Toronto may be famous for its skyline and hockey obsession, but over the weekend, it belonged entirely to two darting dynamos – Leonard Gates and the ever-iconic Deta Hedman – who took top honours in the men’s and women’s competitions at the 2025 Toronto Area Open.
Let’s start with the man who quite literally Gate-crashed Jeff Smith’s homecoming party. In a final that was billed as a cross-border classic, it was the American sharp-shooter who emerged victorious, silencing Canada’s own Jeff Smith 6-5. Smith may have had the crowd, but Gates had the game – and when it came to holding his nerve, the Texan was ice cold. Or, more accurately, Canadian winter cold.
It wasn’t just the final that impressed – Gates looked dialled in all tournament long, tossing tungsten like he was throwing wedding confetti. Averaging big, finishing bigger, and smiling all the while, Gates gave fans a performance that was part darts clinic, part showtime.
“I love it here,” he beamed afterwards, looking like a man who’d just found out maple syrup was calorie-free. “The crowd was electric, the darts felt good, and it’s always sweet to get the win – especially in Canada.”
Meanwhile, over in the women’s bracket, it was Caribbean Queen Deta Hedman, reminding everyone that class is permanent – and in her case, also remarkably consistent. You name it – Deta has won it. The legend of the oche rolled back the years once again, pocketing yet another title with a display of measured dominance, seasoned precision and a 5-2 triumph.
There’s a certain elegance to the way Hedman plays. She doesn’t blow opponents away with flashy antics or roaring celebrations – she simply dissects them, calmly and methodically, like a surgeon in stilettos. Her win in Toronto marks yet another line on her ever-growing darting resume, which at this point could double as a historical document.
The women’s final saw Hedman face off against a spirited German challenger, Irina Armstrong who came in swinging but quickly learned there’s a reason Deta has been at the top for decades. With rock-solid scoring and finishing that rarely needed a second dart, Hedman took control early and never looked like letting it slip.
With both Gates and Hedman lifting trophies in Toronto, the weekend had a sense of darting déjà vu. Two seasoned pros, both fan favourites, both looking in fine form as the season ramps up toward the business end.
While the big guns took centre stage in the men’s and women’s events, the supporting cast at the Toronto Area Open delivered a brilliant undercard – packed with promising youth talent, family pride, and a smattering of international glory.
In the Boys’ U18 category, Canadian hotshot Colton Dunn lived up to the hype, edging out Stowe Buntz Jr – son of the ever-colourful Neon Nightmare himself – in a nervy last-leg decider. Both youngsters posted mid-70s averages, showing composure beyond their years. But it was Dunn who kept his cool when it counted most, snatching the win and confirming his place as one to watch on the Canadian scene.
The Buntz family did hit the jackpot though. In the Girls’ U18 final, Layla Buntz – daughter of the aforementioned Stowe – stormed to a 4-1 win over Canada’s Calex Carnochan. A confident display from Layla brought the house down, and with silver for Stowe Jr. and gold for Layla, the Buntz family will be needing extra space in the trophy cabinet this week.
Canada’s youth celebrations didn’t end there. In the U23 boys’ division, Brayden Hall lived up to his billing by defeating American challenger Douglas Dimichele Jr 4-1 in a strong display of scoring and steady finishing. Hall’s win was swiftly followed by more maple leaf magic in the Girls’ U23 final, where Kayla Smith matched the scoreline against the USA’s Aaja Jalbert, completing a clean sweep for the hosts in the development divisions.
There was no shortage of international flair in the doubles events, either. In the Men’s Pairs, the Philippines made their presence felt as the duo of Ryan Ocampo and Joel Hizon toppled Ryan Mooneyham and the ever-popular Danny The Mullet Jansen 4-2 in a highly entertaining encounter. It was a mixture of steady scoring and pin-point checkouts that saw the Filipino pair get over the line and underline their growing reputation on the world stage.
The Women’s Pairs brought a touch of dominance from Team USA. The experienced pairing of Tracy Feiertag and Paula Murphy proved too strong for the Anglo-Welsh dream team of Deta Hedman and Eve Watson, sealing a 4-1 victory. Despite their opponents’ legendary resumes, the American duo were clinical throughout, never letting the favourites settle into rhythm.
The Mullet however, didn’t leave Canada empty-handed, claiming Mixed Doubles gold alongside U23 girls’ runner-up Aaja Jalbert in a commanding 4-0 win over home nation hero Jeff Smith and Tracy Feiertag. It was a clinical performance from the Dutch-American duo, who never let their opponents settle and wrapped up the title with barely a dart out of place.
With titles flying off in every direction, the Toronto Area Open proved once again it’s more than just a showcase for the pros – it’s a proving ground for the next generation and a platform for pairings to shine. From the young guns to the international veterans, the weekend offered a bit of everything – and the darts, as always, did the talking.
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Images: PDC ( Main)
