Andy Boulton and Cam Crabtree picked up their maiden Challenge Tour titles on Saturday, in winning Events Three & Four respectively, as the opening weekend of the PDC’s second tier tour season continued in Milton Keynes.
Friday saw the 2023 Challenge Tour season commence, with Dutch duo Chris Landman and Christian Kist achieving success in winning Events One & Two respectively, whilst two nine dart legs were hit along the way.
Event Three saw Scotsman Andy Boulton, who lost his Tour Card at the end of 2022, pick up his 1st title within the PDC, as he reached the final by recording victories over Ron Meulenkamp, Andrew Leigh, Christian Kist, Ciaran Teehan, Darryl Pilgrim, James Howard Hughes and Scott Marsh, to set up a clash with Dutchman, Martijn Dragt.
The final began with the pair breaking each other’s throw in the opening two legs, before Dragt won back-to-back legs in a total of 32 darts to move 3-1 up in a race of five. Boulton then produced a remarkable run, by winning four successive legs in 20,18, 17 and 16 darts respectively, to seal a 5-3 victory and to pick up a 1st Challenge Tour title of his career.
In Event Four, Cam Crabtree was victorious, with the Englishmen reaching the final by recording victories over Wayne Jones, Greg Ritchie, Thomas Lovely, Patrick Lynskey, Christian Kist, Vitezslav Sedlak and Alex Spellman, to set up a clash with fellow compatriot, Owen Bates.
The final began with Crabtree taking the opener in 15 darts, before Bates rattled off three successive legs in a total of 40 darts to move 3-1 ahead. The tie then saw three straight holds of throw, before Crabtree broke Bates’ throw in Leg 8 in 14 darts to force a sudden death leg, which he eventually won in 16 darts to seal a 5-4 victory and picking up a 1st title within the PDC.
The PDC Winmau Challenge Tour weekend concludes on Sunday with Event Five taking place in Milton Keynes, as play commences from 10:00 GMT, with all live scores and results to be viewed at tv.dartconnect.com
PDC Winmau Challenge Tour
Event Three
Quarter Finals
Martijn Dragt 5-2 Jelle Klaasen
James Richardson 5-4 Berry Van Peer
Scott Marsh 5-4 Patrick Lynskey
Andy Boulton 5-3 James Howard Hughes
Semi Finals
Martijn Dragt 5-4 James Richardson
Andy Boulton 5-0 Scott Marsh
Final
Andy Boulton 5-3 Martijn Dragt
Event Four
Quarter Finals
Cam Crabtree 5-4 Vitezslav Sedlak
Alex Spellman 5-2 Stefan Bellmont
Owen Bates 5-3 Steve Hine
Thibault Tricole 5-2 Conor Heneghan
Semi Finals
Cam Crabtree 5-0 Alex Spellman
Owen Bates 5-3 Thibault Tricole
Final
Cam Crabtree 5-4 Owen Bates
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
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