Anderson Retains European Darts Grand Prix Title in Style with Whitewash Win Over Gilding
- Darts Central
- May 5
- 8 min read
Following Martin Schindler’s triumph in Graz at the Austrian Darts Open, the European Tour moved on to Sindelfingen, Germany, for the European Darts Grand Prix, the sixth stop on this year’s circuit.
Several high-profile names returned to the lineup after sitting out last weekend, including Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Gerwyn Price. Luke Littler remained absent, while Daryl Gurney was a late withdrawal. Their spots were filled by reserves Martin Lukeman and William O’Connor.
Prize Money Breakdown:
The prize fund remained at £175,000, unchanged from last year.
Stage | Prize Money |
Winner | £30,000 |
Runner-Up | £12,000 |
Semi-Finalists | £8,500 |
Quarter-Finalists | £6,000 |
Third Round Losers | £4,000 |
Second Round Losers | £2,500 |
First Round Losers | £1,250 |
Seeded players entered in Round 2 and needed to win their opening match for the prize money to count toward the rankings, just as players automatically qualified from the Pro Tour had to win in Round 1 for their earnings to register.
Qualification & Format
The PDC adjusted its European Tour qualification system for 2025. The Top 16 on the PDC Order of Merit were seeded into Round 2, while the Top 16 from the 1-year Pro Tour Order of Merit entered in Round 1.
The 48-player field was completed through four qualifying routes:
Tour Card Holder Qualifier (10 spots)
German Host Nation Qualifier (4 spots)
Nordic & Baltic Qualifier (1 spot)
East European Qualifier (1 spot)
Day 1 – Scutt Breaks New Ground & Weber Impresses
The opening day in Sindelfingen saw 32 qualifiers from various routes battle it out for a place in Saturday’s second round, where the 16 seeded players awaited. Across two sessions, several standout performances emerged.
Connor Scutt claimed his first ever European Tour victory, producing a composed display to defeat European Champion Ritchie Edhouse 6-2.
Germany’s Leon Weber impressed on home soil, seeing off an in-form Ryan Joyce 6-3 with a solid 92.76 average.
Andrew Gilding delivered one of the best performances of the day, averaging 100.47 in a narrow 6-5 win over Gabriel Clemens, denying the home favourite in a last-leg decider.
Klose Stuns Wattimena While Other Host Nation Qualifiers Falter
Former Tour Card holder and 2023 PC21 finalist Daniel Klose produced a surprise result, averaging 95.85 in a 6-3 upset of Jermaine Wattimena.
However, fellow Host Nation Qualifiers Michael Unterbuchner and Marcel Erba struggled, both averaging below 80 in heavy defeats to 2025 PC title winners Cameron Menzies and Joe Cullen, respectively.
Paul Krohne put in a strong performance with a 96.63 average but was whitewashed 6-0 by last weekend’s finalist Ross Smith, who dazzled with a 108.65 average in the star performance of the round.
Other Notable First Round Wins
Niels Zonneveld swept past World No. 19 Ryan Searle 6-1 in a commanding display.
Dirk van Duijvenbode continued his return to form on the Euro Tour, easing past William O’Connor 6-2.
Austrian Darts Open champion and German No. 1 Martin Schindler safely progressed with a 6-3 victory over Callan Rydz on home soil.
Day 2 – Seeds Stumble as Anderson and Wright Shine in Sindelfingen
Saturday’s action at the European Darts Grand Prix delivered high drama and elite-level darts, with eight of the 16 seeds crashing out at the first hurdle. Big names fell early, but a pair of Scottish World Champions stole the headlines with standout displays.
Gary Anderson and Peter Wright produced two of the highest-quality performances of the tournament so far. Anderson averaged a scintillating 110.16 to dismantle Gian van Veen 6-3, while Wright posted 105.34 in a dominant 6-2 win over Leon Weber.
Despite those highlights, it was a day of disappointment for most of the Premier League contingent. Five of the seven entrants bowed out:
Chris Dobey lost 6-4 to Luke Woodhouse.
Stephen Bunting, despite averaging 101.14, was beaten 6-2 by an inspired Cameron Menzies.
Michael van Gerwen looked below par, averaging just 89.52 in a 6-3 defeat to Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Nathan Aspinall also underwhelmed, losing 6-2 to Niels Zonneveld with an 88.36 average.
