14-year-old Jack Johnson continues to shake the darting landscape, and the youngster was at it again in Bolton, as he became the UKDA National Men’s Singles Champion at the home of Bolton Wanderers FC.
263 players started off in the tournament, and Johnson was the last standing, with ‘Jacky Boy’ taking out no less than two current PDC Tour Card holders and a former PDC World Youth Champion on the way to claiming the title.
The Kent junior started his day off with back-to-back 4-1 wins against Steve Price and Neville Wright respectively, and then averaged over 96 to edge to a 4-3 win against William Leonard in the last 64.
A 96.97 averaged secured a whitewash win against Jamie Kay, and Johnson moved into the quarter finals with a 4-1 win against 2024 Grand Slam runner-up Martin Lukeman, before booking a place in the final with a dominant 5-1 success against James Hubbard.
Awaiting Johnson and history in the final was Owen Bates, with the current professional dropping just three legs in his first six matches, averaging over 101 to win 4-1 against Thomas Banks in the earlier rounds, and making the last four with a crushing 4-0 win against Dean Reynolds where the Devonian clocked 100.20.
A fellow PDC Pro would stand in the way of Bates’ bid for the final, as Darryl Pilgrim opposed him, and he had to work hard, averaging over 99 and coming from 3-2 down to emerge a 5-4 winner.
In the final, finishes of 82 and 160 put Johnson 2-0 ahead, but Bates swiftly levelled, and the two exchanged 76 finishes to be locked at 3-3 in a race to six.
The pair then traded 13-darters to leave the final in the balance, but Johnson then came into his own, a 126 checkout followed by an incredible 145 kill confirmed the title for the precocious talent, as he took the trophy and the £3,500 first prize in front of a packed crowd.
In the Men’s Champions Cup Portcullis of Yorkshire claimed the title in dramatic fashion, as they took a 4-3 win in the final against Kings Head, West Midlands.
The showpiece went down to the final leg, as Kings Head’s Adam Teesdale went 3-1 ahead in the final match, but saw dart at tops for a 160 finish go begging for a 4-2 win and the title, and Portcullis’ Trevor Burkhill battled back, a sublime 157 finish sealing the comeback 4-3 win and the crown for his team.
The Men’s National Pairs title was claimed by John-Sebastian Wright and Ashley Coleman, as they edged Lee Budgen and Reece Robinson 4-3 in the final.
Images: UKDA
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