Wright: 'The old guy can still do it!'

Machineseeker European Championship

Oct 30 2023

Peter Wright believes his Machineseeker European Championship triumph can provide the springboard for a strong end to the 2023 season, after returning to winning ways in Germany.

Wonderful Wright seals second European Championship crown

Machineseeker European Championship

Oct 29 2023

Peter Wright celebrated his first Premier televised ranking title in almost two years with a convincing 11-6 victory over James Wade in Sunday’s Machineseeker European Championship final.

Vintage Van Gerwen puts out Pietreczko in Dortmund second round thriller

Machineseeker European Championship

Oct 28 2023

Michael van Gerwen produced an imperious performance to end the hopes of Germany’s new superstar Ricardo Pietreczko and move through to the Machineseeker European Championship quarter-finals on Saturday.

Van Gerwen survives Razma scare as Pietreczko dumps out Smith

Machineseeker European Championship

Oct 27 2023

Michael van Gerwen survived a major scare to deny an inspired Madars Razma in a captivating opening round tussle at the Machineseeker European Championship.

Reigning champion Smith relishing title defence in Dortmund

Machineseeker European Championship

Oct 27 2023

Ross Smith insists his confidence is sky-high as he prepares to begin his defence of the Machineseeker European Championship against Ricardo Pietreczko on Friday evening.

Wright's wonderful comeback sets up Smith showdown in Dortmund

Machineseeker European Championship

Oct 26 2023

Peter Wright produced a monumental fightback to stun Gabriel Clemens and set up a second round showdown against Michael Smith at the Machineseeker European Championship.

Where to watch the 2023 Machineseeker European Championship

Machineseeker European Championship

Oct 26 2023

The 2023 Machineseeker European Championship will take place in Dortmund from October 26-29 - below are the ways you can watch live around the world...

2023 Machineseeker European Championship preview

Machineseeker European Championship

Oct 25 2023

The 2023 Machineseeker European Championship begins on Thursday, as the top 32 players from the 2023 European Tour Order of Merit compete for the £120,000 top prize in Dortmund.

2023 Machineseeker European Championship schedule confirmed

Machineseeker European Championship

Oct 17 2023

The schedule of play for the 2023 Machineseeker European Championship first round has been confirmed, with five PDC World Champions in action on the opening night next Thursday.

Machineseeker to sponsor 2023 European Championship

Machineseeker European Championship

Oct 16 2023

The PDC is delighted to announce Machineseeker as the title sponsor of the 2023 European Championship.

The 2023 Machineseeker European Championship took place from October 26-29 at the Westfalenhalle, Dortmund.

The tournament saw the top 32 players from the European Tour Order of Merit battle it out across four days of action for TV silverware.

Schedule of Play
Thursday October 26

Danny Noppert 6-0 Andrew Gilding
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Ryan Searle
Chris Dobey 6-2 Dave Chisnall
Rob Cross 6-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Gerwyn Price 6-1 Keane Barry
Peter Wright 6-5 Gabriel Clemens
Michael Smith 6-1 Raymond van Barneveld
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Martin Schindler

Friday October 27
First Round x8
Gian van Veen 6-1 Damon Heta
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Joe Cullen
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Josh Rock
Jose De Sousa 6-4 Jonny Clayton
James Wade 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Humphries 6-1 Brendan Dolan
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Madars Razma
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-3 Ross Smith

Saturday October 28
Second Round
Afternoon Session

Chris Dobey 10-8 Stephen Bunting
Danny Noppert 10-7 Rob Cross
Gerwyn Price 10-5 Nathan Aspinall
Peter Wright 10-4 Michael Smith

Evening Session
Gian van Veen 10-6 Daryl Gurney
James Wade 10-1 Jose de Sousa
Luke Humphries 10-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Ricardo Pietreczko

Sunday October 29 
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
 
Peter Wright 10-8 Chris Dobey
Danny Noppert 10-8 Gerwyn Price
James Wade 10-6 Luke Humphries
Gian van Veen 10-6 Michael van Gerwen