Gerwyn Price was edged out 6-5 by a vintage performance from Raymond van Barneveld.
There was some success for the Premier League players still standing. Luke Humphries and Rob Cross both impressed, each averaging just under 100 in wins over Connor Scutt and Mike De Decker, respectively.
Clayton’s Euro Tour Struggles Persist, Schindler Keeps German Hopes Alive
Jonny Clayton’s European Tour woes continued with a fifth consecutive opening-match exit, losing 6-5 in a nervy clash against Andrew Gilding.
Germany’s Martin Schindler again found a way past Josh Rock, this time 6-4, to keep home hopes alive heading into Sunday.
Elsewhere, Michael Smith survived a scare from Daniel Klose, edging through 6-5 after trailing early on.
Ross Smith continued his strong Euro Tour form, brushing aside Dave Chisnall 6-3, while Danny Noppert came through a tight all-Dutch battle against Wessel Nijman 6-5.
James Wade overcame a solid challenge from Joe Cullen to advance 6-4, and Martin Lukeman impressed with a comfortable 6-2 win over an out-of-sorts Damon Heta, who averaged under 90.
Day 3 – Finals Day in Sindelfingen
Finals Day, often dubbed “Cup Collection Day” on the European Tour, got underway in Sindelfingen with a wide-open field. With many top names already eliminated, the path was clear for surprise runs and standout performances as the remaining 16 players battled for the European Darts Grand Prix title.
Last 16 – Dirk Destroys, Gilding Glitters, and PL Stars Crash Out
Luke Woodhouse and Peter Wright booked their quarter-final spots with hard-fought victories over fellow countrymen Ross Smith and Cameron Menzies, respectively. James Wade eased past Niels Zonneveld 6-2 in a low-key encounter, while Martin Lukeman staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Raymond van Barneveld 6-5, recovering from 5-1 down and surviving two match darts.
Defending champion Gary Anderson beat Rob Cross 6-3, although his average was dragged down after a bizarre 29-dart final leg. Michael Smith produced a vintage performance to edge out World No. 1 Luke Humphries 6-5, averaging 106.53 in a high-class contest.
The standout displays came from Dirk van Duijvenbode and Andrew Gilding. DvD demolished Martin Schindler 6-2 with a Euro Tour personal-best average of 111.66, while ‘Goldfinger’ fired in a career-best stage average of 110.77 to defeat Danny Noppert 6-3 in a superb showing.
Quarter-Finals - Three Non-Seeds Progress Alongside Defending Champion
The evening session featured gritty contests, comebacks, and more drama as the semi-final lineup was completed.
Gary Anderson 6-5 Martin Lukeman – A scrappy contest saw the defending champion prevail in a match that never hit top gear, with both players averaging in the high 80s.
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 James Wade – DvD narrowly escaped defeat, surviving four match darts and weathering a late surge from Wade to progress.
Andrew Gilding 6-1 Peter Wright– Gilding capitalised on a nightmare doubling performance from Wright (1/12) to coast into the semis.
Luke Woodhouse 6-5 Michael Smith – In a high-quality affair, Woodhouse nailed seven 180s and held firm to eliminate Smith, surviving a match dart along the way.
Semi-Finals – Anderson Dominates, Gilding Grinds to Victory
Gary Anderson 7-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Defending champion Gary Anderson continued his quest for a third European Tour title with a dominant win over Dirk van Duijvenbode, who had dazzled throughout the weekend in pursuit of a maiden crown.
DvD started sharply, pinning clinical finishes of 112 and 89 to edge 2–1 in front. But from there, it was one-way traffic. Anderson reeled off six consecutive legs in a ruthless burst that included three 13-darters, two 14-darters, and a 16-dart leg, breaking his Dutch opponent’s resistance with relentless scoring.
Van Duijvenbode had opportunities to halt the charge but faltered on the outer ring, missing doubles in three of the six legs Anderson won, two in leg five, two more in leg seven, and another in leg nine. The Scotsman's ability to capitalise under pressure proved the difference as he powered into another European Tour final.
Andrew Gilding 7-3 Luke Woodhouse
Luke Woodhouse reached his first-ever European Tour semi-final but came up short against a composed Andrew Gilding, who was eyeing a second career final from his third semi-final appearance.
