If anyone still harbours doubts about the future of darts, they clearly haven’t been paying attention to what MODUS are doing with their Rising Stars initiative. Quite simply, the next generation of tungsten talent is being nurtured in exactly the right way – given the stage, the spotlight, and the chance to show that the sport is in excellent hands for decades to come.
Over the past week, the MODUS Live Lounge in Portsmouth has become more than just a cosy darts venue – it’s been transformed into a production line for tomorrow’s heroes. A dozen promising youngsters took their turns under the lights, reminding everyone that the conveyor belt of talent is alive, well, and working overtime.
Now, with Finals Night upon us, the field has been whittled down to six, and the stage is set for an evening of high-quality, high-stakes arrows.
In Group One, Yorkshire’s Charlie Manby (Group A’s winner) carries the White Rose flag with confidence, while young Geordie Ryan Branley already boasts a Development Tour title and looks like a man destined for bigger stages. Completing the trio is Coventry-born Jenson Walker (main image), who recently came agonisingly close to Challenge Tour glory but proved he’s ready to mix it with the best.
Group Two offers just as much intrigue. Derbyshire teenager Henry Coates brings his own Development Tour title to the table and will fancy his chances of adding another trophy to the collection. He’s joined by Nathan Potter – nicknamed The Wizard (yes, we’ve all figured it out), who is hoping to cast a few spells over the treble 20. Rounding off the group is another Yorkshireman, James Buckby, who has already been turning heads.
By tonight, only one name will leave Portsmouth with the coveted Rising Stars crown, but truthfully, the bigger story is the concept itself. MODUS Super Series deserve enormous credit for giving these youngsters not just a platform, but a professional environment that mirrors the big stage.
This isn’t about a pub backroom or a one-off youth event – it’s about creating pressure, expectation, and opportunity. In other words, exactly what future champions need.
The Rising Stars initiative proves that darts isn’t merely relying on the current crop of household names. The next wave is already here – ambitious, fearless, and hungry. Whether it’s Manby, Branley, Walker, Coates, Potter, or Buckby who takes the title, MODUS have already won by showcasing a system that ensures the sport’s future looks brighter than ever.
—–ENDS—–
Images: Target
