This weekend marks the climax of this season’s PDC Development Tour – a campaign where the stars of tomorrow have once again shone, and those already shining brightly have continued to impress.
At the top, the race for the major prizes is red hot. With just four events remaining – and a tasty £2,500 up for grabs in each, along with the chance to boost the bank balance – plenty could still change before the curtain falls.
Currently sitting at the summit is Cam Crabtree, who already holds a Tour Card and therefore won’t be needing another. That means, as things stand, those two golden tickets would drop into the hands of Beau Greaves and Crabtree’s close mate Owen Bates, who occupy second and third place respectively.
As for Beau – if she does drop, it’ll only be down one flight of stairs and therefore remain in one of the key tour card positions. But the big question is whether she’d accept it. We still don’t know if the Doncaster Belle will be gracing the Ally Pally stage or returning to the Lakeside to defend her WDF World Championship crown – a title that’s practically her own personal property at this point.
That decision won’t affect whether she joins the PDC Pro Tour next year; the two are separate matters that will both be answered in due course. The general consensus is that she’ll give it a go – becoming only the second woman ever to hold a Tour Card, following in the footsteps of Lisa Ashton. Few doubt she would flourish among the sport’s elite, benefiting hugely from competing week in, week out at the highest level.
Owen Bates, on the other hand, has every intention of grabbing his spot. If he can make good use of his £1,300 cushion and fend off the chasing pack, there’s no question about where he’ll be heading. Likely sharing a room with Crabtree, we’d imagine. Realistically, the two names most capable of denying Bates that Tour Card are Jurjen van der Velde and Charlie Manby. They’re close in prize money – £8,775 and £8,625 respectively – and if Bates has a poor weekend while either of them strings together a few deep runs, the table could shift quickly.
Naturally, if Beau turns down her Tour Card, one of that chasing duo would likely inherit it. And don’t discount the next pair in line: Ryan Branley and Jamai van den Herik, both around £2,000 adrift of Van der Velde and Manby. They’d need the darting gods smiling on them, but they’re still very much in the conversation.
Of course, there are several others who could make a late charge with one win and another solid run. Jenson Walker is a name that stands out. The young talent has had a superb year – winning a major WDF title, a MODUS Champions Week, and reaching a Challenge Tour final. He’s even had a few call-ups to the Pro Tour, making the most of late opportunities. The Coventry starlet may not be perfectly placed to mount a full-scale assault, but he’s certainly got the firepower.
That’s the Tour Card picture. Now, onto the big one – the World Championship. The rule is simple: finish in the top three of the Development Tour (without qualifying through another route), and you’re heading to the Ally Pally.
Leader Cam Crabtree already has his spot, and thanks to those Pro Tour call-ups, Owen Bates looks set to join him. Ignore Beau for a now – her passport is already stamped via the Womens Series if she chooses to avail of it. Which currently means Van der Velde, Manby and young Ryan Branley next in line for the remaining World Championship berths. Lurking next behind that trio are are Jamai Van den Herik – plus a handful of others who could still mount a late bid with a decent weekend.
There’s also an extra reward for whoever tops the final rankings after all 24 events – a ticket to this year’s Grand Slam of Darts. That looks a near certainty for Crabtree, as – surprise surprise – Greaves has already qualified through the Women’s Series, where her lead is unassailable.
The only player with a remote chance of denying Cam is Owen Bates (above), but with a £5,000 deficit to close, he’d probably need to lock Crabtree in a cupboard for the weekend and then win at least half the remaining events. The first option is illegal – the second, well, he’s certainly good enough to do that bit.
Finally, there’s a large carrot dangling above Robin Park come Monday – or rather, two. Both are invitations to compete in the prestigious World Youth Championship final in Minehead next month.
Traditionally, the showdown takes place on the Sunday afternoon before the Players Championship Finals are decided. Reigning champion Gian van Veen is keen to defend his crown and will be in Wigan to earn another shot at it. The good news for everyone else? Luke Littler won’t be there. The Nuke – who claimed the Youth title in 2024 – has somewhat bigger fish to fry these days.
The list of former winners is a who’s who of darting success stories and household names. Alongside Littler, you’ll find Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Dimitri Van den Bergh and Josh Rock – all of whom have gone on to become major forces in the game. Ironically, one name missing from that roll of honour is Michael van Gerwen, who twice finished runner-up. It didn’t exactly hold him back, though.
So, it promises to be a huge weekend in Wigan – a town famed for its rugby league, its pies, and, over the next few days, a few darting dreams either realised or shattered. At least for this year.
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Images: PDC
