James Wade won the 2026 Flanders Darts Trophy on Sunday evening in Antwerp, beating Ross Smith 8-4 in the final. The figure that really matters: the English left-hander had not won on the European Tour since 2016.
This victory comes at just the right time for Wade. A month on from his title at the Australian Darts Masters, he has added a European triumph to his tally, confirming a genuine return to form in major events. The PDC confirmed the result in its official report, which was also carried by Sky Sports.
The finish video is now visible below. The official PDC post remains linked as the source just after it.
See the official PDC video post on X.
We’d already been following this tournament since the weekend, with the day Van Gerwen was knocked out and Aspinall made a big impact in Antwerp. This time, the final moment belongs to Wade. And it means more than just another title on his list of achievements.
A final that swung in Wade’s favour after the break
The start of the final was evenly contested, but Wade quickly imposed his rhythm. After the opening exchanges, he won three legs in a row to take a 4-2 lead. Smith responded with a 150 checkout in the seventh leg, just to remind everyone that he wasn’t there by chance.
The difference then came down to composure. Wade won four of the last five legs and wrapped up the final with a 14-darter. In a finish like this, there’s no room for error: Smith had the recent momentum, but Wade had the control.
| Final | James Wade 8–4 Ross Smith |
| Venue | Antwerp Expo, Antwerp |
| Competition | Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy 2026 |
| Winner’s prize money | £35,000 according to Sky Sports |
| Key statistic | Wade’s first European Tour title since 2016 |
A flawless run, with no weak performances on Sunday
Wade didn’t just win the final. He got through the day with real intensity. On Sunday, he saw off Rob Cross 6–5, then swept aside Danny Noppert 6–0 in the quarter-final, before dominating Damon Heta 7–4 in the semi-final.
This sequence sums up the moment perfectly. Against Cross, he had to hold his own in a tight match. Against Noppert, he stepped up a gear. Against Heta, he recorded three finishes of over 100. The final against Smith then felt more like a confirmation than a surprise.
This title also holds historic significance for him. Wade had contested his first European Tour final in 2012, at the Austrian Darts Open. To see him win the circuit’s 150th event sends a fairly clear message: he isn’t just back to make up the numbers; he’s back to win.
Ross Smith misses out on the hat-trick, but remains on a strong run
For Ross Smith, the defeat brings to an end a run that could have proved very costly. Having won the Hungarian Darts Trophy two weeks earlier, he was aiming for a third European Tour title of the season. His run in Antwerp remained solid: a victory over Jeffrey de Graaf, followed by three matches won in the final leg against Gerwyn Price, Ryan Joyce and Gian van Veen.
Smith acknowledged after the final that Wade hadn’t given him a moment’s respite. That’s exactly what we saw: as soon as the match moved beyond a tense stalemate, Wade shut the door.
A strong statement ahead of the World Grand Prix
Timing is also important because the 2026 World Grand Prix is fast approaching. The line-up for Leicester is now confirmed, with Luke Littler headlining and Wade among the most prominent players following this title win. The competition will take place from 28 September to 4 October at the Mattioli Arena, in the double-start format which often upsets the usual pecking order.
Wade no longer needs to prove his experience. Above all, this title serves as a reminder that he can still turn an open week into a trophy. For a 43-year-old player whom many are too quick to pigeonhole as a reliable veteran, this is the sort of response that puts everyone’s mind at ease.
