Martin Schindler secured his place at the European Championship Darts 2026 in Dortmund at the last possible moment, hitting his match dart at double nine early on Saturday afternoon to seal a 6–4 win over Karel Sedlacek. The victory, which confirmed his run to the last 16 at the European Tour season finale in Maastricht, ensured Germany would have two players to cheer at its home European Championship, alongside Niko Springer.
Schindler's path to Dortmund was far from smooth. After a painful 11–9 defeat to Gerwyn Price at July's World Matchplay in Blackpool, where he led 8–5, he found consistency on the Players Championship circuit with just two first-round exits in six events, reaching the last 32 three times and the last 16 once. However, his European Tour results were far less encouraging, suffering three first-round defeats that left his qualification in doubt until the final event. He finished 31st in the European Tour Order of Merit, securing the final available spot with a £5,000 cushion over Sedlacek in 32nd.
Springer, by contrast, qualified more comfortably. The 26-year-old competed at all 15 European Tour events as an unseeded Pro Tour qualifier, recording five first-round defeats, five second-round appearances, four runs to the last 16 and one quarter-final. Those results earned him 26th place in the European Tour Order of Merit. His biggest success came on the Players Championship circuit, reaching the semi-finals of Players Championship 25, and he made his World Grand Prix debut in Leicester at the end of September, losing 2–1 in sets to Danny Noppert.
The statistics reveal a striking contrast in form. Schindler won 11 of 24 matches over the past three months (45.83% win rate) but averaged an impressive 94.69, ranking 16th internationally, and hit 76 180s (0.33 per leg, 11th). His checkout percentage of 38.34% left him 75th internationally. Springer won 12 of 23 matches (52.17%) despite averaging just 90.32 (67th), hitting 49 180s (0.24 per leg, 58th) and converting only 35.28% of his doubles (192nd).
Schindler's reward is a daunting first-round clash with Wessel Nijman, the 26-year-old Dutchman who has won two European Tour titles and six PDC floor titles this year, with all eight victories coming before the end of June. Nijman has won 13 of his 19 PDC major appearances but is still waiting for his first major quarter-final. His recent statistics show a 58.82% win rate, a 95.68 average (10th), 112 180s (26th) and a 43.53% checkout rate (seventh). The head-to-head favours Nijman 6–2.
Springer faces Jonny Clayton, who has been in outstanding form this year, including four nightly wins and second place in the Premier League final table behind Luke Littler, and a first ranking title of the year at the Swiss Darts Trophy. Clayton's recent statistics show a 73.08% win rate, a 93.98 average (23rd), 85 180s (0.28 per leg, 29th) and a 44.42% checkout rate (fifth). Clayton has won both previous meetings between the pair.
Despite the tough draws, both Germans have little ranking pressure. Schindler's £7,500 from the 2024 European Championship will drop out of his two-year total, but his qualification has already ensured he earned the same amount again. Springer, in the second year of his Tour Card, has no prize money from this two-year ranking period to defend, so every pound he earns in Dortmund will count directly towards his ranking total.
