Here's why the winner of the Austrian Darts Open gets a green jacket

Martin Schindler will attempt to defend the Austrian Darts Open next weekend and will do so also for the so-called green jacket, known as a janker by locals, which remains a tradition and is one of the more interesting darts trophies received for sealing the title.

The green jacket is called as such by locals. That the winner of the Austrian Darts Open receives this award has become a long-standing tradition.

The jacket comes from the region of Styria, where the Austrian Darts Open is currently held. A local tourism agency came up with the idea of giving the winner of this event one of these jackets hence why Luke Littler got one in the past. It came to prominence when Jonny Clayton won the Austrian Darts Open for the first time and he was seen in a fetching green jacket.

It is new but old also as the tournament remains in Graz but it shifts to a new venue for the tournament this next weekend. Previously, it has been held at Arena Nova, the Salzburgarena, the Multiversum, and the Steiermarkhalle. But one thing does remain and that is that the jacket returns for another winner whether Schindler keeps it or not.

The symbol has long achieved cult status and remains one of the best titles to win on the European Tour. Albeit with no Littler, Humphries, Price and even former champion Clayton it will be up for Van Veen and Van Gerwen as top seeds to fight for it.

Schindler will be the man to beat though as he aims to win yet another European Tour and bring a dose of magic to the German speaking crowd. The fans will look to turn it into a cauldron of noise so it will be the same but different with a new venue but the same tradition.

The obvious parallel when it comes to the jacket is in fact The Masters golf tournament at Augusta. Golf has the green jacket, while darts has the Schladminger Janker. Unlike the golf version, which is kept in a locker at the club, the Austrian Darts Open winner e.g Martin Schindler or Luke Littler before him for instance get to keep their jacket. It could be said that even with the sparser attendance this year that it is the ultimate fashion statement of the European Tour. As well as perhaps the best title that can be won on the European Tour.

The material is typically made from Loden which is a thick, water resistant sheep's wool. The grey and green aesthetic is symbolic of the Styria region. The green represents the forests and the grey represents the mountains so instead of just being a fashion statement. It is something that genuinely has meaning to those who are involved in the event.

The jacket is also often presented by local dignitaries in traditional tracht (costume) making the trophy ceremony mean even more than a normal sporting event and makes the green jacket a huge focal point.

Moving to a new venue also marks a new beginning but one that sees further progression as well as a nod to the past with the jacket being continuity. The Stadthalle is a much larger, more modern arena than previous stops so it should make it even more of a cauldron of darting spectacle with the jacket on offer at the end.

Albeit Littler when he won his in 2024 didn't even know about the history of it and when compared to the Masters green jacket, he joked: "Is it? Well, I've got it now!" So when you hear the word Janker over the weekend, they will be getting a jacket for a reason. It’s the only time in professional sports where looking like an Alpine woodsman is more prestigious than looking like a World Champion.