Flanders Darts Trophy: James Wade ends 10-year wait for European Tour title with win over Ross Smith in Antwerp

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.

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"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.

"I admire him. I watch his game and I can only admire the guy.

"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.

Sunday's Flanders Darts Trophy results

Sunday September 13
Evening Session
Final
James Wade 8-4 Ross Smith

Semi-Finals
Ross Smith 7-6 Gian van Veen
James Wade 7-4 Damon Heta

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

World Grand Prix field confirmed following Flanders Darts Trophy

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.

Defending champion Luke Littler is among the names battling for a newly-boosted £150,000 top prize in Leicester from September 28 to October 4 with every session live on Sky Sports.

The draw for the event will be made on Monday September 14.

Top 16 from the PDC rankings (seeded for round one draw)
1. Luke Littler
2. Luke Humphries
3. Gian van Veen
4. Gerwyn Price
5. Jonny Clayton
6. James Wade
7. Josh Rock
8. Danny Noppert
9. Michael van Gerwen
10. Gary Anderson
11. Stephen Bunting
12. Wessel Nijman
13. Ross Smith
14. Ryan Searle
15. Chris Dobey
16. Nathan Aspinall

Qualifiers from ProTour Rankings
Luke Woodhouse
Kevin Doets
Jermaine Wattimena
Krzysztof Ratajski
Andrew Gilding
William O'Connor
Damon Heta
Rob Cross
Ryan Joyce
Dirk van Duijvenbode
Niels Zonneveld
Cameron Menzies
Niko Springer
Dave Chisnall
Sebastian Bialecki
Joe Cullen

Sky Sports remains the home of darts with the World Grand Prix (September 28-October 4), Grand Slam of Darts (November 14-22) and World Darts Championship (December 10-January 3) all live. Stream darts and more through NOW with no contract.