Dirk van Duijvenbode won the Bremen Darts Gala 2026, defeating home favourite Martin Schindler 4-1 in the final in front of more than 6,000 spectators at the ÖVB-Arena. The victory came at the tenth stop of this year's PDC Europe Gala series.
The evening began with disappointment for the fans when Michael van Gerwen, who had originally been announced for the event, had to withdraw at short notice because of illness. His fellow Dutchman Danny Noppert took the three-time world champion's place in the field — and would go on to produce one of the night's most spectacular moments.
Schindler began the evening with a 4-2 defeat to eventual winner van Duijvenbode, but responded in style by beating Ross Smith 4-0 to secure his place in the knockout stage. In the second group, Gian van Veen progressed with two wins, while Daryl Gurney was eliminated early after losing to Noppert and van Veen. The night's sporting highlight came from the stand-in Noppert, who produced a 170 checkout — the highest possible finish in darts.
Schindler and van Duijvenbode met again in the final, and as in the group stage, the Dutchman came out on top, winning 4-1. Schindler let too many chances on the doubles go begging. Despite losing the final, the German crowd favourite was delighted with the atmosphere. "Brilliant to have you here, Bremen. Great atmosphere. Thanks so much for coming," he told the crowd.
The programme also featured a special exhibition doubles match. Werder Bremen forward Medina Desic teamed up with Daryl Gurney, while former Werder goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald joined Ross Smith at the oche. Desic and Gurney had the last laugh, with the clash between the footballers and the darts professionals providing extra entertainment at the third staging of the Bremen Darts Gala. Although these events do not count towards rankings or competitive results, many top players use them to gain stage experience and connect with the crowd. The PDC Europe Gala series continues in 2026, with further events in Jena and Cologne, as well as a double-header in Lingen.
