Riesa recently hosted the highly anticipated 2026 ELTEN Safety Shoes International Darts Open at the WT Energiesysteme Arena, attracting over 15,000 enthusiastic fans throughout the weekend. The event featured an impressive total of 434 legs, during which players showcased their skills with a remarkable 216 scores of 180. Ross Smith emerged as the tournament champion, claiming his first European Tour title with a commanding 8–3 victory over Ryan Searle in the final. This impressive win propelled Smith to a career-high ranking of world No. 14.
Top Tournament Averages and Checkouts
The tournament was not only exciting due to the competitive matches but also because of the exceptional performances by several players. Notably, Kim Huybrechts achieved the highest tournament average of 104.66 during his second-round match against Chris Dobey. Other standout averages included Gian van Veen at 103.51 in the last 16 against Kevin Doets, and Stephen Bunting, who averaged 102.52 in his second-round clash against Krzysztof Ratajski. Both Kevin Doets and Ross Smith posted averages of 102.48, showcasing their consistent high-level play.
In terms of biggest checkouts, Rob Cross was particularly impressive, registering a stunning 170 checkout in his semifinal match against Ryan Searle, along with another remarkable 164 checkout in the same match. Michael van Gerwen also showcased his prowess with a 164 checkout during his second-round game against Madars Razma. Ryan Searle and Ross Smith contributed to the excitement with their own impressive checkouts of 149 and 146, respectively.
The numbers from this tournament underline a weekend filled with high-quality performances in Riesa, culminating in Ross Smith’s breakthrough victory on the European stage. As the darts community looks ahead, fans are eager to see how this tournament will influence the players’ rankings and performances in future events.