Tour Order of Merit. | ||
==Format== | ==Format== | ||
The tournament | The tournament is being played as a 32-player single-elimination event. | ||
All matches | All matches are contested in a straight legs format, with players required to finish each leg on a double. | ||
The match lengths | The match lengths are: | ||
* First round: best of 11 legs | * First round: best of 11 legs | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
* Final: best of 31 legs | * Final: best of 31 legs | ||
The first round | The first round is therefore first to six legs, the second round and quarter-finals first to 11, the semi-finals first to 13, and the final first to 16. | ||
The 2026 tournament | The 2026 tournament is the first edition of the IDF European Championship to feature a best-of-31-legs final. | ||
==Prize money== | ==Prize money== | ||
| Line 81: | Line 81: | ||
|} | |} | ||
Prize money earned at the tournament | Prize money earned at the tournament counts towards the [[IDF Order of Merit]]. | ||
==Qualification== | ==Qualification== | ||
| Line 105: | Line 105: | ||
# Rhys Morgan | # Rhys Morgan | ||
# Bram De Waal | # Bram De Waal | ||
# Niklas Hofer | # Niklas Hofer – first round | ||
# Benjamin Carter | # Benjamin Carter | ||
# Ethan Mitchell | # Ethan Mitchell | ||
# Oliver Bartlett | # Oliver Bartlett – first round | ||
# Harry Lewis | # Harry Lewis | ||
# Callum Pike | # Callum Pike | ||
| Line 117: | Line 117: | ||
# Sean Donovan | # Sean Donovan | ||
# Lukas Weber | # Lukas Weber | ||
# Matteo Vermeulen | # Matteo Vermeulen – first round | ||
# Connor Hayes | # Connor Hayes | ||
# Mason Kelly | # Mason Kelly – first round | ||
# Cole Hamilton | # Cole Hamilton | ||
# Jamie Fletcher | # Jamie Fletcher | ||
| Line 125: | Line 125: | ||
# Ryan Thomas | # Ryan Thomas | ||
# Lewis Moorcroft | # Lewis Moorcroft | ||
==Tournament summary== | |||
===First round=== | |||
The tournament began on 22 October with four matches during the afternoon session. | |||
Eighth seed [[Wyatt Walker]] opened the tournament with a 6–2 victory over [[Matteo Vermeulen]]. Walker broke throw in the third leg and moved 4–1 ahead before closing out the match in eight legs. He averaged 103.74, compared with Vermeulen's 96.82. | |||
[[Jeroen van Dijk]] produced the first upset of the tournament by defeating 13th seed [[Niklas Hofer]] 6–5. Hofer led 4–2 before Van Dijk won three consecutive legs to move ahead. Hofer forced a deciding leg, but Van Dijk held throw in 13 darts to complete the victory. Van Dijk averaged 101.46, while Hofer averaged 100.83. | |||
Sixth seed [[Quinn Sanders]] defeated [[Mason Kelly]] 6–3. Kelly remained within one leg at 4–3 before Sanders won the final two legs, including a 12-dart leg to seal the match. Sanders averaged 104.18 to Kelly's 99.37. | |||
The session concluded with [[Harry Lewis]] defeating 16th seed [[Oliver Bartlett]] 6–4. Bartlett led 3–1 before Lewis won four consecutive legs to move 5–3 ahead. Bartlett reduced the deficit in the ninth leg, but Lewis completed the win on double 16 in the following leg. Lewis averaged 102.29, compared with Bartlett's 100.14. | |||
==Draw== | ==Draw== | ||
| Line 148: | Line 161: | ||
| RD1-seed03 = 16 | | RD1-seed03 = 16 | ||
| RD1-team03 = {{PDCFlag|Oliver Bartlett|avg=}} | | RD1-team03 = {{PDCFlag|Oliver Bartlett|avg=100.14}} | ||
| RD1-score03 = | | RD1-score03 = 4 | ||
| RD1-seed04 = 17 | | RD1-seed04 = 17 | ||
| RD1-team04 = {{PDCFlag|Harry Lewis|avg=}} | | RD1-team04 = {{PDCFlag|Harry Lewis|avg=102.29}} | ||
| RD1-score04 = | | RD1-score04 = 6 | ||
| RD1-seed05 = 8 | | RD1-seed05 = 8 | ||
| RD1-team05 = {{PDCFlag|Wyatt Walker|avg=}} | | RD1-team05 = {{PDCFlag|Wyatt Walker|avg=103.74}} | ||
| RD1-score05 = | | RD1-score05 = 6 | ||
| RD1-seed06 = 25 | | RD1-seed06 = 25 | ||
| RD1-team06 = {{PDCFlag|Matteo Vermeulen|avg=}} | | RD1-team06 = {{PDCFlag|Matteo Vermeulen|avg=96.82}} | ||
| RD1-score06 = | | RD1-score06 = 2 | ||
| RD1-seed07 = 9 | | RD1-seed07 = 9 | ||
| Line 176: | Line 189: | ||
| RD1-seed11 = 13 | | RD1-seed11 = 13 | ||
| RD1-team11 = {{PDCFlag|Niklas Hofer|avg=}} | | RD1-team11 = {{PDCFlag|Niklas Hofer|avg=100.83}} | ||
| RD1-score11 = | | RD1-score11 = 5 | ||
| RD1-seed12 = 20 | | RD1-seed12 = 20 | ||
| RD1-team12 = {{PDCFlag|Jeroen van Dijk|avg=}} | | RD1-team12 = {{PDCFlag|Jeroen van Dijk|avg=101.46}} | ||
| RD1-score12 = | | RD1-score12 = 6 | ||
| RD1-seed13 = 5 | | RD1-seed13 = 5 | ||
| Line 239: | Line 252: | ||
| RD1-seed29 = 6 | | RD1-seed29 = 6 | ||
| RD1-team29 = {{PDCFlag|Quinn Sanders|avg=}} | | RD1-team29 = {{PDCFlag|Quinn Sanders|avg=104.18}} | ||
| RD1-score29 = | | RD1-score29 = 6 | ||
| RD1-seed30 = 27 | | RD1-seed30 = 27 | ||
| RD1-team30 = {{PDCFlag|Mason Kelly|avg=}} | | RD1-team30 = {{PDCFlag|Mason Kelly|avg=99.37}} | ||
| RD1-score30 = | | RD1-score30 = 3 | ||
| RD1-seed31 = 11 | | RD1-seed31 = 11 | ||
| Line 251: | Line 264: | ||
| RD1-team32 = {{PDCFlag|Noah Parker|avg=}} | | RD1-team32 = {{PDCFlag|Noah Parker|avg=}} | ||
| RD1-score32 = | | RD1-score32 = | ||
| RD2-seed01 = | |||
| RD2-team01 = | |||
| RD2-score01 = | |||
| RD2-seed02 = 17 | |||
| RD2-team02 = {{PDCFlag|Harry Lewis|avg=}} | |||
| RD2-score02 = | |||
| RD2-seed03 = 8 | |||
| RD2-team03 = {{PDCFlag|Wyatt Walker|avg=}} | |||
| RD2-score03 = | |||
| RD2-seed04 = | |||
| RD2-team04 = | |||
| RD2-score04 = | |||
| RD2-seed05 = | |||
| RD2-team05 = | |||
| RD2-score05 = | |||
| RD2-seed06 = 20 | |||
| RD2-team06 = {{PDCFlag|Jeroen van Dijk|avg=}} | |||
| RD2-score06 = | |||
| RD2-seed07 = | |||
| RD2-team07 = | |||
| RD2-score07 = | |||
| RD2-seed08 = | |||
| RD2-team08 = | |||
| RD2-score08 = | |||
| RD2-seed09 = | |||
| RD2-team09 = | |||
| RD2-score09 = | |||
| RD2-seed10 = | |||
| RD2-team10 = | |||
| RD2-score10 = | |||
| RD2-seed11 = | |||
| RD2-team11 = | |||
| RD2-score11 = | |||
| RD2-seed12 = | |||
| RD2-team12 = | |||
| RD2-score12 = | |||
| RD2-seed13 = | |||
| RD2-team13 = | |||
| RD2-score13 = | |||
| RD2-seed14 = | |||
| RD2-team14 = | |||
| RD2-score14 = | |||
| RD2-seed15 = 6 | |||
| RD2-team15 = {{PDCFlag|Quinn Sanders|avg=}} | |||
| RD2-score15 = | |||
| RD2-seed16 = | |||
| RD2-team16 = | |||
| RD2-score16 = | |||
}} | }} | ||
==Schedule== | ==Schedule== | ||
===22 October=== | ===22 October=== | ||
| Line 262: | Line 328: | ||
First round: | First round: | ||
* Wyatt Walker (8) | * Wyatt Walker (8) 6–2 Matteo Vermeulen (25) | ||
* | * Jeroen van Dijk (20) 6–5 Niklas Hofer (13) | ||
* Quinn Sanders (6) | * Quinn Sanders (6) 6–3 Mason Kelly (27) | ||
* Oliver Bartlett (16 | * Harry Lewis (17) 6–4 Oliver Bartlett (16) | ||
====Evening session==== | ====Evening session==== | ||
| Line 296: | Line 362: | ||
Second round: | Second round: | ||
* Winner of Brow/Moorcroft v | * Winner of Brow/Moorcroft v Harry Lewis | ||
* | * Wyatt Walker v winner of MacLeod/Weber | ||
* Winner of Reeves/Fletcher v | * Winner of Reeves/Fletcher v Jeroen van Dijk | ||
* Winner of Storm/Hamilton v winner of De Waal/Owens | * Winner of Storm/Hamilton v winner of De Waal/Owens | ||
| Line 307: | Line 373: | ||
* Winner of Mercer/Hayes v winner of Jackson/Donovan | * Winner of Mercer/Hayes v winner of Jackson/Donovan | ||
* Winner of Mad/McKenna v winner of Benjamin Carter/Blake Carter | * Winner of Mad/McKenna v winner of Benjamin Carter/Blake Carter | ||
* | * Quinn Sanders v winner of Morgan/Noah Parker | ||
===25 October=== | ===25 October=== | ||
| Line 324: | Line 390: | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Brow | Brow entered the tournament as defending champion after winning the 2025 edition. | ||
The 2026 European Championship | The 2026 European Championship also marks Storm's first competitive appearance since winning the [[2026 IDF World Grand Prix]]. Storm broke his wrist during the subsequent break and withdrew from the remaining events scheduled during his recovery. | ||
Storm was cleared to return shortly before the European Championship, although his absence from competition meant the event was expected to provide the first indication of his form following the injury. | Storm was cleared to return shortly before the European Championship, although his absence from competition meant the event was expected to provide the first indication of his form following the injury. | ||
Revision as of 11:53, 17 August 2026
| 2026 IDF European Championship | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament information | |||
| Dates | 22–25 October 2026 | ||
| Venue | Westfalenhallen | ||
| Location | Dortmund, Germany | ||
| Organisation(s) | IDF | ||
| Format | Legs | ||
| Prize fund | £600,000 | ||
| Winner's share | £120,000 | ||
| |||
The 2026 IDF European Championship is a professional darts tournament organised by the International Darts Federation (IDF), taking place from 22 to 25 October 2026 at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, Germany.
The tournament features the top 32 players from the final 2026 IDF European Tour Order of Merit. Alex Brow is the defending champion, having won the 2025 IDF European Championship.
The IDF introduced an expanded match format for the 2026 edition, with the second round and quarter-finals increasing to best of 21 legs, the semi-finals to best of 25 legs and the final to best of 31 legs.
Elias Storm is making his return to competitive darts at the tournament after missing several weeks with a broken wrist sustained during the break following the 2026 IDF World Grand Prix. Despite missing the latter part of the European Tour season, Storm qualified fifth on the European Tour Order of Merit.
Format
The tournament is being played as a 32-player single-elimination event.
All matches are contested in a straight legs format, with players required to finish each leg on a double.
The match lengths are:
- First round: best of 11 legs
- Second round: best of 21 legs
- Quarter-finals: best of 21 legs
- Semi-finals: best of 25 legs
- Final: best of 31 legs
The first round is therefore first to six legs, the second round and quarter-finals first to 11, the semi-finals first to 13, and the final first to 16.
The 2026 tournament is the first edition of the IDF European Championship to feature a best-of-31-legs final.
Prize money
The total prize fund for the tournament is £600,000, with £120,000 awarded to the champion.
| Stage | Prize money | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | £120,000 | 1 | £120,000 |
| Runner-up | £60,000 | 1 | £60,000 |
| Semi-finalists | £40,000 | 2 | £80,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | £25,000 | 4 | £100,000 |
| Second round | £12,500 | 8 | £100,000 |
| First round | £8,750 | 16 | £140,000 |
| Total | £600,000 | ||
Prize money earned at the tournament counts towards the IDF Order of Merit.
Qualification
Qualification was determined by the final 2026 IDF European Tour Order of Merit following the conclusion of the European Tour season.
The top 32 players qualified for the tournament and were seeded according to their final positions on the European Tour Order of Merit.
Brow finished first on the European Tour Order of Merit and entered the tournament as the top seed. Logan White qualified second, with Max Mad third and Parker Reeves fourth.
Storm qualified fifth despite missing the closing European Tour events after breaking his wrist.
Qualifiers
- Alex Brow
- Logan White
- Max Mad
- Parker Reeves
- Elias Storm
- Quinn Sanders
- Jack Mercer
- Wyatt Walker
- Duncan MacLeod
- Hunter Jackson
- Rhys Morgan
- Bram De Waal
- Niklas Hofer – first round
- Benjamin Carter
- Ethan Mitchell
- Oliver Bartlett – first round
- Harry Lewis
- Callum Pike
- Blake Carter
- Jeroen van Dijk
- Nathan Owens
- Noah Parker
- Sean Donovan
- Lukas Weber
- Matteo Vermeulen – first round
- Connor Hayes
- Mason Kelly – first round
- Cole Hamilton
- Jamie Fletcher
- Daniel McKenna
- Ryan Thomas
- Lewis Moorcroft
Tournament summary
First round
The tournament began on 22 October with four matches during the afternoon session.
Eighth seed Wyatt Walker opened the tournament with a 6–2 victory over Matteo Vermeulen. Walker broke throw in the third leg and moved 4–1 ahead before closing out the match in eight legs. He averaged 103.74, compared with Vermeulen's 96.82.
Jeroen van Dijk produced the first upset of the tournament by defeating 13th seed Niklas Hofer 6–5. Hofer led 4–2 before Van Dijk won three consecutive legs to move ahead. Hofer forced a deciding leg, but Van Dijk held throw in 13 darts to complete the victory. Van Dijk averaged 101.46, while Hofer averaged 100.83.
Sixth seed Quinn Sanders defeated Mason Kelly 6–3. Kelly remained within one leg at 4–3 before Sanders won the final two legs, including a 12-dart leg to seal the match. Sanders averaged 104.18 to Kelly's 99.37.
The session concluded with Harry Lewis defeating 16th seed Oliver Bartlett 6–4. Bartlett led 3–1 before Lewis won four consecutive legs to move 5–3 ahead. Bartlett reduced the deficit in the ninth leg, but Lewis completed the win on double 16 in the following leg. Lewis averaged 102.29, compared with Bartlett's 100.14.
Draw
The draw was confirmed following the completion of the European Tour Order of Merit.
Unlike an open draw, the bracket was determined directly by ranking position, with first playing 32nd, second playing 31st and the remaining players placed into a fixed seeded bracket.
| First round Best of 11 legs | Second round Best of 21 legs | Quarter-finals Best of 21 legs | Semi-finals Best of 25 legs | Final Best of 31 legs | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Alex Brow | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32 | Lewis Moorcroft | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Harry Lewis | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Oliver Bartlett 100.14 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Harry Lewis 102.29 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Wyatt Walker 103.74 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | Matteo Vermeulen 96.82 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Wyatt Walker | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Duncan MacLeod | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | Lukas Weber | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Parker Reeves | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | Jamie Fletcher | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | Jeroen van Dijk | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Niklas Hofer 100.83 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | Jeroen van Dijk 101.46 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Elias Storm | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | Cole Hamilton | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Bram De Waal | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | Nathan Owens | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Logan White | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 | Ryan Thomas | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Ethan Mitchell | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Callum Pike | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Jack Mercer | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | Connor Hayes | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Hunter Jackson | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | Sean Donovan | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Max Mad | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Daniel McKenna | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Benjamin Carter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | Blake Carter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Quinn Sanders 104.18 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Mason Kelly 99.37 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Quinn Sanders | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Rhys Morgan | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | Noah Parker | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Schedule
22 October
Afternoon session
First round:
- Wyatt Walker (8) 6–2 Matteo Vermeulen (25)
- Jeroen van Dijk (20) 6–5 Niklas Hofer (13)
- Quinn Sanders (6) 6–3 Mason Kelly (27)
- Harry Lewis (17) 6–4 Oliver Bartlett (16)
Evening session
First round:
- Parker Reeves (4) v Jamie Fletcher (29)
- Hunter Jackson (10) v Sean Donovan (23)
- Alex Brow (1) v Lewis Moorcroft (32)
- Elias Storm (5) v Cole Hamilton (28)
23 October
Afternoon session
First round:
- Bram De Waal (12) v Nathan Owens (21)
- Ethan Mitchell (15) v Callum Pike (18)
- Rhys Morgan (11) v Noah Parker (22)
- Duncan MacLeod (9) v Lukas Weber (24)
Evening session
First round:
- Benjamin Carter (14) v Blake Carter (19)
- Jack Mercer (7) v Connor Hayes (26)
- Max Mad (3) v Daniel McKenna (30)
- Logan White (2) v Ryan Thomas (31)
24 October
Afternoon session
Second round:
- Winner of Brow/Moorcroft v Harry Lewis
- Wyatt Walker v winner of MacLeod/Weber
- Winner of Reeves/Fletcher v Jeroen van Dijk
- Winner of Storm/Hamilton v winner of De Waal/Owens
Evening session
Second round:
- Winner of White/Thomas v winner of Mitchell/Pike
- Winner of Mercer/Hayes v winner of Jackson/Donovan
- Winner of Mad/McKenna v winner of Benjamin Carter/Blake Carter
- Quinn Sanders v winner of Morgan/Noah Parker
25 October
Afternoon session
Quarter-finals:
- Quarter-final 1
- Quarter-final 2
- Quarter-final 3
- Quarter-final 4
Evening session
- Semi-final 1
- Semi-final 2
- Final
Background
Brow entered the tournament as defending champion after winning the 2025 edition.
The 2026 European Championship also marks Storm's first competitive appearance since winning the 2026 IDF World Grand Prix. Storm broke his wrist during the subsequent break and withdrew from the remaining events scheduled during his recovery.
Storm was cleared to return shortly before the European Championship, although his absence from competition meant the event was expected to provide the first indication of his form following the injury.