Double Dutch Again: Van Schie and Plaisier Claim Challenge Tour Titles

Dutch Duo Jimmy Van Schie and Wesley Plaisier were victorious on Saturday, in winning Challenge Tour Events 18 & 19 respectively, as the fourth weekend of the PDC’s second tier tour season continued in Milton Keynes.

Van Schie, who’d previously reached two Quarter Finals on the Challenge Tour in 2024, reached the final of Event 18 firstly by recording victories against Michael Baker, Kai Gotthardt, Alexander Merkx, Anton Ostlund, Cam Crabtree and Dennie Olde Kalter, to set up a clash with Englishman, Daniel Ayres.

The final began with Van Schie racing into a 2-0 lead, with winning legs coming in 11 and 20 darts respectively, before Ayres halved the deficit in Leg Three with a 15 darter to make it 2-1 in the Dutchman’s favour. Van Schie then went on to win back-to-back legs once again, which saw the 30-year-old move 4-1 ahead and within one of victory.

Ayres almost pulled off an incredible fightback, as he rattled off three successive legs to force a ninth and deciding leg, however, the advantage of throwing first proved to be vital, as Van Schie sealed a 5-4 victory in 14 darts to pick up a maiden PDC title, as well as the £2,500 top prize.

In Event 19, Wesley Plaisier was victorious, as he reached the final firstly by recording victories against Brian Verhelst, Reece Colley, Peter Jacques, Niall Culleton, David Davies, Andy Hamilton and Jimmy Van Schie, to set up a clash with Englishman, Lee Cocks.

Nothing separated the pair throughout the entirety of the final, with six straight holds of throw, ending with a crucial first break of throw in Leg Seven from Plaisier, which saw the Dutchman move 4-3 ahead and the two-time Pro Tour finalist went on to seal the victory in the following leg with a 14 darter to pick up a second Challenge Tour title of the year and move top of the Order of Merit with five events remaining within the campaign.

The PDC Winmau Challenge Tour weekend concludes on Sunday with Event 20 taking place in Milton Keynes as play commences from 10:00 BST, with all live scores and results to be viewed at tv.dartconnect.com