FORMER World Champion Richie Burnett and the mercurial Danny Jansen were victorious on Friday the opening two PDC Winmau Challenge Tour Events of the year on Friday.
The second-tier tour season commenced at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes after the PDC’s Annual Qualifying School take place, with 31 two-year Tour Cards dished out across two separate fields in the UK and in Europe, with winners including the likes of Andy Baetens, Jelle Klaasen and Leighton Bennett.
The PDC Winmau Challenge Tour is available for players who competed at Qualifying 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 Players Championship Events throughout the year, should Tour Card Holders choose not to enter.
Event One saw the 1995 Lakeside World Champion, Richie Burnett pick up a third Challenge Tour title of his career, as the Welshman reached the final firstly by recording victories against Joshua Hermann, Michael Flynn, Peter Jacques, Conor Heneghan, Devon Petersen, Reece Colley and Stefan Bellmont, to set up a clash with Darryl Pilgrim.
The final began with four straight breaks of throw between the pair, before the first hold of throw came from Burnett in Leg Five with a 14 darter to move 3-2 ahead in a race to five.
The following three legs were all won on throw, which saw the tie reach a ninth and deciding leg, in which Burnett would have the advantage of throwing first.
Multiple match darts were missed by both players until eventually, Burnett sealed the victory with a 22 dart hold of throw to pick up a first PDC title in eight years as well as the £2,500 top prize.
In Event Two, Danny Jansen, who just like Burnett, lost his Tour Card at the end of 2023 and was unable to retain it at European Q School.
‘The Mullet’ picked up his maiden Challenge Tour success, as he reached the final firstly by recording victories against Chris Quantock, Peter Burgoyne, Wesley Plaisier, Christian Kist, Charlie Martin, Sam Spivey, Ross Montgomery and John Henderson, to set up a clash with Darryl Pilgrim, who remarkably was competing in his second final of the day.
The final began with back-to-back holds of throw between the pair, before two straight breaks of throw, which included a stunning 132 checkout and a 12 darter from Pilgrim. Jansen went on to control the remaining part of the match, with the Dutchman winning three of the following four legs, which saw him seal a 5-3 victory in Leg Eight with a 14-dart break of throw. The Dutchman claimed a second PDC title, having won a Players Championship Event during his first season as a Tour Card Holder in 2022.
Despite not makibg it past the last 8 in either event Connor Scutt produced the performance of the day to defeat an in forn Colin Osborne.
The Wizard, a Darts World ambassador, had won four matches in solid style to reach the last 32. However, The Sniper launched an irrestible attack with high scoring and 100+ finishes fired in from all angles. The 5-0 win produced 3 x thirten dart legs, and a 12 darter, with an average of over 110.
The PDC Winmau Challenge Tour weekend continues on Saturday, with Events Three & Four taking place in Milton Keynes, as play commences at 10:00 GMT. All live scores and results can be viewed at tv.dartconnect.com.
PDC Winmau Challenge Tour
Event One
Quarter Finals
Franz Roetzsch 5-2 Connor Scutt
Darryl Pilgrim 5-1 Conan Whitehead
Richie Burnett 5-4 Reece Colley
Stefan Bellmont 5-1 Jarno Bottenberg
Semi Finals
Darryl Pilgrim 5-2 Franz Roetzsch
Richie Burnett 5-3 Stefan Bellmont
Final
Richie Burnett 5-4 Darryl Pilgrim
Event Two
Quarter Finals
Adam Paxton 5-2 Devon Petersen
Darryl Pilgrim 5-2 Trevor Burkhill
Danny Jansen 5-2 Ross Montgomery
John Henderson 5-2 Romeo Grbavac
Semi Finals
Darryl Pilgrim 5-1 Adam Paxton
Danny Jansen 5-3 John Henderson
Final
Danny Jansen 5-3 Darryl Pilgrim
—–Ends—–
Images: PDC & PDC Europe
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