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. The 43‑year‑old, whose last continental victory came at the European Darts Matchplay in Hamburg back in 2016, delivered a superb performance in Antwerp on Sunday evening, posting a 95.50 three‑dart average and launching five perfect 180s during the match. Wade’s road to the title was anything but easy. In the earlier rounds he dispatched Damon Heta 7‑4 in the semi‑final after a dominant 6‑0 whitewash of Danny Noppert in the quarter‑finals and a nail‑biting 6‑5 win over Rob Cross in the last‑16.
Each of those victories highlighted Wade’s resilience and his ability to raise his game when the pressure mounts. When asked about the £35,000 prize money, Wade reflected on the roller‑coaster nature of his form over the years. “Some weeks it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. That’s how it is for me,” he said.
“If it was good all the time, I’d smash them all to bits. We can’t always choose how we feel.” His candid remarks underscored the mental challenges that professional darts players face, even those with decades of experience. The win is especially significant because Wade first reached a European Tour final in Austria in 2012. This victory marks his triumph in the 150th European Tour event ever staged, cementing his place in the history of the circuit.
Ross Smith, who had captured the Hungarian Darts Trophy just two weeks earlier, also enjoyed a strong showing throughout the day. He defeated Gian van Veen, Ryan Joyce and Gerwyn Price in last‑leg deciders before meeting Wade in the final. After the match, Smith praised his opponent, saying, “I rode my luck today and the players have let me off, but Wade doesn’t let you off ever.
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 absolute class, isn’t he?” The European Tour will continue with the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel, scheduled for 9‑11 October, offering more opportunities for the continent’s best to chase titles.
Below is a summary of the results from the Flanders event: Sunday 13 September – Evening Session – Final: James Wade 8‑4 Ross Smith Semi‑Finals: Ross Smith 7‑6 Gian van Veen; James Wade 7‑4 Damon Heta Quarter‑Finals: Gian van Veen 6‑3 Chris Dobey; Ross Smith 6‑5 Ryan Joyce; James Wade 6‑0 Danny Noppert; Damon Heta 6‑5 Nathan Aspinall Afternoon Session – Round Three (selected matches): Gian van Veen 6‑5 Kevin Doets; Chris Dobey 6‑5 Ryan Searle; Ryan Joyce 6‑5 Jermaine Wattimena; Ross Smith 6‑5 Gerwyn Price; James Wade 6‑5 Rob Cross; Danny Noppert 6‑4 Wessel Nijman; Damon Heta 6‑3 Luke Woodhouse; Nathan Aspinall 6‑4 Stephen Bunting. 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. The 32‑player roster features the defending champion Luke Littler and a host of top‑ranked competitors, all vying for a newly increased top prize of £150,000. The tournament will run from 28 September to 4 October, with every session broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The official draw is set for Monday 14 September. The seeded players, based on the PDC Order of Merit, are: 1. Luke Littler, 2. Luke Humphries, 3.
Gian van Veen, 4. Gerwyn Price, 5. Jonny Clayton, 6.
James Wade, 7. Josh Rock, 8.
Danny Noppert, 9. Michael van Gerwen, 10. Gary Anderson, 11. Stephen Bunting, 12.
Wessel Nijman, 13. Ross Smith, 14. Ryan Searle, 15.
Chris Dobey, 16. Nathan Aspinall. Qualifiers from the ProTour rankings include 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 (14‑22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December‑3 January). Fans can also stream all live action via the NOW platform without a long‑term contract, ensuring that the sport’s growing global audience can stay connected to every throw, checkout and dramatic finish.