2026 European Championship order of play: day 1 schedule, Thursday 22 October

The 2026 European Championship opens on Thursday 22 October with the last 32, and the first matches start at 6pm UK time. The tournament runs from Thursday 22 October to Sunday 25 October 2026.

Order of play

Every match on the opening day is a last 32 tie with a 6pm start. The figure in brackets after each player is their PDC Order of Merit rank.

• 6pm, last 32: Ross Smith (15) v Karel Sedlacek (46)
• 6pm, last 32: James Wade (6) v Damon Heta (21)
• 6pm, last 32: Gian van Veen (3) v Andrew Gilding (27)
• 6pm, last 32: Luke Woodhouse (18) v Dirk van Duijvenbode (20)
• 6pm, last 32: Niels Zonneveld (29) v Cameron Menzies (26)
• 6pm, last 32: Gerwyn Price (4) v Rob Cross (22)
• 6pm, last 32: Danny Noppert (8) v Stephen Bunting (13)
• 6pm, last 32: Luke Humphries (2) v Ryan Searle (14)
• 6pm, last 32: Wessel Nijman (12) v Martin Schindler (23)
• 6pm, last 32: Ryan Joyce (24) v Jermaine Wattimena (16)
• 6pm, last 32: Jonny Clayton (5) v Niko Springer (37)
• 6pm, last 32: Josh Rock (7) v Chris Dobey (17)
• 6pm, last 32: Krzysztof Ratajski (19) v Dave Chisnall (30)
• 6pm, last 32: Kevin Doets (25) v Michael van Gerwen (9)
• 6pm, last 32: Nathan Aspinall (11) v Cristo Reyes (71)
• 6pm, last 32: Luke Littler (1) v William O’Connor (33)

Matches to watch

Two last 32 ties pair players who are both in the top 16 of the Order of Merit. Luke Humphries, ranked second, plays Ryan Searle, who is ranked 14th. Danny Noppert, ranked eighth, plays Stephen Bunting, who is ranked 13th.

The five highest-ranked players are all in action on the opening day. Luke Littler, ranked first, plays William O’Connor, who is ranked 33rd. Gian van Veen, ranked third, plays Andrew Gilding, ranked 27th, while Gerwyn Price, ranked fourth, plays Rob Cross, ranked 22nd. Jonny Clayton, ranked fifth, plays Niko Springer, ranked 37th.

Michael van Gerwen, ranked ninth, plays Kevin Doets, who is ranked 25th. James Wade, ranked sixth, plays Damon Heta, ranked 21st, and Josh Rock, ranked seventh, plays Chris Dobey, ranked 17th.

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