For sixty-four aspirants, the pursuit of glory begins at the most distant outpost from the glittering silverware awaiting at the finishing line. In a field saturated with tungsten aristocracy and combustible talent, even the embryonic skirmishes carry the resonance of consequence. Among those tasked with igniting proceedings are several eminently recognisable protagonists.

THE UK OPEN IN FACTS AND STATS: dartsdatabase.co.uk for all you need to know 

With a labyrinth of permutations governing the Friday evening fixtures, DartsWorld will concentrate on a confirmed encounter from each the opening three rounds – the clashes that demand attention.

A Trio of Potential Prime UK Open Darts Encounters

ROUND ONE

Stefan Bellmont v Charlie Manby

Last season’s Challenge Tour pacesetter, Bellmont, collides with Champagne Charlie in a pairing neither camp would have greeted with unbridled enthusiasm. The 36-year-old Swiss marksman makes only his second UK Open appearance following a premature exit twelve months ago. Manby, conversely, embarks upon his Minehead baptism. Indeed, his solitary major venture thus far came at Alexandra Palace, where he authored a commendable run that elevated his stock considerably. This is one of the scarce all–Tour Card confrontations in round one, and the victor will find little respite in their next outing, with a second professional adversary awaiting in either Tyler Thorpe or Croatia’s Pero Ljubic.

ROUND TWO

Daryl Pilgrim v Beau Greaves

Croydon chucker Daryl Pilgrim has been handed what many would deem a decidedly inauspicious draw in three-time Lakeside world champion Beau Greaves. This marks Pilgrim’s sixth UK Open appearance since 2017, with a pair of third-round excursions constituting his most distinguished showings.  Greaves, meanwhile, returns to Minehead having last visited in pursuit of the PDC World Youth crown, denied in November by Gian van Veen. In this very tournament twelve months ago, she commanded attention by subjecting then world number one Luke Humphries to an exacting fourth-round examination before departing with considerable credit intact.

ROUND THREE

Karel Sedlacek v Raymond van Barneveld

Only a smattering of third-round ties is already chiselled in stone, yet one scintillating encounter commands immediate intrigue: top ranked Czech, Karel Sedlacek versus the legendary Dutchman, Raymond van Barneveld. Alongside Peter Wright, Barney is among the earliest UK Open winners to enter the fray at this juncture, and his passage is anything but perfunctory. Off the oche, Sedlacek is a genial presence. On it, Evil Charlie transmutes into something far more predatory. For the two-time UK Open victor harbouring aspirations of an unlikely hat-trick, this constitutes a perilous and potentially treacherous inaugural hurdle.

We could have selected at least another half a dozen more ties. Sebastian Bialecki against Christian Kist is a match up between two player returning to the their best form and may prove a thriller. First time qualifier Neil Wild is in a battle of the ages as he matches up to Derbyshire teen star Henry Coates.

DARTS WORLD HALLS OF FAME: The UK Open roll of honour

It all commences on Friday. The superstars are already in situ, the outer boards primed, the main stage illuminated. Before the highest-ranked luminaries descend upon Minehead, the theatre is set for drama, upheaval and the sort of delirious unpredictability that renders the UK Open so uniquely enthralling. There are plenty of scrumptious looking starters to get stuck into before the main courses arrive at the table.

—–ENDS—–

Images: PDC

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Greaves, who will be amongst the headline acts in the annual festival of darts, takes on Darryl Pilgrim in the opening session, which will take place at Butlin’s Minehead Resort from March 6-8.

Sebastian Bialecki plays Christian Kist earlier on the main stage in an intriguing second round clash with the prospect of a third round meeting with Gabriel Clemens on offer.

The unique multi-board tournament will see 128 PDC Tour Card Holders competing across three days of action alongside PDC in the Community Qualifiers, Rileys Amateur Qualifiers and top-ranked players from the 2025 Winmau Challenge Tour and Development Tour rankings.

The 160-player field will see Tour Card Holders enter across the first four rounds, based on their PDC ranking position following last week’s Players Championship double-header in Leicester.

Early Doors On Darts Most Unpredictable Day

The opening three rounds will be held in an action-packed session from 1100 GMT on Friday March 6, before the world’s top 32 enter the fray in round four on Friday evening.

Round One will see Tour Card Holders ranked from 97-128 joined by the eight PDC in the Community Qualifiers, eight Rileys Amateur Qualifiers and 16 players from the 2025 Challenge Tour and Development Tour.

Rising star Charlie Manby will play Swiss number one Stefan Bellmont in an eye-catching opening round tie on the Main Stage, where 16-year-old Kyle Gilding also takes on Sam Spivey.

Amateur Qualifier Aden Kirk, who famously dumped out Phil Taylor, Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price on his UK Open debut in 2014, locks horns with veteran Mervyn King, who reached the semi-finals that same year, while Spain’s Cristo Reyes takes on Graham Usher in another eye-catching round one tie.

