Drayton's Leicester Double | Darts World Magazine

The opening weekend of the new Winmau Development Tour season reached its conclusion with a pleasing slice of symmetry, as Jack Drayton once again asserted his authority, defeating Cam Crabtree in the final to secure consecutive titles and elevate his career tally to two in as many days.

Arriving in Leicester for what rapidly evolved into a frenetic and exacting itinerary, neither Jurjen van der Velde nor Drayton had previously sampled tournament victory at this level. By the conclusion of proceedings, both had emphatically rectified that omission, each harvesting a brace of titles to ensure their respective journeys home were undertaken in a state of unmitigated satisfaction.

For Lancastrian Drayton, the momentum gathered on Saturday evening proved anything but ephemeral. Returning for the solitary Sabbath event, the Fylde Coast thrower replicated his triumph just hours earlier with admirable composure, transforming a promising weekend into something approaching resplendence.

Evidently invigorated by the previous evening’s accomplishment, the Target youngster commenced the final afternoon with palpable assurance. Having relinquished a mere seven legs en route to the quarter finals, Drayton first negotiated Dylan Slevin before prevailing in a nervy, last leg decider against compatriot Archie Self. That victory orchestrated a culminating duel with Crabtree.

Indeed, the tournament bore the unmistakable imprint of domestic ascendancy, with all four semi-finalists emerging from English soil. Confronting Crabtree – the man who had topped last year’s Development Tour rankings – Drayton engaged in an evenly poised opening exchange as the pair shared the first half a dozen legs. Thereafter, Jack exhibited decisive acceleration, grabbing two successive legs with clinical authority to consummate the contest and secure the crown.

A two-month interlude now ensues before the cohort reconvenes, this time in Milton Keynes toward the close of April, where narratives will resume, and fresh protagonists will seek to disrupt the embryonic hierarchy.

PDC DEVELOPMENT TOUR – EVENT FIVE

Leicester, England (22^nd February)

Quarter-Finals

Tyler Thorpe 5-2 Charlie Manby

Cam Crabtree 5-3 Cayden Smith

Jack Drayton 5-3 Dylan Slevin

Archie Self 5-0 Dominik Gruellich

Semi-Finals

Cam Crabtree 5-2 Tyler Thorpe

Jack Drayton 5-4 Archie Self

Final

Jack Drayton 5-3 Cam Crabtree