Gerwyn Price added another feather to his cap by becoming only the second player in history to amass double‑digit European titles, clinching the European Darts Grand Prix with an 8‑6 win over Ross Smith in Sindelfingen, Germany. This triumph marked Price's tenth European title, placing him alongside Michael van Gerwen as the only two competitors to have reached the ten‑title milestone on the Euro Tour. The final was a tightly contested affair. Price surged ahead early, building a 3‑0 lead thanks to a double break.
Smith, however, responded with two of his own breaks, pulling the score level at 3‑3. The match swung back and forth until the pivotal 11th leg, where Price seized another break of throw after Smith faltered on his doubles, nudging the scoreboard to 6‑5 in Price's favour.
Holding his own throw thereafter, the Welshman sealed the victory on the decisive double twelve, confirming his status as one of the sport's most consistent performers. For Smith, the loss was another disappointment in what has become a familiar pattern on the Euro Tour. The Englishman has now reached four finals without converting any of them into a title.
Despite his resilience, the final leg proved too much, and Smith was left to reflect on another missed opportunity. Price's win is more than just a trophy; it is a confidence booster ahead of his upcoming Premier League clash with Gian van Veen on Night 12 in Liverpool. Speaking after the match, Price admitted that both he and Smith may have over‑exerted themselves, but he was pleased to finally cross the finish line. "I’ve been on the circuit for about 12 years, and averaging a title a year isn’t a bad record," he said.
"This victory gives me the belief I need going into the Premier League, especially against a tough opponent like Gian." The road to the final featured several noteworthy performances. In the semi‑finals, Price dispatched Wessel Nijman 7‑4, showcasing his clinical finishing and steady scoring.
The decisive moment came in the eighth leg when Price secured the only break of the encounter, creating a two‑leg cushion that Nijman could not overcome. Earlier in the tournament, Price endured a nail‑biting 6‑5 last‑leg thriller against German favourite Martin Schindler. The home crowd rallied behind Schindler, but Price steadied his nerves, taking three consecutive legs to overturn the deficit and clinch the match on double five.
Smith, on his side of the draw, earned his place in the final with a gritty 7‑5 win over Krzysztof Ratajski. The Polish star was sharp on the treble but struggled with his doubles, missing 15 of 20 attempts at the outer ring.
Smith capitalised on those misses, building an early lead and maintaining enough distance to seal the victory. In the quarter‑finals, Smith had already shown his mettle with a solid 6‑4 win over Nathan Aspinall. While Aspinall never found his usual rhythm, Smith's consistent doubling allowed him to break and hold at crucial moments, ultimately taking the match on double two.
Ratajski, meanwhile, survived a tense 6‑5 encounter with Danny Noppert, winning a deciding leg that saw the Polish Eagle hold his composure under pressure. Post‑match, Noppert complained about perceived flight‑clicking by Ratajski, a claim the Polish player dismissed as a misunderstanding.
One of the tournament's biggest upsets came when Wessel Nijman recorded his first ever victory over Michael van Gerwen. The Dutch prodigy turned the tables on the seasoned champion, posting an 83 average and delivering three breaks of throw across eight legs. Van Gerwen, often dubbed the "Green Machine," was visibly off‑target, allowing Nijman to claim a memorable win. The event's schedule was packed with high‑stakes matches across two sessions each day.
Highlights from the afternoon and evening sessions included strong showings from players such as Jermaine Wattimena, Kevin Doets, and Gary Anderson, as well as surprise results like Chris Dobey's loss to Price and Jonny Clayton's defeat by Martin Schindler. Looking ahead, the Premier League Darts season continues to build momentum. Defending champion Luke Humphries will aim to retain his title, while fans can tune in each Thursday until May on Sky Sports.
For those who prefer streaming, NOW offers live coverage of darts alongside other top‑tier sports. In summary, Gerwyn Price's tenth European title not only cements his place among the elite of the Euro Tour but also provides a springboard for the challenges that lie ahead in the Premier League.
His composure, scoring power, and finishing accuracy were on full display throughout the tournament, and his victory serves as a reminder of why he remains a dominant force in professional darts.