PREVIEW | Who will crown themselves European champion? These are the biggest favorites to succeed Ritchie Edhouse at the European Championship
2025 Machineseeker European Darts Championship Preview: Who Will Succeed Ritchie Edhouse?
The 2025 Machineseeker European Darts Championship, set for October 23-26 at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, Germany, promises to be a blockbuster showdown as the top 32 players from the 2025 European Tour Order of Merit vie for the £600,000 prize pool and the coveted £120,000 champion’s cheque. With defending champion Ritchie Edhouse failing to qualify, the field is wide open for a new king or queen of the continent. Nathan Aspinall leads as the No. 1 seed after topping the European Tour Order of Merit with three titles, but heavyweights like Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price are hot on his heels, each bringing their own brand of brilliance and grit. Below, we dissect the format, key matchups, and the biggest favorites to claim the crown in this high-octane, single-elimination spectacle.
Tournament Format and Prize Money
The European Championship features the top 32 earners from the 14-event 2025 European Tour, seeded by their Order of Merit rankings. The format is single-elimination, with matches escalating in intensity:
– **Round 1**: Best-of-11 legs (6 to win).
– **Round 2**: Best-of-11 legs.
– **Quarterfinals**: Best-of-19 legs (10 to win).
– **Semifinals**: Best-of-21 legs (11 to win).
– **Final**: Best-of-21 legs (11 to win).
**Schedule**:
– **Thursday, October 23**: Round 1 (first 8 matches, 7:00 p.m. CEST).
– **Friday, October 24**: Round 1 (remaining 8 matches) and Round 2.
– **Saturday, October 25**: Quarterfinals (afternoon) and Semifinals (evening).
– **Sunday, October 26**: Final (evening).
**Prize Money**:
– Winner: £120,000
– Runner-up: £60,000
– Semifinalists: £40,000 each (£80,000 total)
– Quarterfinalists: £20,000 each (£80,000 total)
– Last 16: £10,000 each (£80,000 total)
– Last 32: £6,000 each (£96,000 total)
– Total: £600,000
**Broadcast**: Sky Sports (UK), DAZN (USA, Europe), Fox Sports (Australia), PDC TV (global stream).
The Draw: Explosive Opening Clashes
The fixed-seed draw, pitting top seeds against lower-ranked qualifiers, sets the stage for instant drama. Key Round 1 matchups include:
| Matchup | Notes |
|———|——-|
| **Nathan Aspinall (1) vs. Rob Cross (32)** | Aspinall, the Euro Tour leader with three titles, faces 2018 World Champion Cross, who squeaked in at No. 32. Aspinall’s 2025 nine-darters (PC31) vs. Cross’s clutch grit. |
| **Luke Littler (2) vs. Raymond van Barneveld (31)** | The blockbuster: Littler’s Triple Crown dominance meets van Barneveld’s 2007 World Champion legacy. Littler’s 1-0 H2H (2023 Youth Worlds) adds intrigue. |
| **Gerwyn Price (3) vs. Daryl Gurney (30)** | A fiery rematch of their 2024 World Matchplay clash (Price won 10-8); Price’s mind games vs. Gurney’s resilience. |
| **Michael van Gerwen (4) vs. Wessel Nijman (29)** | Dutch derby: van Gerwen’s four Euro titles vs. Nijman’s breakout 2025 (Pro Tour finalist). |
| **Luke Humphries (5) vs. Krzysztof Ratajski (28)** | World No. 1 Humphries, the 2023 champ, faces Polish star Ratajski, who hit form with a German Darts Championship semifinal. |
Other notable ties: Gary Anderson (6) vs. Cameron Menzies (Scottish showdown), Josh Rock (7) vs. Gian van Veen (Youth Worlds champ), Michael Smith (8) vs. Joe Cullen (2024 World Cup partners).
#### The Favorites: Who Will Claim the Crown?
With Edhouse out, the field is stacked with contenders. Here are the top five favorites to lift the trophy, based on 2025 form, European Tour performance, and tournament history, with odds from Bet365 (as of October 23, 2025):
1. **Luke Littler (2nd Seed, Odds: 3/1)**
**Why He’s a Favorite**: Littler’s 2025 is a masterclass—Triple Crown (£1.5M+), World Grand Prix (£120k, 102.15 avg vs. Humphries), and PC32 (£15k, 109.34 avg). His 75% double-in rate and 10 180s in the Grand Prix final showcase unmatched precision. Facing van Barneveld in R1 is winnable (1-0 H2H), but the Dortmund crowd’s boos—prompting his German boycott since April—test his mettle. Littler’s vowed to “let darts talk,” and his 102+ averages in majors make him the man to beat.
