“We’re left with a frustrated feeling” – Notable reason behind the disappearance of European Tour in Wieze with hammer blow to Belgian darts
PDCMonday, 28 September 2026 at 13:30
The PDC European Tour will not return to Wieze in 2027. Belgium goes from two to one tournament on the European circuit next year, while organiser Golazo is simultaneously sidelined.
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According to Alexander Algoet, Golazo wanted to continue, but PDC Europe has decided to take the organisation in-house from now on. The explanation given for that decision is causing particular frustration.
Wieze has grown into a popular European Tour stop in recent years, consistently drawing packed stands. Yet the tournament disappears from the calendar. The vacant slot goes to Liévin, where an official PDC tournament will be staged in France for the first time in history.
Belgium will remain represented on the European Tour, but there are changes there too. The Flanders Darts Trophy moves from Antwerp Expo to Flanders Expo in Ghent. From 03-09-2027 to 05-09-2027, the 12th European Tour event of 2027 will be played there.
In 2027 there will be only one Euro Tour tournament in Belgium
Golazo no longer involved
In recent years, Golazo was responsible for organising the Belgian European Tour events, but that cooperation stops. According to Algoet, the decision came from PDC Europe.
“As of now, Golazo is no longer involved in organising the European Tour,” said Alexander Algoet to Het Nieuwsblad. “So we had nothing to do with the decision to leave Wieze and Antwerp. PDC Europe has informed us they will do it themselves from now on. That is a big disappointment for us because we helped put darts on the map in Belgium, and we were ready to continue. But from the talks we had — it wasn’t just a notification — it became clear that the PDC wants to take on the risks. Darts is thriving in Belgium and they made a business decision. That is their right. We knew in advance this could happen.”
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That Golazo was prepared to carry on is also evident from the financial talks, according to Algoet. The fee PDC Europe asked to stage an event had gone up. For the Belgian organiser, however, that was not a deal-breaker.
“There is always a financial component, where the licence holder (PDC Europe) asks the promoter (us) for an amount to be allowed to organise an event. That amount was higher this time than in recent years, but we were willing to go ahead,” Algoet explains.
“It was too well dressed as an event”
The difference in vision, he says, lay mainly in how the events were staged and presented. Golazo opted for extensive productions, while PDC Europe, according to Algoet, saw it differently.
“But the feedback we got felt strange to us. We were told they no longer agreed with the way we handled certain things. It was too well dressed as an event, so we had a different view on the event’s presentation. We like to deliver high-end productions, but according to PDC Europe that meant we were effectively throwing too high a production cost at it.”
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That criticism is precisely what Golazo struggles to understand. “In essence: we did it too well. That is hard to say because it makes no sense. So we are left frustrated, it feels a bit unreal. If the feedback after five years is that we made a mess of it, then so be it. But now we are not allowed to run an event because it is too well framed. A strange reproach to hear.”
According to Algoet, Golazo tried until the last moment to change PDC Europe’s mind. It did not work.
Move to Ghent adds to irritation
The disappointment grew when it became clear that not only Wieze would disappear, but that the other Belgian European Tour event would move from Antwerp to Ghent. According to Algoet, Antwerp Expo and Flanders Expo belong to the same group.
“We tried until the last moment to get them to change their minds, but without success. It became even more painful when we heard that the tournament in Antwerp at Antwerp Expo will move to Ghent at Flanders Expo. Those two venues are in the same group, so there were talks behind our backs. That is unpleasant to hear.”
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Read also
Belgium will therefore have one European Tour tournament left in 2027. In addition, the Premier League returns to Antwerp, where another league night will be held on 25.03.2027. On the European Tour, however, the situation has clearly changed: Wieze disappears, Ghent takes over from Antwerp, and Golazo is no longer involved in the organisation.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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