Gilding flew out of the blocks, racing into a 4-0 lead as Woodhouse struggled to find rhythm. Although 'Woody' got on the board with a tidy 16-dart hold, the next four legs went with throw, including a superb 160 checkout from Gilding to maintain control and move 6-3 ahead.
Woodhouse had a chance to break in the tenth leg but missed three darts at double, allowing Gilding to step in and close out the match with a 16-dart hold on tops. In a scrappy affair with both players averaging in the 80s, it was Gilding’s fast start and crucial checkout accuracy that sealed the deal.
🏆 The Final – Defending Champion Anderson vs Goldfinger
Gary Anderson and Andrew Gilding arrived at the final with impressive performances behind them. While Gilding had showcased clinical finishing throughout the weekend, Anderson’s heavier scoring and higher tournament average made him the slight favourite, especially given Gilding’s lack of experience in winning European Tour titles.
Pre-Final Tournament Stats
Finalist | Average | Checkout % | 180s | Ton+ Checkouts | Matches Played |
Anderson | 98.80 | 34% | 18 | 0 | 4 |
Gilding | 97.00 | 44% | 15 | 3 | 5 |
Match Recap
It was a nightmare start for Gilding, who missed seven darts at double across the opening two legs. Anderson took full advantage, clinically moving 2-0 in front.
From there, the warning signs only grew louder for ‘Goldfinger’. Anderson tightened his grip with composed finishing, while Gilding’s woes on the outer ring continued. A key moment came in leg four, when Gilding missed three darts to get on the board, Anderson immediately punished him with a stunning 141 checkout to extend his lead to 4-0.
More missed opportunities followed in leg seven, where three further misses at double allowed Anderson to break again and move 7-0 clear. The defending champion then sealed the title with an assured 85 checkout in two darts, completing a 14-dart leg to cap off an 8-0 demolition.
Gilding’s 13 missed darts at double proved costly, never allowing him to settle, while Anderson’s ruthless streak ensured there would be no let-up in his title defence.
Final Match Stats:
Finalist | Average | 180s | Checkout % |
Anderson | 92.49 | 0 | 57.14% (8/14) |
Gilding | 85.59 | 1 | 0% (0/13) |
Closing Thoughts:
Gary Anderson successfully defended his European Darts Grand Prix title to claim his third European Tour crown and 39th Pro Tour title overall. In doing so, he became just the sixth player to defend a European Tour title and the fourth to whitewash an opponent in a European Tour final, joining Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, and Peter Wright in that elite group.
Notably, Anderson now joins Price and Martin Schindler as the only players to win multiple Pro Tour titles so far this season, underlining that the 54-year-old remains a real force and is building form ahead of the major tournaments later in the year.
Despite a difficult final, there were still positives for Andrew Gilding. Although he now shares the record for most Pro Tour final appearances (six) without a win, ‘Goldfinger’ produced some exceptional darts across the weekend, highlighted by a career-best stage average in his Last 16 victory. The 2023 UK Open champion continues to knock on the door and will hope to break through with a Pro Tour title sooner rather than later.
The European Tour returns in three weeks’ time with the Dutch Darts Championship, taking place from May 23–25 at the Autotron in Rosmalen—the first visit to the Netherlands on this year’s European Tour calendar.
🎙️ Post-Final Reaction:
Gary Anderson to PDC.tv:
“I’m just glad that I can still come and play darts and compete with these boys,” he said, reflecting on his continued success despite being in the latter stages of his career.
“I’ve played darts for over 30 years. I’ve played with the likes of Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow, and so many great players over the years. These youngsters that are coming through now, the likes of Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen – darts is in a fantastic place.”
“I’m a very proud Scotsman and I get a lot of support in Scotland, but this has outdone them,” said the two-time World Champion. “It’s been absolutely fantastic. It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much support.”
Andrew Gilding to PDC.tv:
Despite the disappointment of a whitewash final, Gilding remained positive, acknowledging Anderson’s brilliance while also recognizing his own achievements throughout the tournament: “I did say earlier I was going to lift the trophy, but Gary obviously had something to prove here today.”
“In the last couple of European Tour events I went out in the first round, so this is huge for me.”
Upcoming Tournaments:
Premier League Night 14:
May 8th at First Direct Arena, Leeds (Live on Sky Sports)
Players Championship 15 & 16:
May 12th & May 13th, at Halle 39, Hildesheim (Live on PDC.tv)
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