Smith beats Schindler in Dortmund thriller after Littler's QF exit

Ross Smith has won the Machineseeker European Championship for a second time after overcoming a late Martin Schindler fightback to claim an 11-8 victory in Dortmund.

The 2022 champion fired a 107 average in his last-eight victory over Luke Woodhouse and rallied from 4-1 down to beat Gerwyn Price 11-7, setting up a showdown against German No 1 Schindler at Westfalenhallen.

Smith edged a tight opening session before reeling off six straight legs against Schindler, who almost fell 9-2 behind before capitalising on some wayward finishing to sneak a 20-dart break of throw.

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Schindler was broken in the next but offered a four-leg burst - including finishes of 116 and 127 - to cut the deficit to 9-7 and threaten a famous comeback, but the next three legs went with throw as Smith closed out victory and the £150,000 first prize.

Victory sees Smith join Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Rob Cross and Peter Wright as the only players to win multiple European Championship titles, with his latest success following his World Series of Darts title in September and lifting him to world No 6.

Machineseeker European Championship results

Quarter-Finals: Ross Smith 10-6 Luke Woodhouse, Gerwyn Price 10-3 Stephen Bunting, Martin Schindler 10-1 Jonny Clayton, Krzysztof Ratajski 10-6 Luke Littler

Semi-Finals: Ross Smith 11-7 Gerwyn Price, Martin Schindler 11-6 Krzysztof Ratajski

Final: Ross Smith 11-8 Martin Schindler

"I'm not going to lie, I was a bit sweaty there going to that end with Martin - he wouldn't let up, would he!" Smith said. "Full credit to him. To have this trophy in my hands, to win another major - I'm absolutely over the moon and drained, but I'm buzzing!"

Luke Littler was the pre-tournament favourite to claim the only missing ranked major from his glittering CV, only for the world No 1 to suffer a shock quarter-final exit to Krzysztof Ratajaski.

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Luke Littler failed to win a maiden European Championship as he suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Krzysztof Ratajski (Credit: ITV) How Smith secured Dortmund title

Schindler thrashed Jonny Clayton 10-1 and despatched Ratajaski - who eliminated Littler 11-6 in the previous round - to reach his maiden ranked TV final, with the German missing chances to grab the early lead against Smith.

He wasted multiple opportunities to break in the third leg but responded with a 14-dart hold in the next, levelling the match, before Smith quickly pulled away.

Image: Smith came into the event as No 1 seed after a strong season on the PDC European Tour

Smith took out an 86 finish to break and kept the German crowd quiet by sweeping all five legs in the next mini session, with Schindler only allowed back in when his opponent squandered five darts at double to open a seven-leg lead.

The pair traded breaks of throw before Schindler followed a 15-dart hold by firing successive ton-plus checkouts, with Smith stuttering over the closing legs before wrapping up victory with his fifth match dart.

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"It's a strange one. I really don't think I played great this week," Smith added. "I think a lot of players let me off as well, but sometimes you have to win ugly. I'm proud of doing that because you have got to dig deep. You have to really fight hard and I think I've done that this weekend."

Despite just falling short of a first Premier title, Schindler made history in reaching the European Championship final on home soil and becoming the first German to reach a televised final.

Image: Schindler and Smith both impressed to reach the European Championship final

"When I started playing darts ten years ago, I didn't expect anything and now I made a major final," said an emotional Schindler.

"I tried everything to win this one, but fair play to Ross, he played well. I lost but I'm still very happy! I'm going to be in the Grand Slam now. That's probably the best part of it!

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