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, who had not lifted a continental trophy since his victory at the European Darts Matchplay in Hamburg back in 2016, delivered a stellar performance in Antwerp on Sunday evening, posting a 95.50 three‑dart average and hitting five maximum 180s during the decisive 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 narrow 6‑5 win over Rob Cross in the last‑16 round.

Each of those victories showcased his composure under pressure and his ability to raise his game when the stakes were highest. After collecting the £35,000 winner's cheque, 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 select how we feel." His candid comments highlighted the mental challenges that professional darts players face, especially when trying to maintain consistency over a long career. The win was historically significant for Wade as well.

He first reached a European Tour final in Austria back in 2012, and this victory marks his first title in the 150th European Tour event ever staged. It also adds a much‑needed boost to his résumé, reinforcing his status as one of the sport's seasoned veterans.

Ross Smith, the runner‑up, had entered the final after a strong showing in the Hungarian Darts Trophy just two weeks earlier. On the same Sunday, he had battled through a series of tight matches, beating Gian van Veen, Ryan Joyce, and Gerwyn Price in last‑leg deciders to earn his spot in the final. Despite the loss, Smith praised Wade's skill and character.

"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 absolute class, isn’t he?" The European Tour will continue with the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel, scheduled for October 9‑11, giving other contenders a chance to chase their own titles. Below is a concise recap of the tournament’s later stages: Sunday, September 13 – 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 featured a host of close battles, including Gian van Veen edging Kevin Doets 6‑5, Chris Dobey beating Ryan Searle 6‑5, and Ryan Joyce surviving a 6‑5 win over Jermaine Wattimena. Ross Smith also survived a 6‑5 thriller against Gerwyn Price, while James Wade narrowly defeated Rob Cross 6‑5 in a match that demonstrated his resilience under pressure.

In related news, the field for the 2026 BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix in Leicester has been finalized following the conclusion of the Belgian event. Defending champion Luke Littler will join a star‑studded lineup competing for an increased top prize of £150,000, with the tournament set to run from September 28 to October 4. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and the draw is slated for Monday, September 14. The seeded top‑16 players from the PDC rankings 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 continues to be the primary broadcaster for darts, covering the World Grand Prix (September 28‑October 4), the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14‑22), and the World Darts Championship (December 10‑January 3). Fans can also stream matches and additional content via the NOW platform without a contract, ensuring broad access to the sport’s biggest events throughout the season.