This season’s PDC Challenge Tour is up and running in emphatic, almost resplendent fashion, with two full weekends comprising ten events already completed and firmly consigned to the darts record books.
The action commenced with a trip to Milton Keynes in mid-January, and the very first final delivered a delightfully fitting Tommy Derby. After a pulsating and physically demanding navigation through a vast and fiercely competitive field, Tommy Lishman and Tommy Morris collided in the showpiece, with the honours ultimately going the way of the former by a composed 5-2 margin. It was a superb opening statement from the Hull man, who duly established himself as the early pace-setter on the Order of Merit.
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Later that same day, Joe Hunt announced his credentials in authoritative fashion, claiming the title courtesy of a scintillating performance, underpinned by an almost ton-plus average, to dispatch Spain’s Jose Justicia with clinical efficiency.
Onto the Saturday, and Hunt was once again basking in success, going back-to-back with a third consecutive 5-2 final scoreline, this time overcoming former PDC World Youth Champion Aaron Monk. The evening session then produced the first non-English winner of the campaign, as the highly talented Dutchman Martin Dragt demonstrated his considerable pedigree by getting the better of the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts champion Scott Waites.
Rounding off proceedings in Milton Keynes, reigning ADC Global Champion and DartsWorld’s newly crowned 2025 Amateur Player of the Year, Jack Tweddell, added his name to the honours list, defeating Ireland’s Steve Lennon. The early frontrunners were duly rewarded with coveted call-ups to the Pro Tour.
By the end of March, attention shifted to Leicester for the next quintet of Challenge Tour events, where a Welshman set the tone in commanding fashion. Derek Coulson produced a ruthless whitewash over Oliver Mitchell in the final to seize the opening title of the weekend. Later that day, it almost became a Welsh double, but Germany’s Daniel Klose staged a stirring late resurgence to deny Callum Goffin.
Saturday proved particularly cruel for Aden Kirk, who reached two finals only to be edged out in successive last-leg deciders. Ted Evetts first denied the Nottingham man, claiming his fourth career Challenge Tour title, before another German victor later compounded Kirk’s frustration.
Finally, bringing an absorbing weekend at the Mattioli Arena to a close, 22-year-old Nathan Potter continued his impressive 2026 and secured his maiden title with a composed dismantling of Radek Szaganski.
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2026 Challenge Tour Darts: Event Finals
MILTON KEYNES, UK (16-18 January)
Event One: Tommy Lishman (ENG) 5-2 Tommy Morris (ENG)
Event Two: Joe Hunt (ENG) 5-2 Jose Justicia (ESP)
Event Three: Joe Hunt (ENG) 5-2 Aaron Monk (ENG)
Event Four: Martin Dragt (NED) 5-3 Scott Waites (ENG)
Event Five: Jack Tweddell (ENG) 5-1 Steve Lennon (IRE)
LEICESTER, UK (27-29 March)
Event Six: Derek Coulson (WAL) 5-0 Oliver Mitchell (ENG)
Event Seven: Daniel Klose (GER) 5-3 Callum Goffin (WAL)
Event Eight: Ted Evetts (ENG) 5-4 Aden Kirk (WAL)
Event Nine: Florian Preis (GER) 5-4 Aden Kirk (WAL)
Event Ten: Nathan Potter (ENG) 5-1 Radek Szaganski (POL)
PDC CHALLENGE TOUR – ORDER OF MERIT (Top Ten)
1. Joe Hunt (ENG) – £8,150
2. Derek Coulson (WAL) – £7,700
3. Tommy Lishman (ENG) – £4,700
4. Aden Kirk (ENG) – £4,500
5. Martijn Dragt (NED) – £4,500
6. Jack Tweddell (ENG) £4,100
7. Nathan Potter (ENG) £4,050
8. Tommy Morris (ENG) £4,050
9. Daniel Klose (GER) £3,800
10. Florian Preis (GER) £3,750
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Images: PDC
