Karel Sedlacek could knock Stephen Bunting out of the qualifying zone as early as the first session of the Dutch Darts Championship. In Maastricht, where the fifteenth and final leg of the 2026 European Tour is taking place from 16 to 18 October, the line-up for the European Championship will be decided over the weekend, with the final decision coming on Sunday evening.
The 2026 European Championship brings together the top 32 players in the European Tour rankings, from 22 to 25 October at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund. Bunting currently occupies 32nd and final place with £33,000, just £2,000 ahead of Sedlacek. A single match win could turn the tables: the race is being decided by a few thousand pounds, and it is still wide open.
The standings of the contenders ahead of Maastricht
| Player | European Tour total | What lies ahead this weekend |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Bunting (32nd) | £33,000 | Through to the second round on Saturday evening against either Cameron Menzies or Nick Kenny. A win takes him to £38,000; a defeat leaves him on £33,000 |
| Karel Sedlacek (33rd) | £31,000 | Opens on Friday against Callan Rydz. A win takes him to £34,500, ahead of Bunting |
| Martin Schindler | £34,500 | Plays Sedlacek or Rydz. A win takes him to £39,500 |
| Michael Smith | Out of the money | Stephen Burton on Friday evening, then Nathan Aspinall. Two wins: £30,000. Quarter-final: £33,000. Semi-final: £35,000 |
| Kim Huybrechts | £34,500 | Spot to defend in the last two rounds |
| Cameron Menzies, Dave Chisnall | £37,000 | Better placed going into the weekend, but their form sets the bar for elimination |
Sedlacek could strike as early as Friday
The Czech is on a roll. A quarter-finalist in Basel last week, he has picked up his points at the peak of his form this season and takes to the stage with a first-round match well within his reach. His match against Callan Rydz is crucial: a win would take him to £34,500, above Bunting’s current total and level with Schindler. A defeat, however, would give Bunting some breathing space at least until Saturday evening.
Bunting is playing for more than just a weekend
A year ago, Stephen Bunting arrived in Dortmund as the number three seed, buoyed by two titles on the European Tour. This time, he is defending the lowest-ranked spot and has not made things easy for himself: beaten by Jeffrey de Graaf in the second round in Basel, he has added nothing to his tally. He is due to play on Saturday evening, against either Menzies or Kenny. A win would take him to £38,000; an early exit would leave him on £33,000, at the mercy of the other draws. The DartsNews podcast sums up what’s at stake: he’s not just playing for qualification for Dortmund; he may also be playing for his place in the Premier League.
Schindler hanging by a thread
The number one seed in Dortmund in 2024 and number two in 2025, Martin Schindler now risks missing out on his home major this time round. Germany’s number one stands on £34,500, just one round away from the cut. He could face Sedlacek right from the off: should the Czech win on Friday, the two men would be level on points when they meet. A win would take Schindler to £39,500, whilst a defeat would leave him at the mercy of the results of other matches.
Michael Smith must keep the momentum going
Basel was only his fourth appearance of the season on the European Tour, and his return to form has revived his qualification hopes, which had seemed lost. The path remains narrow: Stephen Burton on Friday evening, then Nathan Aspinall for the winner. Two wins would leave him on £30,000, still below the cut-off line. A quarter-final would take him to £33,000, a semi-final to £35,000. Neither of these totals guarantees a place in Dortmund, as the cut-off point could still rise depending on other results.
It all comes down to the same quarter of the draw
Bunting, Smith, Schindler, Sedlacek and Jonny Clayton, who won the title in Basel last Sunday, are all in the same quarter. A Bunting v Smith clash is possible in the last 16. The contenders may therefore have to knock each other out before looking elsewhere, which leaves the door open for Kim Huybrechts (£34,500) or the Menzies-Chisnall pair (£37,000), who are already better placed. In the event of a tie on prize money, the tiebreaker is the countback.
See you on Sunday evening
The Dutch Darts Championship is the last chance to shake up the rankings, and the full weekend programme is detailed in the preview of the 2026 Dutch Darts Championship in Maastricht. The 32 qualifiers will then meet from 22 to 25 October, and the format for the 2026 European Championship in Dortmund has already been finalised: 32 players, four days of competition and one final major event before the end of the season.
The updated European Tour Order of Merit is published on the official PDC website after every event.
