Jonny Tata and Nicole Regnaud took the Open and Women’s titles at the Auckland Open on Saturday, while Preston Wheeler edged a fourth meeting of the year with Johnny Parker in the Youth final.
Open Darts Classification: Tata rolls on
Another week, another title for Jonny Tata. A week after winning the Taranaki Open, the Wainuiomata man beat Mark Cleaver 6-2 in the Auckland Open final, averaging 95.85 with three maximums thrown in for good measure.
It is his third WDF title of the year, following the Canterbury Classic in February and last weekend’s Taranaki success, and it arrives mere days before the ANZ Darts Premier League opens in Canberra later this month.
Cleaver, the reigning New Zealand Open champion, was the beaten finalist.
Women’s: The Renegade hits back
Normality was restored in Auckland in the women’s event. Nicole Regnaud, beaten 4-0 by Daphne Walters in the Taranaki Open semi-finals last weekend, won the meeting that mattered this time, edging Walters 5-4 in the final with two 180s.
It’s the ‘Renegade’s’ seventh WDF title of 2026, won as defending Auckland Open champion. Walters, who claimed her maiden WDF title at Taranaki, pushed the reigning New Zealand Open champion all the in a final that went to a deciding leg.
Youth: Wheeler wins the decider
Preston Wheeler and Johnny Parker have now met in four WDF Youth finals this year, and this one needed all nine legs. Wheeler won it 5-4, producing finishes of 72, 96 and 137.
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