Stage. or board, eight offers an intriguing clash of the generations as teenage prodigy Henry Coates takes on Midlander Neil Wild who has qualified for the first time, more than 15 years since is early efforts.

Tour Card Holders ranked 65-96 will enter in round two, as World Youth Championship runner-up Greaves opens her campaign against Pilgrim.

Greaves advanced to round four on her UK Open debut last year, and the Doncaster darter has made an impressive start to 2026, producing a spectacular nine-darter at Players Championship Six in Leicester last week.

Poland’s number two Sebastian Bialecki will face former Lakeside Champion Christian Kist for a place in round three, while Germany’s Max Hopp meets either Spivey or PDC in the Community Qualifier Gilding.

Dutch debutant Jimmy van Schie plays Tom Bissell in another Main Stage clash, as Cam Crabtree prepares to face Pascal Rupprecht or Jenson Walker.

THE UK OPEN IN FACTS AND STATS: dartsdatabase.co.uk for all you need to know 

Players ranked from 33-64 will then join the tournament in round three, with former UK Open champions Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld amongst the stars in action.

2017 winner Wright faces a potential showdown against Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas, as Callum Francis and Maximilian Czerwinski also battle it out for the right to play the Scottish icon.

Van Barneveld, meanwhile, who claimed back-to-back UK Open titles in 2006 and 2007, faces a tough test against Czechia’s number one, Karel Sedlacek.

2024 semi-finalist Ricky Evans has been pitted against former World Grand Prix runner-up Brendan Dolan, while Dutchman Kevin Doets and Germany’s number two Ricardo Pietreczko go head-to-head in another stand-out tussle.

Elsewhere, two-time quarter-finalist Mensur Suljovic faces Lukas Wenig for a place in round four, as former Masters champion Joe Cullen awaits one of Crabtree, Rupprecht or Walker in his opener.

Enter The Darts Elite:

The top 32 players on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder will begin their title challenges in round four on Friday evening, including reigning champion Luke Littler and world number two Luke Humphries.

Former champions Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Danny Noppert, James Wade, Nathan Aspinall, Dimitri Van den Bergh and Andrew Gilding will also enter the event in round four.

Following the conclusion of round three on Friday afternoon, an open draw will be made live on the Main Stage for round four, with further draws to be made following each subsequent round.

DARTS WORLD HALLS OF FAME: The UK Open roll of honour

Main Stage matches across all three days will be broadcast live on ITV4 for UK viewers, through the PDC’s international broadcast partners, including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers.

Stage Two action on Friday and Saturday will be streamed exclusively for all PDCTV Subscribers worldwide, with every match from Stages Three to Eight also available live on PDCTV.

Players will compete for the £120,000 top prize and the coveted title across the weekend in Minehead, with a total prize fund of £750,000 on offer being paid down to the last 128.

2026 Ladbrokes UK Open
Friday March 6
Afternoon Session (1100 GMT)
Main Stage – 1200 GMT Start
Round One
Stefan Bellmont v Charlie Manby
Sam Spivey v Kyle Gilding

Round Two
Sebastian Bialecki v Christian Kist
Jimmy van Schie v Tom Bissell
Darryl Pilgrim v Beau Greaves
Rupprecht/Walker v Cam Crabtree

Round Three
Karel Sedlacek v Raymond van Barneveld
Ricky Evans v Brendan Dolan
Peter Wright v Czerwinski/Labanauskas/Francis

Stage Two – 1100 GMT Start
Round One
Pascal Rupprecht v Jenson Walker
Aden Kirk v Mervyn King
Michael Unterbuchner v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Adam Leek v David Sharp

Round Two
Thomas Lovely v Shane McGuirk
Adam Gawlas v Tavis Dudeney
Tytus Kanik v Jim Long
Spivey/Gilding v Max Hopp

Round Three
Kevin Doets v Ricardo Pietreczko
Gabriel Clemens v Bialecki/Kist
Kim Huybrechts v Keane Barry
Rupprecht/Walker/Crabtree v Joe Cullen

Stage Three – 1100 GMT Start
Round One
Filip Bereza v Rhys Griffin
Stephen Burton v Jake Eichen
Cristo Reyes v Graham Usher
Tyler Thorpe v Pero Ljubic
Kai Gotthardt v Daniel Lee

Round Two
Robert Owen v Stefaan Henderyck
Maximilian Czerwinski v Labanauskas/Francis
Greg Ritchie v Leek/Sharp
Van der Velde/Tweddell v Leon Weber

Round Three
Lukas Wenig v Mensur Suljovic
Niels Zonneveld v Van Schie/Bissell
Sparidaans/Waites/Potter/Landman v Connor Scutt
Spivey/Gilding/Hopp v Merkx/Barkhausen/Van Velzen

Stage Four – 1100 GMT Start
Round One
Jack Todd v Carl Sneyd
Clive Langford v Stephen Rosney
Alexander Merkx v Jannis Barkhausen
Sean Ryan v Tom Sykes
Sietse Lap v Ted Evetts

