Dutch duo Chris Landman and Christian Kist were victorious on Friday in winning the opening Two PDC Winmau Challenge Tour Events, as the second-tier tour commenced at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes.
Last week saw the First & Final Stage of the PDC’s Annual Qualifying School take place, with 27 two-year Tour Cards dished out across two separate fields in the UK and in Europe, with winners including the likes of Corey Cadby, Keegan Brown and Karel Sedlacek.
The PDC Winmau Challenge Tour is eligible for players who competed at Q School, but were unsuccessful in winning a Tour Card. It also gives players at the top of the Order of Merit the opportunity to compete at PDC Pro Tour Events, should Tour Card Holders choose not to enter.
Event One began and it was the Dutchman, Chris Landman who was victorious, as he reached the final by recording victories over Fabian Schmutzler, Lee Davies, Martijn Dragt, Owen Bates, Franz Roetzsch, Jim McEwan and Wayne Morgan, to set up a clash with Germany’s, Lukas Wenig.
The final began with Wenig taking the opener in 20 darts, before Landman rattled off four successive legs in a total of 57 darts to move 4-1 ahead and go within one of victory. Wenig did pull one leg back in his hope for success, before Landman sealed the victory in Leg 7 with a 20 dart hold of throw to take the tie, 5-2, and to pick up a 1st Challenge Tour title of his career.
In Event Two, it was Landman’s fellow countryman, Christian Kist who was victorious, with the Dutchman reaching the final by recording victories over Josh Newton, Daan Bastiaansen, Matthew Dennant, Jelle Klaasen, Henry Coates, Shane McGuirk and Lewis Pride, to set up a clash with Scott Mitchell.
The final began with Kist racing into a 3-0 lead, with winning legs coming in 15, 16 and 12 darts respectively, before Mitchell ended the run by picking up his first leg of the tie in 18 darts to make it 3-1. ‘Scotty Dog’ then halved the deficit in the following leg, with another 18 darter, before Kist won back-to-back legs, which saw him seal the victory in Leg 7 with a 14 darter to take the tie, 5-2, and defeat his opponent in a battle of Former Lakeside World Champions, to pick up a 2nd Challenge Tour title of his career.
Elsewhere, the day also saw two nine dart legs hit by Dale Gadsby in Event One and James Hurrell in Event Two.
PDC Winmau Challenge Tour weekend continues on Saturday, with Events Three & Four taking place in Milton Keynes, with play commencing at 10:00 GMT, as all live scores and results can be viewed at tv.dartconnect.com.
PDC Winmau Challenge Tour
Event One
Quarter Finals
Wayne Morgan 5-3 James Hurrell
Chris Landman 5-3 Jim McEwan
Andy Jenkins 5-3 Jeremy Van der Winkel
Lukas Wenig 5-2 Chas Barstow
Semi Finals
Chris Landman 5-3 Wayne Morgan
Lukas Wenig 5-0 Andy Jenkins
Final
Chris Landman 5-2 Lukas Wenig
Event Two
Quarter Finals
Scott Mitchell 5-2 Lukas Wenig
James Hurrell 5-1 Sebastian Bialecki
Lewis Pride 5-1 Jesus Noguera
Christian Kist 5-3 Shane McGuirk
Semi Finals
Scott Mitchell 5-4 James Hurrell
Christian Kist 5-3 Lewis Pride
Final
Christian Kist 5-2 Scott Mitchell
—–Ends—–
Images: PDC
Grab a copy of the 50th Anniversary Darts World 581 here (while stock lasts) or the new Issue 582 here :
The Darts World 50 limited edition set is available to order (Here) in your choice of pack/bundle.
Also Available Free: Darts World Extra 9 – Gezzy Nice
Darts World Magazine‘s fantastic value bundles:
Subscribe or purchase your copy
