Crabtree In Pole Position

The Winmau Development Tour is winding its way toward the finish line, and after the latest stop, the stage is set nicely for the grand finale in Wigan next month. If you like your darts served with tension, drama, and the occasional dodgy checkout, Robin Park will be the place to be.

At the top of the mountain heading into the final bend is Cam Crabtree, who continues to look like the man to beat – though a few hungry names are snapping at his heels with Ally Pally spots, Tour Cards, and bragging rights all up for grabs.

Friday: Manby gets his moment
The weekend opened on Friday morning with one of those energy-sapping double-headers. Charlie Manby, who has quietly been making steady progress all season, finally got his breakthrough. He edged Owen Bates 5-4 in a quality final where both players reminded everyone why they’re firmly in the Tour Card conversation. Bates probably didn’t fancy the silver medal, but at least he can console himself with the fact he’s still right in the thick of things.

Friday night lights (and tired eyes)
By the time Coronation Street was beginning on ITV, Jamai van den Herik was rolling over Crabtree. The Dutch youngster was superb in claiming a 5-1 victory and putting his name up in lights. No word yet on whether the players spent Friday night tucked up in bed with slippers and cocoa, but let’s just say the evidence from Saturday morning sometimes suggests otherwise.

Saturday: Thorpe shocks the field
Enter Tyler Thorpe. The Norfolk thrower has been more background character than headline act this season, but that changed in style. He averaged just under a ton in a 5-3 victory over Sweden’s Viktor Tingstrom, bagging his first Dev Tour crown. From semi-final cameo to leading man in the space of a day – not bad for a kid many hadn’t tipped to make noise this year.

Crabtree reminds everyone who’s boss
Later on Saturday, the league leader decided he’d seen enough and fancied reminding the field who’s in charge. In a scrappy final with Sebastian Bialecki, Crabtree did just enough to get over the line 5-3. Not vintage, but effective. Special mention goes to teenager Ryan Branley, who reached the semis twice in the same day and is suddenly breathing down the neck of those chasing the last Ally Pally tickets.

Sunday: Van der Velde adds another title

And to close the curtain on a grueling weekend, Jurjen van der Velde – last year’s World Youth Championship runner-up – showed his class. The Dutchman saw off Henry Coates 5-2 to lift his fifth Dev Tour title, proving once again that he thrives when the pressure is on.

The bigger picture
So, what does it all mean? Crabtree sits on top with a cushion of just under £2,000 and looks to have that single Grand Slam spot sewn up. Bemusingly, Beau Greaves went a whole weekend without winning a single event – a rare enough occurrence to warrant its own press release. As it stands, Owen Bates and Greaves are in the golden ticket spots for Tour Cards.

The World Championship race is even juicier. Three spots via the Dev Tour are up for grabs, but with Crabtree, Bates and Bialecki already on the Ally Pally guest list through the Pro Tour. That leaves Greaves, Van der Velde, and Manby currently packing their bags for London. If Greaves opts for another Lakeside run instead, the door swings open for young Branley to sneak through. However, it’s a tightly packed bunch eyeing things up with huge interest.

All roads now lead to Wigan, where four more events will decide it all. Tour Cards, Ally Pally berths, and even the two finalists for the World Youth Championship in Minehead will be determined. Gian van Veen may have that crown for now – the question is whether anyone knock it off his head.

—–ENDS—–

Images: PDC