EDHOUSE OPENS UP ON MISTAKE AFTER EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY

RITCHIE EDHOUSE admits he was “naive” after taking his foot off the gas following his European Championship triumph.

The world No32 landed the biggest title of his career in 2024 but has struggled to build on that success since winning his first and only PDC ranking trophy.

Edhouse, 43, has failed to reach a quarter-final at a Premier event or on the Euro Tour stage since his breakthrough victory and accepts he should have pushed on further.

He said: “I think if I had the time over again I would change. I took it too easy afterwards [winning the European Championship].

“I thought because I won that, I was obviously playing well with some of the numbers I hit, and I probably did for that 2025 season take it too easy.

“I probably should've put more work in, I probably slacked off and that's why I'm trying to dig back in now.”

Madhouse also admitted he underestimated the importance of regular match practice after his historic win.

He added: “I didn’t do what I should have done. I should have kicked on. It’s just the match sharpness. I used to go all little tournaments around London.

“[This time] I didn’t, I just had a couple of hours indoors and thought that would be enough because I was playing well and the tour is quite heavy.

“I was just being naive really I suppose and just thought I'd been there and done it.”

The Essex thrower failed to qualify for four major tournaments last year.

Edhouse also became the first player in history unable to defend the European Championship title after dropping outside the top 32 of the Euro Tour Order of Merit.

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning