Malmö played host to a weekend of WDF action, and by the close of play on Sunday, the Swedish Open and Swedish Masters threw up two stories of similar gravity.
Ross Montgomery hadn’t stood at the top of the WDF podium in six-and-a-half years. On Saturday, that wait ended. The Scot, universally known as “The Boss”, beat Jenson Walker 6-3 in the Swedish Open final, firing in checkouts of 78, 115 and 120 along the way and closing out the match with a 94.98 average.
It capped a run that had already tested Montgomery’s nerve. He needed four legs on the spin to see off Pär Riihonen 5-3 in the semi-final and book his spot in the showpiece.
At 63, and with his most recent headlines coming from the World Seniors circuit, this was Montgomnery turning back the clock in the tournament that matters a great deal to his ranking points, and doing it in some style.
Walker’s route to the final had looked ominous. The WDF’s world number three brushed aside Liam Maendl-Lawrence, the defending champion, 5-0 in the semi-final.
That momentum wasn’t enough against a rejuvenated Montgomery on the biggest stage of the weekend, but a runner-up finish will do little to dent Walker’s reputation heading into the rest of the season.
Sunday’s Swedish Masters told a similarly emotional story. Petri Rasmus had come agonisingly close to WDF silverware twice already this season, and the pattern looked set to continue for long spells against Anthony Brown.
Instead, the Finn finally got it done, closing out a 6-2 victory with back-to-back 180s in the decisive leg to claim his first WDF title.
For a player who had made a habit of falling just short in 2026, this was the breakthrough his form had long threatened.
Between Montgomery and Rasmus breaking lengthy ducks, Malmö’s weekend had no shortage of players finally getting over the line. Walker and Armstrong will have plenty of ranking points to show for their efforts regardless, and both will fancy their chances of going one better next time out.
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