ADC 2023: Nezzy Leads The Way

The Amateur Darts Circuit continues its growth in 2023, as daily round-robin competitions for the new look Vault Series continue to take place, presenting players an opportunity to earn a spot in the MODUS Super Series which has entered Champions Week this week, giving the winner a huge £20,000.

Paul Nesbitt is the ADC Number 1 going into February, winning multiple events in the Vault Series, whilst earning a victory on New Year’s Day at the Gateshead NYD Open. The Englishman claimed 128 ranking points for his win, whitewashing Mark Stephenson 5-0 in the Final at the Teams Club.

Recently, the 44-year-old reached the Semi-Finals of the Winmau Sky Lounge Ranking Series 2023 Event 1, losing to eventual winner Adam Hunt 5-3. The Hunter has appeared on the Alexandra Palace stage through his career, including a 3-2 victory over Lisa Ashton in the 2021 PDC World Championship.

Nesbitt (pictured right) sits on 266 points in the rankings, with another former PDC tour player, Peter Jacques, second on 208 points. The Terrier won the Streamline Taxi’s York Open Event 1 at the Huntingdon Working Men’s Club, an event recent Tour Card holder Adam Warner won a few times in 2022.

The Huddersfield-born thrower beat the man from Sheffield in the Final 5-3 with a 92.05 average, including a 106 finish in the seventh leg to crucially break the throw.

The ADC Vault Series has also kicked off with ADC Number 1, also leading the Northeast Region rankings with 59 points. Nesbitt won 6 events in January, winning 3 events in 4 days to end the month, with one triumph at the Sky Lounge and 2 victories at the South Gosforth Sports and Social Club.

Lee Price leads the Northwest Region with 25 points, followed by Colin Hargrave in second, sitting two points off the leader. A win at the Windle Arms in St Helens earnt him six points for his region rank as he beat Paul Mitchell 3-1 in the Final with an average of 84.27.

Ricky Palmer sits top of the Southwest Region on 61 points, with Winmau star and former Championship Tour winner Steve Brown second on 45 points. The 37-year-old has won four this year winning at the Highbridge Social Club and Bar 501 twice across January and February.

The Englishman beat Kieron Spurdle 3-1 in the Final to claim his first win in the Vault Series of 2023, before repeating the trick and earning six more points for his rank, after beating third-placed John Brown 3-0 in Bristol.

Bar 501 a common venue for ADC events, saw the Southwest leader pick up his third and fourth Round Robin success’, beating Robbie Long 3-1 averaging 104.89 with his first 9 darts. Palmer claimed victory against the man who sits third once more, winning 3-2 on Thursday, despite his opponent throwing a 109 finish in the third leg.

The ADC Vault Series resumes on Wednesday, with more points up for grabs as the top 32 from each region qualify for Finals Night, and the winner qualifying for the MODUS Super Series. The up-and-coming Winmau Open Series will also take place in Manchester, with 4 events over 2 days giving 4 more players the opportunity to appear in Portsmouth and potentially earn up to £5,000.

2023 ADC Rankings: