EC
European
Dortmund
Tournaments · Major
European Championship
The PDC's flagship continental-European event. A 32-player autumn major hosted in Germany, qualification for which comes exclusively through the European Tour Order of Merit. The tournament that signals a player has had a credible year on the floor.
IdentityThe European Tour payoffQualification comes from performances across the continental season.
FieldTop 32 European TourOrder of Merit ranking alone is not enough.
Venue feelGerman arena dartsA loud autumn major with continental identity.
Record holderMichael van Gerwen, 5The event tracks his rise through Europe.
Prize fund (2025)£600,000
Winner's cheque£120,000
Most titlesMichael van Gerwen, 5
QualificationTop 32 European Tour Order of Merit
01
Format
- Field
- 32 players: top 32 from the PDC European Tour Order of Merit - nobody outside that list can qualify, regardless of Order of Merit ranking.
- Round format
- R1: best of 11 legs. R2: best of 19. QF: best of 19. SF: best of 21. Final: best of 21 legs.
- Leg format
- 501, straight-start, double-finish.
- Timing
- Late October, between the Grand Prix and the Grand Slam of Darts.
02
Why European Tour-only qualification
The European Championship is the only PDC major whose field is determined exclusively by the 13-event European Tour season. A player with a strong Order of Merit ranking who has not consistently qualified for European Tour events will not be at the European Championship. The rule rewards floor-tour consistency and has been credited with a visibly strengthened contingent of European players (Van den Bergh, De Decker, De Sousa, Van Duijvenbode) on PDC television.
03
Recent champions
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Final score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Luke Humphries | Gian van Veen | 11-9 |
| 2024 | Ritchie Edhouse | Michael van Gerwen | 11-8 |
| 2023 | Peter Wright | Ross Smith | 11-6 |
| 2022 | Ross Smith | Michael Smith | 11-10 |
| 2021 | Rob Cross | Michael Smith | 11-8 |
| 2020 | Peter Wright | Michael van Gerwen | 11-6 |
| 2019 | Rob Cross | Gerwyn Price | 11-6 |
| 2018 | James Wade | Simon Whitlock | 11-5 |
| 2017 | Michael van Gerwen | Rob Cross | 11-5 |
| 2016 | Michael van Gerwen | Peter Wright | 11-6 |