🎯 What the Event Is
-
The European Championship is one of the major tournaments on the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) calendar.
-
It features the top 32 players from the European Tour Order of Merit (i.e., the best-performing players in the European Tour events that year) competing in a knockout format.
-
It is held annually in October in Dortmund (at the Westfalenhalle) in recent years.
📅 Format & Structure
-
For example, in 2025: the tournament takes place from 23-26 October 2025 at Westfalenhalle.
-
Match format:
-
First round: Best of 11 legs
-
Second round & quarter-finals: Best of 19 legs
-
Semi-finals & Final: Best of 21 legs
-
-
Knock-out bracket: single elimination — lose and you’re out.
-
Because it is limited to the top 32 players, the level of competition is very high.
🏟 Venue & Logistics: Westfalenhalle, Dortmund
-
Address: Westfalenhalle, Rheinlanddamm 200, 44139 Dortmund, Germany.
-
Sessions:
-
Thursday & Friday evenings: one session each (start ~19:00 local)
-
Saturday & Sunday: two sessions each day (afternoon ~13:00, evening ~19:00)
-
-
Ticket pricing:
-
For 2024, ticket prices started from around €25-30 for the cheapest seats, going up to ~€70-€80 for better seats.
-
For 2025, ticket reports say they range between ~€20-€80 depending on session and seat category.
-
-
Audience size: The event has broken records in Germany — e.g., over 30,000 spectators for the event in Dortmund.
-
Getting there: Westfalenhalle is a major arena, good transport links in Dortmund; arriving early is advisable given crowds.
💶 Prize Fund & Key Details
-
The prize fund for the 2025 edition: £600,000.
-
Winner receives a substantial share (in previous years ~£120,000).
-
Only 32 players qualify — so you’re seeing a very elite field.
✅ What to Expect If You Attend
-
Expect a high-quality show: top players, serious competition, big stage lighting, large crowd.
-
Atmosphere: German fans are known to be enthusiastic, vocal. Good crowd energy.
-
Seating: Floor / front rows will give very up-close views; other tiers will be good but not as immersive.
-
Sessions mean you can choose an evening session (Thursday/Friday) or full day (Saturday/Sunday two sessions) depending on availability/time.
-
Ticket tiers vary — cheaper seats exist, but premium/hospitality will cost more.
-
Be aware of arrival times: for example the admission is listed one hour before start.
-
Because the tournament is a major event on German soil, demand is strong; getting good seats earlier is advisable.
