Wade ends 10-year European title drought with victory in Flanders

Flanders Darts Trophy: James Wade ends 10-year wait for European Tour title with win over Ross Smith in Antwerp Wade played in the first European Tour final in 2012 and was victorious in the 150th event this weekend; Sky Sports remains the home of darts with the World Grand Prix coming up from September 28-October 4 Sunday 13 September 2026 22:50, UK James Wade ended a decade-long wait for a European Tour title as he beat Ross Smith 8-4 in the final of the Flanders Darts Trophy. The 43-year-old, who last tasted continental glory at the European Darts Matchplay in Hamburg in 2016, produced a 95.50 average and five 180s in the final in Antwerp on Sunday evening. Earlier in the day he'd beaten Damon Heta 7-4 in the semi-final, having whitewashed Danny Noppert 6-0 in the quarter-finals and edging Rob Cross 6-5 in the last 16. - Flanders Darts Trophy: All the results - Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract - Listen to Sky Sports' Love the Darts podcast "Some weeks it's good, sometimes it's bad. That's how it is for me," he said after claiming the £35,000 prize money. "If it was good all the time, I'd smash them all to bits. We can't always select how we feel." Wade played in the first European Tour final in Austria in 2012 and this win means he was victorious in the 150th event. Smith, who won the Hungarian Darts Trophy two weeks ago, beat Gian van Veen, Ryan Joyce and Gerwyn Price in last-leg deciders earlier on Sunday. "I rode my luck today and the players have let me off, but Wadey, doesn't let you off ever," Smith 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 European Tour returns at the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel, Switzerland from October 9-11. Sunday's Flanders Darts Trophy results 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 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 World Grand Prix field confirmed following Flanders Darts Trophy The 32-player field for the the 2026 BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix in Leicester has been confirmed following the conclusion of this weekend's event in Belgium. Defending champion Luke Littler is among the names battling for a newly-boosted £150,000 top prize in Leicester from September 28 to October 4 with every session live on Sky Sports. The draw for the event will be made on Monday September 14. Top 16 from the PDC rankings (seeded for round one draw) 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 ProTour Rankings 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 Joe Cullen Sky Sports remains the home of darts with the World Grand Prix (September 28-October 4), Grand Slam of Darts (November 14-22) and World Darts Championship (December 10-January 3) all live. Stream darts and more through NOW with no contract.