Evening Session
Semi-Finals 

Peter Wright 11-8 Danny Noppert
James Wade 11-9 Gian van Veen 

Final 
Peter Wright 11-6 James Wade

Draw Bracket
(1) Dave Chisnall v (32) Chris Dobey
(16) Martin Schindler v (17) Stephen Bunting
(8) Michael Smith v (25) Raymond van Barneveld
(9) Peter Wright v (24) Gabriel Clemens
(4) Gerwyn Price v (29) Keane Barry
(13) Nathan Aspinall v (20) Ryan Searle
(5) Rob Cross v (28) Dimitri Van den Bergh
(12) Danny Noppert v (21) Andrew Gilding
(2) Luke Humphries v (31) Brendan Dolan
(15) Krzysztof Ratajski v (18) Joe Cullen
(7) Dirk van Duijvenbode v (26) James Wade
(10) Jonny Clayton v (23) Jose de Sousa
(3) Michael van Gerwen v (30) Madars Razma
(14) Ricardo Pietreczko v (19) Ross Smith
(6) Damon Heta v (27) Gian van Veen
(11) Josh Rock v (22) Daryl Gurney

Format
First Round - Best of 11 legs
Second Round - Best of 19 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 21 legs
Final - Best of 21 legs

Prize Fund
Winner - £120,000
Runner-Up - £60,000
Semi-Finalists - £40,000
Quarter-Finalists - £25,000
Last 16 - £15,000
First Round - £7,500
Total - £600,000

Peter Wright celebrated his first Premier televised ranking title in almost two years with a convincing 11-6 victory over James Wade in Sunday’s Machineseeker European Championship final.

Wright, who also defeated Wade to clinch his maiden European Championship crown in 2020, repeated the feat in front of a record-breaking crowd in Dortmund to scoop the £120,000 top prize.

The Scottish star has endured a tumultuous 2023 season, but after showing glimpses of a return to form over recent weeks, he capped off his revival with a memorable triumph at the Westfalenhalle.

Wright had fought back from 4-1 down to deny German number one Gabriel Clemens in Thursday’s opening round, before dispatching world number one Michael Smith 10-4 to seal his place at Finals Day.

The 53-year-old kicked off Sunday’s action with a dramatic 10-8 victory over Chris Dobey, producing monstrous 161 and 164 checkouts to beat the Masters champion, who recovered from 7-2 down to lead.

In the semi-finals, Wright reeled off six straight legs to overcome Danny Noppert, averaging 100.42 and defying four ton-plus finishes from the Dutchman to celebrate an 11-8 success.

The two-time World Champion then produced a professional display to topple a tenacious Wade, averaging 97, landing four 180s and pinning 46% of his attempts at a double.

“The old guy can still do it,” quipped Wright, who joins Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and Rob Cross in becoming a multiple European Champion.

“I was fortunate in my first game against Gabriel Clemens. I pulled out two 180s to get back in the match, but it was just brilliant to play in front of this amazing crowd this weekend.

“My throwing action went totally out the window in the last two matches. I didn’t know what I was doing, but luckily enough I got over the line.”


Wright was the early aggressor in Sunday’s decider, establishing a narrow 3-2 advantage at the first interval despite 157 and 96 checkouts from Wade.

Back-to-back 13-dart legs then catapulted Wright into a 6-2 cushion, and while Wade responded with consecutive legs, the Scot returned the favour to restore his four-leg buffer.

The two-time World Cup winner then fired in successive 14-darters to move to the cusp of glory at 10-5, only to squander three match darts in leg 16 as Wade sank a 13-darter on tops to prolong the contest.

However, Wright quashed any fears of a famous fightback in the following leg, converting a clinical 96 checkout to clinch his third title of 2023, which sees him regain second spot on the PDC Order of Merit.

Wade, a European Champion in 2018, was appearing in his first televised ranking final since his UK Open triumph in March 2021, following a string of spirited displays in Dortmund.

The left-hander, who saw off Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jose de Sousa earlier in the event, landed three ton-plus finishes to record a superb 10-6 victory over second seed Luke Humphries in the last eight.

Wade then fought back brilliantly from 5-1 down to edge out Dutch youngster Gian van Veen in the semi-finals, running out an 11-9 winner to secure an instant return to the world’s top 16.

“I played a man who was better than me,” reflected Wade, who also confirmed his place at next month’s Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts after scooping the £60,000 runner-up prize.

“I’m gutted [with the result], but I’ve not been very good for the last 14 months, so this is a step in the right direction.

“I’ve been fortunate today because a few of the players didn’t play as well as they can, but for me this is a massive building block, and I’m moving forwards again.”

Earlier in the day, debutant Van Veen dumped out four-time champion Van Gerwen in the quarter-finals, punishing a below-par display from his compatriot to secure the biggest win of his career.

In the other quarter-final tie, Noppert produced a monumental fightback from 7-0 down to stun Gerwyn Price, winning ten of the last 11 legs to prevail with a 101 average and seven maximums.

Drawboard