**Path to Victory**: R1 vs. van Barneveld, R2 vs. Joyce/Woodhouse, QF vs. Rock/van Veen, SF vs. Price/Gurney.
**Prediction**: **Champion**. Littler’s form and hunger for No. 1 (trailing Humphries by £70k) seal it.
2. **Nathan Aspinall (1st Seed, Odds: 7/2)**
**Why He’s a Favorite**: Aspinall leads the Euro Tour Order of Merit (£135k, three titles: European Darts Trophy, German Darts Championship, one other), with two runner-up finishes. His 2023 Euro title (11-7 vs. Humphries) and two nine-darters in PC31 highlight his clutch gene. Facing Cross in R1, his 109 avg in PC32 semis (161 checkout) and 75% doubles make him lethal. “Dortmund’s my house,” he said.
**Path to Victory**: R1 vs. Cross, R2 vs. Searle/Meikle, QF vs. Anderson/Menzies, SF vs. van Gerwen/Nijman.
**Prediction**: **Runner-up**. Aspinall’s consistency falters just short against Littler’s firepower.
3. **Luke Humphries (5th Seed, Odds: 4/1)**
**Why He’s a Favorite**: World No. 1 (£1.895M Order of Merit), Humphries won the 2023 Euro title and reached the 2024 final (lost to Edhouse). His 2025 form—12 straight semis, eight titles, 100.12 avg vs. Noppert in Grand Prix—shows resilience despite the Grand Prix final loss to Littler. R1 vs. Ratajski is tricky, but his 75% doubles and 135 break vs. Noppert signal danger. “I want my title back,” he said.
**Path to Victory**: R1 vs. Ratajski, R2 vs. Schindler/Pietreczko, QF vs. Smith/Cullen, SF vs. Littler.
**Prediction**: **Semifinals**. Humphries’ grit falls to Littler’s momentum.
4. **Gerwyn Price (3rd Seed, Odds: 6/1)**
**Why He’s a Favorite**: Price, the 2019 runner-up, boasts £128k from two Euro Tour titles and multiple semis. His 2024 World Matchplay win over Gurney (10-8) and four 180s in Grand Prix quarters show his edge. R1 vs. Gurney is a grudge match, but Price’s mind games and 70% doubles make him a threat. “Dortmund’s for taking,” he said.
**Path to Victory**: R1 vs. Gurney, R2 vs. Dobey/Pikachu, QF vs. Littler, SF vs. Humphries.
**Prediction**: **Quarterfinals**. Price’s fire fizzles against Littler’s precision.
5. **Michael van Gerwen (4th Seed, Odds: 8/1)**
**Why He’s a Favorite**: The four-time champ (£125k, one title) is a Dortmund legend, but 2025 family commitments limited his Euro Tour. His 101 avg vs. Littler in Worlds semis shows he’s still elite. R1 vs. Nijman is a Dutch test, but van Gerwen’s 80% doubles and experience shine. “I’m not done,” he said.
**Path to Victory**: R1 vs. Nijman, R2 vs. Bunting/Wade, QF vs. Aspinall, SF vs. Littler.
**Prediction**: **Semifinals**. Van Gerwen’s grit meets Littler’s wall.
Dark Horses and Wildcards
– **Gary Anderson (6th Seed, Odds: 12/1)**: Veteran (£88k, one title) faces Menzies in a Scottish derby. His 2025 resurgence (104 avg in PC30) could spark a deep run. **QF Potential**.
– **Josh Rock (7th Seed, Odds: 14/1)**: Young gun (£95k, one title) faces van Veen in R1. His 2025 quarters consistency could upset. **SF Potential**.
– **Michael Smith (8th Seed, Odds: 10/1)**: 2024 finalist (£82k) meets Cullen. His 105 avg vs. Dobey in PC31 screams danger. **QF Potential**.
The Verdict: Littler’s to Lose
Littler’s 2025 dominance—Triple Crown, Grand Prix, PC32, and a 102+ average in majors—positions him as the favorite to claim his first European Championship title. His path (van Barneveld, Rock, Price, Humphries) is tough, but his 75% double-in rate and clutch 121 checkouts (PC32) give him the edge. Aspinall’s Euro Tour mastery makes him a strong runner-up pick, while Humphries and van Gerwen lurk for upsets. Dortmund’s boos won’t faze the Nuke—he’s ready to crown himself Europe’s king.
**Final Prediction**: **Luke Littler defeats Nathan Aspinall, 11-8**. The Nuke’s reign continues; Dortmund’s his throne.
