2026 European Darts Trophy: Draw, schedule, prize money and format explained

2026 European Darts Trophy: Draw, schedule, prize money and format explained originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The Euro Tour heads to Germany, with the European Darts Trophy marking the second ET event to take place in 2026.

As usual, 48 qualifiers will battle it out, starting on Friday, in hopes of advancing to the final on Sunday night.

What to know about the European Darts Trophy

Let's take a look at some of the specifics of the tournament.

2026 European Darts Trophy draw & schedule

Here is the tournament schedule.

Day 1 - first round (afternoon session)MatchDateTime (local)Andrew Gilding vs. Darius LabanauskasFri., Mar. 131:00 p.m. Kevin Doets vs. Jonas MasalinFri., Mar. 131:30 p.m.Ricky Evans vs. Florian PreisFri., Mar. 132:00 p.m.Niels Zonneveld vs. Keane BarryFri., Mar. 132:30 p.m.Cameron Menzies vs. Paul KrohneFri., Mar. 133:00 p.m.Richard Veenstra vs. Florian HempelFri., Mar. 133:30 p.m.Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Shane McGuirkFri., Mar. 134:00 p.m.Ryan Joyce vs. Lukas WenigFri., Mar. 134:30 p.m.

MORE: 2026 European Darts Trophy qualifiers

Day 1 - first round (evening session)MatchDateTime (local)Dave Chisnall vs. Jeffrey De ZwaanFri., Mar. 137:00 p.m.Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Mario VandenbogaerdeFri., Mar. 137:30 p.m.Luke Woodhouse vs. Dragutin HorvatFri., Mar. 138:00 p.m.Daryl Gurney vs. Sebastian BialeckiFri., Mar. 138:30 p.m.Joe Cullen vs. Wojciech BrulinskiFri., Mar. 139:00 p.m.Niko Springer vs. Kai GotthardtFri., Mar. 139:30 p.m.William O'Connor v Mensur SuljovicFri., Mar. 1310:00 p.m.Wessel Nijman vs. Cristo ReyesFri., Mar. 1310:30 p.m.Day 2 - second round (afternoon session)MatchDateTime (local)Jermaine Wattimena vs. Joyce/WenigSat., Mar. 141:00 p.m.Damon Heta vs. Gilding/LabanauskasSat., Mar. 141:30 p.m.Danny Noppert vs. Evans/PreisSat., Mar. 142:00 p.m.Ross Smith vs. Chisnall/De ZwaanSat., Mar. 142:30 p.m.Rob Cross vs. Van Duijvenbode/VandenbogaerdeSat., Mar. 143:00 p.m.Mike De Decker vs. Nijman/ReyesSat., Mar. 143:30 p.m.Chris Dobey vs. Woodhouse/HorvatSat., Mar. 144:00 p.m.Ryan Searle vs. Gurney/BialeckiSat., Mar. 144:30 p.m.Day 2 - second round (evening session)MatchDateTime (local)Josh Rock vs. Menzies/KrohneSat., Mar. 147:00 p.m.Gerwyn Price vs. Cullen/BrulinskiSat., Mar. 147:30 p.m.Martin Schindler vs. Veenstra/HempelSat., Mar. 148:00 p.m.Michael van Gerwen vs. Zonneveld/BarrySat., Mar. 148:30 p.m.Karel Sedlacek vs. O'Connor/SuljovicSat., Mar. 149:00 p.m.Gian van Veen vs. Ratajski/McGuirkSat., Mar. 149:30 p.m.Stephen Bunting vs. Springer/GotthardtSat., Mar. 1410:00 p.m.Cam Crabtree vs. Doets/MasalinSat., Mar. 1410:30 p.m.Day 3 - third round (afternoon session)MatchDateTime (local)TBDSun., Mar. 1512:00 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 1512:30 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 151:00 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 151:30 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 152:00 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 152:30 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 153:00 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 153:30 p.m.Day 3 - quarterfinals (evening session)MatchDateTime (local)TBDSun., Mar. 156:00 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 156:30 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 157:00 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 157:30 p.m.Day 3 - semifinals (evening session)MatchDateTime (local)TBDSun., Mar. 158:00 p.m.TBDSun., Mar. 158:30 p.m.Day 3 - final (evening session)MatchDateTime (local)TBDSun., Mar. 159:15 p.m.

Tournament bracket

Here is the bracket for the tournament.

Second roundKarel Sedlacek vs. O'Connor/SuljovicRob Cross vs. Van Duijvenbode/VandenbogaerdeDanny Noppert vs. Evans/PreisGerwyn Price vs. Cullen/BrulinskiCam Crabtree vs. Doets/MasalinDamon Heta vs. Gilding/LabanauskasStephen Bunting vs. Springer/GotthardtRoss Smith vs. Chisnall/De ZwaanGian van Veen vs. Ratajski/McGuirkMike De Decker vs. Nijman/ReyesJosh Rock vs. Menzies/KrohneChris Dobey vs. Woodhouse/HorvatMichael van Gerwen vs. Zonneveld/BarryJermaine Wattimena vs. Joyce/WenigRyan Searle vs. Gurney/BialeckiMartin Schindler vs. Veenstra/Hempel

Prize Money

*Data via Wikipedia

Stage (num. of players)Prize moneyWinner(1)£35,000Runner-up(1)£15,000Semi-finalists(2)£10,000Quarter-finalists(4)£8,000Third round losers(8)£5,000Second round losers(16)£3,500*First round losers(16)£2,000*Total£230,000

Format

48 players will be in action this weekend, with 16 seeded players receiving automatic byes into the second round action on Saturday.

Each seeded player will play the winner of one of Friday's games, leaving 32 players left after Friday.

Saturday will feature only round two games, determining which 16 players will advance to action on Sunday.

The afternoon session on Sunday will consist of the round of 16 games.

The evening session will consist of the quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds.

The first round, second round, round of 16 and quarterfinal round will all be played in a best-of-11-leg format.

The semifinal round will be best-of-13 legs, and the final will be best-of-15 legs.