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

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

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.

"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.

"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.

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

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.