Amid the breezy theatricality of Christchurch’s darting amphitheatre, the DartPlayers New Zealand ProTour resumed with a weekend of statistical dominance and competitive reaffirmation, as Kayden Milne and Ben Robb tightened their stranglehold on the domestic darts hierarchy with another emphatic double act of triumph.
Returning to the oche on March 21–22, the ProTour’s third and fourth instalments unfolded less like open competition and more like a two-man exhibition of sustained excellence. Both Milne and Robb extended their seasonal silverware collections, reinforcing a burgeoning duopoly that now looms imperiously over the New Zealand rankings landscape.
Milne, already a victor earlier in the campaign, reasserted his credentials with a commanding conquest in Event Three. The 25-year-old navigated the group phase with unblemished efficiency, sweeping aside all opposition with a kind of methodical ruthlessness that suggested something far more calculated than mere good form. Yet his route beyond that stage was anything but serene. Consecutive last-leg deciders against Jamie Hamill and Josh Roberts tested both nerve and nuance, with Milne emerging each time by the finest of competitive margins.
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Once embedded in the latter stages, however, his performance acquired a sharper, more clinical edge. A scintillating display against Sam Nathan, featuring a tournament-high average north of 91, demonstrated his capacity for explosive scoring, before yet another deciding-leg escape underscored his resilience. By the semi-finals, he had gathered sufficient momentum to dispatch Robb in a high-calibre encounter, before completing his title-winning procession with a composed victory over Jack Sheppard.
If Saturday belonged to Milne’s persistence and precision, Sunday saw Robb deliver a response laden with authority and quiet menace. A seasoned campaigner with multiple appearances at the sport’s most prestigious global event, Robb approached Event Four with an almost forensic level of control. His group stage campaign was immaculate, and he followed it with a ruthless whitewash victory over Nick Brown, punctuated by a near-97 average that radiated elite-level composure.
Progressing through the knockout rounds, Robb dismantled both Daniel Hales and Josh Walters with minimal fuss, setting the stage for a semi-final rematch with Milne. This time, however, the dynamic shifted dramatically. Robb produced a commanding performance, overwhelming his rival with a one-sided scoreline that served as both retribution and statement of intent.
The final itself, contested against Mark Cleaver, was a more measured affair, yet Robb’s experience ultimately proved decisive. He edged the contest with calculated assurance, sealing his second title of the season and reasserting his status as a formidable force within the circuit.
As a consequence of his latest success, Robb ascends to the summit of the ProTour rankings, narrowly eclipsing Milne in what is rapidly evolving into a compelling seasonal rivalry. Behind them, Jonny Tata, Cleaver, and Haupai Puha complete a chasing pack that, for now, appears engaged in a battle for relevance rather than supremacy.
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In Christchurch, then, the narrative was not one of unpredictability, but of consolidation – a reaffirmation that, at least for the moment, New Zealand darts revolves around two names, and two names alone.
2026 DartPlayers New Zealand Darts ProTour
Event Three
Quarter-Finals
Jack Sheppard 5-3 Jonny Tata
Max Dallimore 5-3 John Hurring
Ben Robb 5-3 Jordan Bennett-Davies
Kayden Milne 5-4 Frank Bush
Semi-Finals
Jack Sheppard 6-5 Max Dallimore
Kayden Milne 6-4 Ben Robb
Final
Kayden Milne 7-3 Jack Sheppard
Event Four
Quarter-Finals
Craig Pullen 5-2 Darren Dummigan
Mark Cleaver 5-3 John Hurring
Ben Robb 5-1 Josh Walters
Kayden Milne 5-2 Haupai Puha
Semi-Finals
Mark Cleaver 6-4 Craig Pullen
Ben Robb 6-1 Kayden Milne
Final
Ben Robb 7-5 Mark Cleaver
—–ENDS—–
Images: WDF / Chris Sargeant
