The WDF roadshow rolled into Hungary – a perfect appetiser before Budapest serves up the main course that is the World Masters. Think of it as darts’ version of a starter before the steak.
The weekend kicked off with the Hungarian Masters, a Gold-ranked event that tends to separate the hopefuls from the heavyweights. Except this time, a low seeded Dutchman decided to ruin the script. Step forward Stefan Schroder, ranked all the way down at number 29, who stormed through the field and toppled England’s Callum Francis 6–3 in the final. Not bad for a man who probably wasn’t even on many predictions lists – expect maybe his own.
For anyone wondering what became of top seed Jimmy van Schie, the answer is simple: he ran into his compatriot Schroder in the semis and was promptly sent packing. Proof, once again, that darts doesn’t always care about rankings.
Schroder’s tournament average came in at 86.68 – not spectacular by the numbers, though still about 40 points better than most pub regulars on a good night. Fourteen players recorded higher averages, but as we’ve all learned, numbers alone don’t lift trophies.
The Netherlands also celebrated in the women’s event as Lerena Rietbergen clinched the title with a classy 5–1 victory over Czech thrower Jitka Cisarova. At just 23, Rietbergen’s stats across the weekend were superb – even if Japan’s Mayumi Ouchi briefly threatened to steal the show before crashing out in the semis courtesy of a whitewash at the hands of the eventual champion.
Paige Pauling continued her world domination of the girls’ circuit, dishing out a clean 5–0 bagel to Kiwi Grace Padget in the final. It’s becoming a running joke that Pauling’s trophy shelf needs planning permission for the extension. She never looked troubled and continues to make winning look like her weekend hobby.
The boys’ crown, meanwhile, went Germany’s way as Raphael Kuther defeated Leo Jamieson 5–3 in a lively final that capped off a strong showing.
Then came the Hungarian Classic, and with it another four titles to distribute. This time, the men’s title is heading Stateside, thanks to Jason Brandon, who outgunned Ireland’s Stephen Rosney 6–3 to bring the trophy back across the Atlantic. Poor old Jimmy van Schie found himself stopped in the semis yet again – not a disaster, but probably not the weekend he’d imagined either – losing at the hands to the two men who were eventually victorious.
The women’s Classic produced another belter of a final, with Wales’ Rhian O’Sullivan edging out the evergreen Deta Hedman 5–3 to claim the honours. Two classy players, one cracking contest, and another reminder that O’Sullivan’s still got plenty left in the tank. Hedman on the other hand, looks like she will be still be playing by the time the Monarch sends her a telegram.
And yes – you guessed it – Paige Pauling was at it again. For those who didn’t see it coming (roughly 0.1% of you), the young superstar added yet another trophy to her ever-expanding haul by beating Ruby Grey in the Girls’ final. The phrase “serial winner” doesn’t quite cover it at this point.
The Boys’ Classic title also stayed in German hands as Florian Preis, the top seed, lived up to the billing with a 5–2 win over Mason Teese. Preis looks every bit the real deal, and if he keeps this up, the rest of the junior field might start hoping he takes a few weekends off.
With the doubles and triples now getting underway and the countdown to the World Masters officially on, the atmosphere in Budapest is heating up nicely. If this weekend was the warm-up, the main event promises to be a feast.
Stay tuned – Darts World will be following every checkout, every nine-darter chase, and every “what on earth was that” moment as the action continues in Hungary.
—–ENDS—–
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