Madoo and Salate Claim First CDLAC Darts Crowns of 2026

Argentinian ace Jesus Salate claimed the two opening 2026 Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean Tour titles as the season burst into life, transforming Panama City into a theatre of tungsten excellence where narratives were rewritten with ruthless precision and authority.

At the epicentre of this whirlwind stood Salate, a man who appears increasingly at ease operating within that rarefied stratosphere where dominance borders on the inevitable.

Still carrying the residual sting of Argentina’s recent demise against Trinidad & Tobago, extinguishing their hopes of another PDC World Cup of Darts venture, the 43-year old responded in emphatic fashion, brushing aside any lingering disappointment from his Thursday triumph to secure a second title at the very next opportunity.

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The Argentinian tungsten equivalent of Lionel Messi, Jesus Salate, touched down in Panama and immediately ignited into scintillating form, embarking on a ruthlessly efficient dismantling of the field that bordered on the merciless. Across the opening event, he was virtually untouchable, surrendering only a handful of legs as he surged to silverware with imperious authority. The final resembled a procession rather than a contest, as he steamrolled Trinidad & Tobago’s Joshua Balfour in a one-sided decimation to secure yet another addition to his ever-expanding collection of titles.

Little did the South American know that, just 24 hours later, Balfour would exact a measure of retribution, inflicting defeat on Argentina’s World Cup of Darts pairing en route to a surprise qualification for Frankfurt by the Caribbean nation.

Back to the tour events. And if the first triumph hinted at supremacy, the second confirmed it beyond reasonable doubt. Salate – clearly with the World Cup disappointment well behind him – returned to the oche with the same voracious appetite, navigating early turbulence before accelerating into a rhythm that proved insurmountable for the chasing pack.

By the time he reached the final, his scoring power and finishing precision had coalesced into something approaching darting artistry, dispatching compatriot Victor Guillin with a performance dripping in composure and authority.

Yet, even the most commanding runs eventually encounter resistance.

Norman Madoo (right), Darts Player, Guyana, 2025

The closing chapter of the weekend introduced a new protagonist in Norman Madhoo (above right), whose veteran poise and calculated aggression halted Salate’s charge in a compelling semi-final encounter. Guyana’s Madhoo, a seasoned campaigner with a wealth of experience, seized his moment with conviction before carrying that momentum into the final, where he produced a commanding display to claim the third title of the series.

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Despite that solitary interruption, Salate’s early-season exploits have already positioned him as the pace-setter on the embryonic standings, his authority underlined by a level of consistency that suggests this campaign could evolve into something profoundly significant.

With qualification for the 2027 Paddy Power World Darts Championship awaiting the circuit’s leading figure, the Argentine has laid down an early marker that will take some dislodging.

In a weekend defined by dominance, resurgence, and narrative redemption, the message from Panama was unmistakable – the road to glory in 2026 may well have to pass through Salate. Shame he won’t be at the World Cup. Although not a shame for the Trinidad & Tobago lads.