The 2026 ADC National Finals got underway at Bradmoor Farm on Thursday, with Bailey Hughes claiming the opening title as three more days of action await across a packed weekend of amateur darts in Aylesbury.
Running from 15-18 October, the event features 11 competitions across the ADC, WADC and Level Up Circuits, with a combined prize fund of £114,000 on offer.
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Hughes took the honours in Thursday’s Level Up CORE National Final, defeating Charlie Broadhurst 5-3 in the final to secure the title and the winners share £5,000 prize fund.
The competition, reserved for players averaging below 55, provided the opening championship of the four day festival, while Matt Caste was another Thursday winner, taking victory in the Level Up Money In, Money Out, competition.
Friday: Emerging and Rise darts titles up for grabs
Friday sees the Level Up circuit return to centre stage, with two more £5,000 national titles available across the Emerging and Rise categories.
The Level Up Emerging National Final opens the day’s action, catering for players averaging between 55 and 64.99. The competition will be followed by the Level Up Rise National Final, which features players averaging between 65 and 77.5.
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Both events offer players the opportunity to turn a qualifying campaign into a national title, continuing the Level Up programme’s focus on providing competitive opportunities across different playing levels.
Saturday: A packed programme of ADC and WADC Darts action
Saturday brings a significant step up in the scale and variety of the competition, with titles across singles, pairs and Women’s ADC action.
The day begins with the Red Dragon Doubles Cup, which boasts a £4,000 prize fund, including £1,600 for the champions. The pairs competition will provide an opportunity for partnerships to claim one of the weekend’s titles before attention shifts to the headline singles events.
The UK & Ireland Classic follows, with 32 qualified players competing for a £13,000 prize fund and £3,000 for the champion. With a restricted field, the tournament promises a competitive battle for one of the weekend’s most significant prizes.
WADC will also have a major presence, with the VAULT Women’s National Finals offering £3,000 in prize money and £800 for the champion.
Saturday evening then brings two more Money In, Money Out knockouts and both the ADC and WADC classifications are open to UK & Ireland members.
Sunday: The £70,000 VAULT National Finals headline the amateur darts weekend
The biggest prize of the weekend awaits on Sunday, as the VAULT National Finals take centre stage.
Boasting a £70,000 prize fund, including £10,000 for the champion, the tournament represents the standout event of the four days and brings together the players who have earned their places through the qualifying structure.
The competition will be played down to a winner on the day, with ADC UK Regional and UK National ranking points also available.
The tournament has developed a growing list of champions, with Neil Duff winning the inaugural edition in 2023, followed by Thomas Banks in 2024 and Chas Barstow in 2025. All three former champions hold lifetime invitations to the event, adding further interest as the latest edition gets underway.
Alongside the VAULT showpiece, Sunday also features the Red Dragon WADC National Singles Finals. The Women’s competition carries a £4,000 prize fund, with £1,000 going to the champion, providing a fitting conclusion to the weekend’s women’s singles action.
Four Days, 11 competitions and £114,000 on offer
From the opening Level Up titles to the weekend’s major singles competitions, the ADC National Finals bring together a wide range of players and formats under one roof at Bradmoor Farm.
With Hughes already celebrating Thursday’s CORE success, Friday’s Level Up Finals, Saturday’s packed schedule and Sunday’s £70,000 VAULT showpiece will determine the remaining champions.
The National Finals continue to underline the breadth of the ADC circuit, with opportunities for players at different levels to compete for national honours across four days of darts.
Images: Tip Top Pics / ADC
