Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross have both been handed a significant opportunity at the 2026 European Championship, but the road to glory in Dortmund is far from straightforward.
The prestigious PDC tournament has a bigger prize fund this year, with £750,000 up for grabs and £150,000 going to the eventual champion. That increase gives the sport’s biggest names another major financial incentive, although the draw means several familiar faces must navigate dangerous opponents before they can dream of lifting the trophy.
For Van Gerwen, the European Championship represents a chance to remind everyone of his extraordinary pedigree in the competition. For Cross, it offers another opportunity to make his mark at a tournament where he has already experienced major success.
A record prize fund raises the stakes
The biggest change is the increase in total prize money from £600,000 in 2025 to £750,000 in 2026. The winner will collect £150,000, which is £30,000 more than the previous champion received.
That is a substantial increase, and it reflects the wider investment being made across professional darts. With the World Championship also receiving a major financial boost, the PDC is giving its leading players more opportunities to earn significant rewards through performances on the biggest stages.
The new European Championship prize breakdown makes every round important. Players eliminated in the first round will receive £7,500, while reaching the last 16 earns £20,000. A quarter-final appearance brings £35,000, with the losing semi-finalists collecting £50,000 each.
The runner-up will earn £80,000, while the champion takes home the full £150,000.
For established players such as Van Gerwen and Cross, the increase creates an attractive opportunity to add another major payday to their careers. However, there is a catch: neither player can afford to look beyond his opening match.
Michael van Gerwen has a point to prove
Van Gerwen arrives in Dortmund with a remarkable European Championship record. The Dutchman won the title four consecutive times between 2014 and 2017, establishing himself as one of the competition’s defining players.
That history makes him a serious name whenever the tournament comes around, even when his current form is not quite at the level supporters have come to expect.
There is something particularly interesting about watching Van Gerwen in a major competition. At his best, his scoring power and ability to put opponents under immediate pressure can make matches feel almost impossible for the other player.
But darts has changed. The younger generation is increasingly comfortable challenging established champions, and the European Tour has produced plenty of players capable of beating the biggest names on their day.
Van Gerwen’s first-round opponent is Kevin Doets, who qualified as the 14th seed, while Van Gerwen enters the tournament as the 19th seed.
That is not the sort of opening match anyone should take lightly. Doets has earned his place among the leading qualifiers, and he will see this as an opportunity to eliminate a four-time champion.
Van Gerwen needs to bring his best game from the opening leg. The larger prize fund is an incentive, but his biggest motivation should be the chance to show that he can still compete for major titles.
If he gets through that challenge, confidence could build quickly. Yet it would be a mistake to assume that past success guarantees another deep run.
Rob Cross faces a difficult opening test
Cross also has the pedigree to make a serious run in Dortmund. The former world champion is an experienced major-event performer, and he knows what it takes to handle the pressure that comes with playing for silverware.
However, his opening match presents a particularly demanding challenge. Cross has been drawn against Gerwyn Price, one of the most competitive and intense players on the professional circuit.
That is a difficult assignment for either player, especially in a first-round match where there is little time to recover from a slow start.
Price has the scoring ability to punish missed doubles, while Cross has enough experience to know that staying composed can be just as important as producing spectacular visits to the board.
In my view, this is one of the most intriguing early ties of the competition. Neither player needs to be told what the other is capable of, and both will understand the value of gaining an early advantage.
The increased prize money adds another layer of motivation. A first-round exit means missing the opportunity to progress towards the £150,000 winner’s cheque, while victory keeps the dream alive.
Cross must first concentrate on beating Price rather than thinking about the money waiting at the end of the tournament.
Why the European Championship matters so much
The European Championship brings together the top 32 players from the European Tour Order of Merit, creating a field filled with established champions and emerging contenders. The 2026 event runs from October 22 to 25 at Dortmund’s Westfalenhallen.
The format also leaves little room for complacency. First-round matches are played over the best of 11 legs, meaning a player needs six legs to win. The second round and quarter-finals use a best-of-19 format, before the semi-finals and final move to the best of 21 legs.
That opening format is particularly unforgiving. One poor spell can quickly put a favourite under pressure, and an opponent who starts strongly may not give him enough time to recover.
The prize money is certainly attractive, but the tournament also offers something more valuable: a major title and the prestige that comes with winning against the best.
Defending champion Gian van Veen will be looking to retain his crown, while Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are among the other major names attracting attention.
That competition makes the route to the final challenging for everyone. Even if Van Gerwen and Cross progress beyond their opening matches, they will have to keep delivering against increasingly dangerous opposition.
The verdict: a bigger reward, but no easy route
The European Championship’s increased prize fund is welcome news for Van Gerwen, Cross and the rest of the field. With £750,000 available and £150,000 reserved for the champion, there is more money at stake than in last year’s competition.
Still, a bigger prize does not make the task any easier. Van Gerwen must get past Doets, while Cross faces the formidable challenge of Price before either can seriously consider a run at the title.
Both players have the experience and history to make a deep run, but their opening matches could define their tournaments.
Who do you think has the better chance of lifting the European Championship trophy in Dortmund: Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross or another contender entirely?