Gerwyn Price etched his name in darts history by becoming only the second player ever to amass double‑digit European Tour titles, clinching his tenth triumph at the European Darts Grand Prix with an 8‑6 win over England’s Ross Smith in Sindelfingen, Germany. The win not only added another trophy to Price’s cabinet but also placed him alongside Michael van Gerwen as the only competitors to have reached the ten‑title milestone on the Euro Tour. For Price, the achievement is a testament to his consistency over more than a decade on the PDC circuit, and it provides a vital boost of confidence ahead of his upcoming Premier League clash with Gian van Veen in Liverpool.
Smith, meanwhile, endured a familiar disappointment. The Englishman has now reached his fourth Euro Tour final, yet each appearance has ended in defeat.
The final against Price was a tightly contested affair, with both players exchanging breaks of throw and keeping the scoreline razor‑thin throughout the first six legs. Price surged ahead 3‑0 early, but Smith answered with two successive breaks to level the match at 3‑3. The pendulum swung again in the 11th leg when Price seized a crucial break, moving ahead 6‑5 after Smith faltered on a decisive double.
Price then held his own throw comfortably, sealing the match on the twelfth double and lifting the trophy. Reflecting on the victory, Price admitted that both he and Smith may have over‑reached at times, but emphasized the importance of finally crossing the finish line. "I think Ross and I probably tried a bit too hard in that game," he said.
"We’ve both had great tournaments, and I was just struggling to get over the winning line. Thankfully I won this one and it will give me a bit of confidence going forward. I’ve been on the PDC circuit for about 12 years, so averaging one Euro Tour title a year isn’t terrible, but I want to push that higher. I have a tough game against Gian van Veen up next in Liverpool, but now I can go there full of confidence and build on this." Price’s path to the final was marked by a solid 7‑4 semi‑final win over Dutch up‑and‑comer Wessel Nijman.
Both players displayed high‑scoring power and clinical finishing, but the decisive moment came in the eighth leg when Price captured the only break of throw, giving him a two‑leg cushion that Nijman could not recover from. Earlier in the tournament, Price also survived a nail‑biting 6‑5 last‑leg thriller against Germany’s Martin Schindler, fending off a vociferous home crowd that was cheering for their local hero. After dropping three legs in a row, Price rallied, hitting crucial doubles to clinch the match on the fifth double of the deciding leg.
On the opposite side of the draw, Smith earned his place in the final with a gritty 7‑5 victory over Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski. Ratajski’s scoring was impressive, but his finishing collapsed as he missed 15 of 20 attempts at the outer ring, allowing Smith to build an early lead and keep the Polish Eagle at bay. Earlier in the night, Smith had dispatched Nathan Aspinall 6‑4 in the quarter‑finals, capitalising on strong doubles to break Aspinall’s throw and secure the win. The quarter‑finals also featured a tense 6‑5 win for Ratajski over Danny Noppert, with the Polish veteran holding his nerve in a final‑leg decider.
Noppert later complained that he thought Ratajski was adjusting his flights while waiting to throw, a claim the Polish player dismissed, saying he was surprised by the accusation after the match. Elsewhere in the tournament, Nijman recorded a landmark victory over Michael van Gerwen, the former world champion’s performance slipping as several darts strayed from the target. Nijman’s three breaks of throw across eight legs and an 83 average proved enough to outplay the Dutch legend, highlighting the depth of talent emerging on the Euro Tour. The event’s schedule was packed with high‑stakes match‑ups across two sessions.
In the afternoon, Krzysztof Ratajski defeated Mike De Decker 6‑4, while Jermaine Wattimena edged Kevin Doets 6‑3 and Wessel Nijman overcame Ryan Searle 6‑2. The evening session saw Ross Smith beat Cameron Menzies 6‑3, Gerwyn Price dispatch Dave Chisnall 6‑4, and Nathan Aspinall dominate Jeffrey de Zwaan 6‑1. The day concluded with a series of thrilling contests, including a 6‑5 win for Martin Schindler over Gary Anderson and a 6‑3 triumph for Jonny Clayton over Damon Heta.
Looking ahead, the Premier League Darts season continues to build momentum. Luke Humphries will defend his title, and fans can tune in each Thursday until May on Sky Sports or stream the action via NOW. The league’s schedule, standings, and highlights are readily available online, along with the popular "Love the Darts" podcast for deeper analysis. Price’s historic tenth European Tour title not only cements his status among the sport’s elite but also sets the stage for an exciting run in the Premier League.
With renewed confidence and a growing collection of trophies, the Welshman appears poised to challenge for even greater honours as the season progresses.