James Wade finally put an end to a ten‑year wait for a European Tour crown when he out‑scored Ross Smith 8‑4 in the final of the Flanders Darts Trophy. The 43‑year‑old, who had not lifted a continental trophy since his victory 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 hitting five perfect 180s during the match.
Wade’s road to the title was anything but easy. Earlier in the day 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 round. Each of those victories demonstrated his resilience and ability to raise his game when the pressure mounted.
When asked about his feelings after collecting the £35,000 winner's cheque, Wade offered a candid glimpse into his mindset: "Some weeks it's good, sometimes it's bad. That's how it is for me. If it was good all the time, I'd smash them all to bits. We can't always select how we feel." His comment underscored the emotional roller‑coaster that professional darts players often endure, and highlighted the mental discipline required to stay competitive over a long career.
The win was historically significant for Wade. He first appeared in a European Tour final at the 2012 event in Austria, and this victory marks his triumph in the 150th European Tour tournament ever staged.
It also adds a long‑awaited European title to his extensive résumé, which already includes multiple major PDC championships. Smith, who had captured the Hungarian Darts Trophy just two weeks earlier, fought his way to the final by overcoming Gian van Veen, Ryan Joyce and Gerwyn Price in tightly contested last‑leg deciders on the same day.
After the match, Smith praised Wade’s consistency and skill, 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 top talent to showcase their abilities.
Below is a recap of the Sunday evening session results: 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 The afternoon session featured a series of close matches, including Gian van Veen’s 6‑5 win over Kevin Doets, Chris Dobey’s 6‑5 victory over Ryan Searle, and a series of 6‑5 finishes involving Ryan Joyce, Jermaine Wattimena, Ross Smith, Gerwyn Price, James Wade, Rob Cross, Danny Noppert, and others. These tight finishes highlighted the depth of competition on the European Tour. In related news, the 32‑player 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 lead a strong lineup that includes top‑ranked players such as 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. The tournament, with a newly‑boosted top prize of £150,000, runs from 28 September to 4 October, with every session broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The draw for the Grand Prix will be made on Monday 14 September. 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 in November, and the World Darts Championship in December‑January.
Fans can also stream live coverage and additional darts content via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free viewing experience. Overall, Wade’s victory in Flanders not only ends a decade‑long title drought but also reinforces his status as one of the sport’s most enduring and adaptable competitors.
His ability to navigate the highs and lows of professional darts, combined with his recent resurgence, suggests that he will continue to be a formidable presence on the European Tour and beyond.