From 25 till 28 October 32 Darts player fought to claim the 2018 European Championships title. In the final, Simon Whitlock is up against James Wade. The match proves to be very close. Whitlock takes a two leg advantage in the beginning in the match but Wade equalizes at 3 all. From that moment the legs are being shared equally. The decisive moment in the match is a break for Wade in the 18th leg. This break leaves “The Machine” on match point. He secures the tournament with his favourite double; double ten.
Simon Whitlock shows great form throughout his tournament. In his first match he beats Steve Beaton with 6-3 and one game later he knocks Peter Wright out of the tournament. In the semi-finals Whitlock faces his first big challenge of the 2018 European Championships as he plays his match against Joe Cullen. “The Wizard” comes back from 10-7 behind. Eventually Whitlock claims his spot in the final with a sublime 110-finish.
James Wade also struggles to reach the final of the tournament. Wade wins his first two matches fairly easy but in the following rounds he has to play his best. In the quarterfinal game he survives a match dart from Gerwyn Price. In the semi-final “The Machine” survives three match darts as he comes back from 10-8 down to win the last three legs against German ace Max Hopp.
In the first rounds of the tournament it becomes clear that the big favourites for the title will not be crowned European Champion. In the first round Mensur Suljovic and Daryl Gurney get knocked out. In the second round the tournament also loses Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright and Michael Smith.
It is James Wade's first major title since The Masters of 2014; his tally now stands at eight majors. Whitlock remains on one major title; the 2012 European Championship.