Schedule Saturday afternoon at European Championship 2024 including Michael Smith v Ritchie Edhouse

We will begin the second round at the 2024 European Darts Championship in Dortmund on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon, the first four matches at the last sixteen will be played.

It is the seventeenth time the European Darts Championship has been held. Peter Wright crowned himself European champion for the second time in 2023 by defeating James Wade in the final. Van Gerwen and Phil Taylor are the record champions at the European Darts Championship with both winning four titles.

First, it is Ryan Searle and Luke Woodhouse who will attempt to qualify for the quarterfinals at this tournament. Searle was responsible for the elimination of Raymond van Barneveld in the first round. Woodhouse was 6-1 far too strong for former European Championship winner Ross Smith. Searle could reach the quarterfinals of a major for the first time since the World Matchplay in 2023. Woodhouse was in the last eight at a major only once in his career.

Next up is Dirk van Duijvenbode in Dortmund. The dart player from 's-Gravenzande won 6-3 in the first round against Martin Schindler, the number one seed at this tournament. That gives him a clash with Daryl Gurney, who in the first round eliminated former world champion Gerwyn Price. Gurney was last in the last eight at the 2023 World Matchplay at a ranking major.

In the third match of the afternoon, Michael Smith and Ritchie Edhouse face each other. Edhouse put in a sparkling performance in the first round by beating Gian van Veen with an average of over 109. Smith surprisingly won handsomely 6-0 over good friend Dave Chisnall. Smith made it to the last four at the World Matchplay earlier this year, but is otherwise having a very poor year at the televised tournaments. If Edhouse can pull off a stunt against the former world champion, "The Madhouse" will reach the last eight at a major for the first time.

The final match of the afternoon is between Danny Noppert and Mike de Decker. Noppert began his tournament with a win over Joe Cullen, while De Decker was too strong for Josh Rock. De Decker could reach his second major-quarterfinal in Dortmund after sensationally winning the World Grand Prix earlier this month. Noppert needs one more win to reach the last eight at the European Darts Championship for the fourth year in a row. Last year, Noppert managed to reach the last four at this tournament.

Saturday night the other four duels from the first round of the European Darts Championship will be played. Among others, Michael van Gerwen will then be in action. The four-time European Championship winner will then play Gary Anderson.

The tournament will be broadcast fully live in the UK on ITV4. The daily evening sessions are at 7 p.m., while the afternoon sessions start at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The first round will be completed on Thursday, Oct. 24, and Friday, Oct. 25. The 16 winners of the first round will compete for a spot among the final eight on Saturday, Oct. 26. The quarterfinals will be on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 27, followed by the semifinals and finals in the evening.

Compared to 2023, the prize fund has been increased by £100,000. The amount for the winner and runner-up has remained the same, so the extra money flows to the players who do not make it to the final.

All 32 participants are guaranteed a starting premium of 7,500 pounds, which is 25 percent more than last year. This amount eventually rises to a sum of 120,000 for the winner of the 2024 European Darts Championship.

First round - Best of 11 legs

Second round - Best of 19 legs

Quarterfinals - Best of 19 legs

Semifinals - Best of 21 legs

Final - Best of 21 legs

Ryan Searle v Luke Woodhouse

Dirk van Duijvenbode v Daryl Gurney

Michael Smith v Ritchie Edhouse

Mike De Decker v Danny Noppert