Ross Smith's victory at the European Championship in Dortmund has prompted an unequivocal call from DartsNews.com editor Lucas Michael: "Get Ross Smith in the Premier League!" The win, Smith's third major title of his career, capped a weekend of surprises at the Westfalenhalle and left pundits questioning whether Luke Littler's fear factor is waning.
Michael wrote: "That should be the biggest takeaway from the European Championship, aside from the fact that he has gone up a level in 2026. His floor form has been brilliant for years, but finally the European Tour titles have come, and so have the majors. That first title in Dortmund was most certainly no fluke. Now up to sixth in the world, the heavy scoring is getting him through legs, and while there were some blips on the outer ring, he has cemented himself as one of the best and most reliable players in the world."
Smith, the number one seed, defeated Martin Schindler in the final to claim his second major title of the year, having already won the World Series of Darts Finals. The German's run to the final included a stunning 10-1 demolition of Jonny Clayton in the semi-finals, which was his maiden major semi-final. Krzysztof Ratajski also made headlines by claiming the first victory of his career over Luke Littler.
Michael added: "The question surrounding Luke Littler being unbeatable has been dismissed, and rightfully so, but is the fear factor still around him? When at his best, Littler will win. However, it feels like when his level drops, even to a 99 average against Krzysztof Ratajski, the opposition is wise to this chance. The last three major tournaments showcase that. Is he still the favourite in every match and event he plays in? Of course he is. But that inevitable factor surrounding Littler has diminished these past couple of months."
Samuel Gill, Head Editor for DartsNews.com, praised Smith and Schindler, and tipped Luke Woodhouse as the next major winner. He said: "I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. Well, in a way. I feel like Chris Mason is picking Ross Smith as his dark horse. In our predictions for the pre-event, my winner was Ross Smith. He has been exceptional as of late and is one of my favourite players to personally watch. It has been a long time, so to finally see him win more titles is brilliant, and I always get the feeling in my waters about him that he will do more than he has, and he is showing that."
Gill also had praise for Schindler: "I also have an ongoing bit in our predictions picking Martin Schindler on the European Tour for the past two years. Often he has been in the bank when it comes to these events, and to see him finally back to it makes me overjoyed. A brilliant player when he is on and a true trailblazer for German darts – just what is needed. I have also said in the past that Luke Littler for me will go through a dip and then likely win the Grand Slam and the World's. In my view that will still happen; every player has a bump in the road."
Nicolas Gayer, editor for DartsNews.DE, lauded Schindler's historic run: "At one of the most difficult stages of his PDC career to date, of all times, Schindler produced the greatest major run of his career — and wrote a new chapter in German darts history in the process." He also credited mental coach Johannes Lipsius for his role in Germany's first-ever major final appearance, and praised Schindler's openness in press conferences on subjects such as male vulnerability and self-doubt.
Dutch editors Mats Leering and Pieter Verbeek both backed Smith for a Premier League spot. Leering said: "If he can maintain this level heading into the final months of the season, he could make a serious case for a place in the Premier League Darts. In my opinion, he deserves to be in the conversation already." Verbeek added: "With two major trophies to his name in 2026, surely a place in the 2027 Premier League Darts is now almost impossible to deny him."
Oliver Ried, Editor for DartsNews.DE, also praised Smith: "He claimed his second major title of 2026 and, in my opinion, has now surely secured his Premier League place. He did not necessarily play his best darts, apart from against Luke Woodhouse, but his timing was incredible. The number of 180s he hit to leave himself a manageable finish and move ahead of his opponent was remarkable. Smith is finally in the world's top 10 — a position he thoroughly deserves."
The tournament also saw Luke Humphries withdraw before a dart was thrown with stomach flu, and Michael van Gerwen suffered yet another first-round exit, losing to Kevin Doets. Ried said: "I remain concerned about Michael van Gerwen. The Dutchman suffered yet another first-round exit, and it is almost becoming the norm. Against Kevin Doets, he was the underdog, and at no point did I feel he was going to win the match."
For the Netherlands, it was a disappointing campaign. Of the eight Dutch players in the field, only Gian van Veen, Jermaine Wattimena and Kevin Doets made it through to the second round, and not a single Dutch player reached the quarter-finals. Verbeek said: "But let's keep things in perspective: after so much success, they're entitled to have an off tournament every now and then. And if it has to happen, I'd much rather see it happen now than at the World Darts Championship."
The Dortmund crowd also earned widespread praise. Gayer said: "The Dortmund crowd provided the perfect example of how a darts audience should behave. Unconditional support for their home hero, combined with the utmost respect for every other player on stage." Michael added: "While a lot of praise will go the way of Schindler, the crowd should also get its flowers. Aside from a few incidents, they showcased themselves well in a period where darts crowds are continuously scrutinised. When even Littler suggests that he may stop boycotting German European Tour events, that means something is going right."
