Luke Littler will open his European Championship Darts campaign against Ireland’s William O’Connor in Dortmund on Thursday, October 22. The world No. 1 enters the tournament aiming to halt a concerning run of form that has seen him exit the World Series of Darts Finals in the quarter-finals, the World Grand Prix in the first round, and the World Youth Championship in the semi-finals. Despite winning two of his three European Tour events this year, Littler’s bid for a historic clean sweep of the major titles was derailed by Jonny Clayton in the Netherlands, making this opener a critical test of his resilience.
World champion seeks to reverse slump as Van Veen defends title against Gilding
Defending champion Gian van Veen, the Dutch No. 1, will begin his title defense against Andrew Gilding in the same first-round session. Van Veen arrives in Dortmund with high confidence after setting a new record average on the European Tour this weekend, adding to his strong local connection with the venue where he secured his maiden Premier League title. His performance underscores the depth of the Dutch darts scene and sets up a formidable challenge for any opponent in the early stages of the competition.
The European Championship marks the final major of the PDC season before the Grand Slam of Darts, which fans can watch live on Sky Sports from November 14 to 22. For Littler, a deep run in Dortmund is essential to restore momentum and credibility ahead of the season’s climax. With both top seeds facing significant first-round tests, the tournament promises immediate high stakes as players vie for the last major trophy of the year.
Source: Sky Sports
