Ross Smith captured his second Machineseeker European Championship title on Sunday, holding off a spirited Martin Schindler fightback to secure an 11-8 victory at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund.
The 2022 champion produced a 107 average in his quarter-final defeat of Luke Woodhouse and overturned a 4-1 deficit to down Gerwyn Price 11-7 in the last four, setting up a showdown with Germany’s top-ranked player.
Smith edged a closely contested opening session before reeling off six consecutive legs to move within touching distance of the trophy. Schindler, facing a near-insurmountable 9-2 deficit, capitalised on some wayward finishing to claim a 20-dart break of throw.
Although Smith immediately restored his advantage, Schindler mounted a fierce rally, stringing together four legs—highlighted by checkouts of 116 and 127—to narrow the gap to 9-7. However, the Englishman steadied the ship, with the final three legs going with throw to clinch the £150,000 top prize.
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The victory makes Smith only the fifth player in history to win multiple European Championship titles. The triumph adds to his World Series of Darts crown claimed in September and lifts him to a career-high world number six ranking.
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