James Wade finally put an end to a ten‑year wait for a European Tour crown when he overcame Ross Smith 8‑4 in the final of the Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp. The 43‑year‑old, whose previous continental victory came at the 2016 European Darts Matchplay in Hamburg, delivered a stellar performance, posting a 95.50 three‑dart average and hitting five maximum 180s during the decisive match. Wade's path to the title was nothing short of impressive.
Earlier in the day he dispatched Damon Heta 7‑4 in the semi‑final, having previously routed Danny Noppert with a flawless 6‑0 whitewash in the quarter‑finals and edged past Rob Cross 6‑5 in the last‑16 round. His consistency throughout the tournament highlighted a resurgence of form that many fans had been hoping to see. After collecting the £35,000 winner's cheque, Wade reflected on his emotional roller‑coaster over the years. "Some weeks it's good, sometimes it's bad.
That's how it is for me," he said. He added a wry note about his temperament: "If it was good all the time, I'd smash them all to bits. We can't always select how we feel." The candid remarks underscored the mental challenges that accompany professional darts, where confidence can swing dramatically from one week to the next.
The victory was especially significant because it marked Wade's first appearance in a European Tour final since his debut in Austria back in 2012. Moreover, his win at the Flanders Darts Trophy made him the champion of the 150th European Tour event, a milestone that underscores his longevity and persistence on the circuit. Ross Smith, the runner‑up, had entered the final after a strong showing in the Hungarian Darts Trophy two weeks earlier. On the day of the Flanders final, Smith had battled through a series of tight matches, defeating Gian van Veen, Ryan Joyce and Gerwyn Price in last‑leg deciders.
Despite the loss, Smith praised Wade’s skill and composure. "I rode my luck today and the players have let me off, but Wade doesn’t let you off ever," he said. "I admire him. I watch his game and I can only admire the guy.
James thoroughly deserved the win today. He's just—he's absolutely class, isn’t he?" The tournament’s schedule, as recorded, featured a packed line‑up of matches. In the semi‑finals, Smith edged Gian van Veen 7‑6, while Wade dispatched Heta 7‑4. The quarter‑finals saw a dominant Wade blank Noppert 6‑0, and a nail‑biting 6‑5 victory for Smith over Ryan Joyce.
Earlier rounds were filled with close contests, including several 6‑5 decisions that highlighted the depth of talent on the day. Looking ahead, the European Tour will continue with the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel, scheduled for 9‑11 October.
The upcoming event promises more high‑stakes competition as players vie for ranking points and prize money. In related news, the field for the 2026 BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix in Leicester has been confirmed following the conclusion of the Belgian event. Defending champion Luke Littler will be among the 32 competitors battling for an increased top prize of £150,000, with the tournament running from 28 September to 4 October.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and the draw is set to be announced on 14 September. The seeded top 16 from the PDC rankings include notable names such as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, James Wade, Josh Rock, Danny Noppert, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Stephen Bunting, Wessel Nijman, Ross Smith, Ryan Searle, Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall. Qualifiers from the ProTour Rankings round out the draw, featuring players like Luke Woodhouse, Kevin Doets, Jermaine Wattimena, Krzysztof Ratajski, Andrew Gilding, William O'Connor, Damon Heta, Rob Cross, Ryan Joyce, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Niels Zonneveld, Cameron Menzies, Niko Springer, Dave Chisnall, Sebastian Bialecki and Joe Cullen. Sky Sports remains the primary broadcaster for darts in the UK, covering the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam of Darts in November and the World Darts Championship in December‑January.
Fans can also stream matches and additional content through the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free viewing experience. James Wade's triumph in Flanders not only ends a decade‑long title drought but also serves as a reminder of his enduring class and resilience. As the season progresses, his performance will be closely watched, especially with the upcoming Swiss event and the high‑profile Grand Prix on the horizon. Whether he can convert this momentum into further titles remains to be seen, but for now, Wade can revel in a well‑earned victory that adds a historic milestone to his illustrious career.