European Championship Darts: Start date, venue, format, prize money breakdown, history & more

Ritchie Edhouse stunned the 32-player field by reigning supreme at the European Championship last year and we've got all the details you need to know ahead of the 2025 instalment of the competition.

The top 32 players on the 2025 European Tour Order of Merit will compete for the coveted title at the Westfalenhalle, with 2025 World Darts Championship winner Luke Littler hoping to capture the crown for the first time.

European Championship Darts - Date

When is the European Championship Darts?

The 2025 European Championship will be staged over four days, beginning on Thursday 23rd October and reaching its conclusion on Sunday 26th October.

European Championship Darts - Prize Money

Winner (1):	£120,000
Runner-Up (1):	£60,000
Semi-Final Losers (2):	£40,000
Quarter-Final Losers (4):	£25,000
Second Round Losers (8):	£15,000
First Round Losers (16):	£7,500

The £600,000 event offers the winner a £120,000 top prize, with the runner-up taking home a cool £60,000.

First round losers are still guaranteed £7,500, with prize money rising with each round.

European Championship Darts - Venue & Location

The 2025 European Championship is being held once more at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany.

The indoor arena set a new record for darts events on German soil at the 2024 European Championship as over 33,000 fans packed inside the venue over four days.

European Championship Darts - Competitors

Who is playing at the European Championship Darts?

The top 32 players on the 2025 European Tour Order of Merit will compete for the title.

The European Tour campaign includes 14 events across the continent with the 32 players accumulating the most prize money featuring in the competition.

The likes of Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen are expected to qualify.

European Championship Darts - Format

What is the format for the European Championship Darts?

The 2025 European Championship will possess the same format as previous years, with matches played out over legs as opposed to sets.

The opening round will be best-of-11 legs, rising to best-of-21 legs for the semi-finals and final.

• Round 1: Best-of-11 legs.
• Round 2: Best-of-19 legs.
• Quarter-Finals: Best-of-19 legs.
• Semi-Finals: Best-of-21 legs.
• Final: best-of-21 legs.

European Championship Darts - History

The European Championship was first played in 2008 and, since 2016, it has taken place at the end of October and featured the top 32 players on the PDC European Tour Order of Merit.

The 2025 event will be the 18th edition of the event and the fourth time it will have been held at Dortmund's impressive Westfalenhalle.

Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen are the most decorated players in the history of the event, both capturing the title four times, whilst Rob Cross and Peter Wright are both two-time winners.

Ritchie Edhouse is the defending champion after romping to his maiden PDC ranking title with an 11-3 victory over Jermaine Wattimena in 2024.