Round Two
Wesley Plaisier v Bates/Hofkens
Bereza/Griffin v Oskar Lukasiak
Wild/Coates v Adam Paxton
Bellmont/Manby v Thorpe/Ljubic

Round Three
Meulenkamp/Price/Warner v Jeffrey de Graaf
Kanik/Long v Callan Rydz
Owen/Henderyck v Pilgrim/Greaves
Niko Springer v Ehlers/Kraft/Gotthardt/Lee

Stage Five – 1100 GMT Start
Round One
Samuel Whittaker v Jeffrey de Zwaan
Ryan Branley v Oliver King
Benjamin Pratnemer v Callum Goffin
Darius Labanauskas v Callum Francis

Round Two
Viktor Tingstrom v Pearse/Culleton
Meulenkamp/Price v Adam Warner
Dominik Gruellich v Van den Herik/Hall
Lap/Evetts v Reyes/Usher

Round Three
Ryan Meikle v William O’Connor
Nick Kenny v Lipscombe/Todd/Sneyd
Boulton/Kirk/M King v P Williams/Stevenson/Dekker
Kuivenhoven/Unterbuchner/Rodriguez v Wild/Coates/Paxton
Mario Vandenbogaerde v Van der Velde/Tweddell/Weber

Stage Six – 1100 GMT Start
Round One
Owen Bates v Yorick Hofkens
Lewis Pearse v Niall Culleton
Jamai van den Herik v Graham Hall
Jurjen van der Velde v Jack Tweddell

Round Two
P Williams/Stevenson v Cor Dekker
Dennie Olde Kalter v Van Trijp/Campbell
Merkx/Barkhausen v Marvin van Velzen
Sparidaans/Waites v Potter/Landman

Round Three
Alan Soutar v Richard Veenstra
Ritchie/Leek/Sharp v Mickey Mansell
Thibault Tricole v Langford/Rosney/Burton/Eichen
Beeton/Merk/Ryan/Sykes v Lap/Evetts/Reyes/Usher

Stage Seven – 1100 GMT Start
Round One
James Beeton v Arno Merk
Danny van Trijp v Scott Campbell
Ron Meulenkamp v Samuel Price
Jeffrey Sparidaans v Scott Waites

Round Two
Andy Boulton v Kirk/M King
Maik Kuivenhoven v Unterbuchner/Rodriguez
Pratnemer/Goffin v Whittaker/De Zwaan
Ehlers/Kraft v Gotthardt/Lee

Round Three
Madars Razma v Gawlas/Dudeney
Gruellich/Van den Herik/Hall v Justin Hood
Branley/O King/Brooks v Bereza/Griffin/Lukasiak
James Hurrell v Bellmont/Manby/Thorpe/Ljubic

Stage Eight – 1100 GMT Start
Round One
Patrik Williams v Simon Stevenson
Matthias Ehlers v Marvin Kraft
Nathan Potter v Chris Landman
Neil Wild v Henry Coates

Round Two
Adam Lipscombe v Todd/Sneyd
Branley/O King v Bradley Brooks
Beeton/Merk v Ryan/Sykes
Langford/Rosney v Burton/Eichen

Round Three
Lovely/McGuirk v Martin Lukeman
Ian White v Olde Kalter/Van Trijp/Campbell
Tingstrom/Pearse/Culleton v Plaisier/Bates/Hofkens
Pratnemer/Goffin/Whittaker/De Zwaan v Scott Williams

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Four – Eight Stages

Saturday March 7
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Round Five – Four Stages

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Six – Two Stages

Sunday March 8
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Quarter-Finals – Main Stage

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals & Final – Main Stage

Stage Locations
Main Stage – Skyline Pavilion
Stage Two – Reds
Stages Three-Eight – Studio 36

Prize Fund
Winner – £120,000
Runner-Up – £60,000
Semi-Finalists – £35,000
Quarter-Finalists – £20,000
Round Six Losers – £12,500
Round Five Losers – £7,500
Round Four Losers – £3,000
Round Three Losers – £2,000
Round Two Losers – £1,250
Total – £750,000

Format
Rounds One-Three – Best of 11 legs
Round Four-Quarter-Finals – Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals & Final – Best of 21 legs

An open draw will be made at the end of each round from the conclusion of Round Three onwards. The first three rounds were pre-drawn at random.

The post UK Open 2026: Famed ‘FA Cup of Darts’ Draw and Details Confirmed: appeared first on Darts World Magazine.

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Arriving in Leicester for what rapidly evolved into a frenetic and exacting itinerary, neither Jurjen van der Velde nor Drayton had previously sampled tournament victory at this level. By the conclusion of proceedings, both had emphatically rectified that omission, each harvesting a brace of titles to ensure their respective journeys home were undertaken in a state of unmitigated satisfaction.

For Lancastrian Drayton, the momentum gathered on Saturday evening proved anything but ephemeral. Returning for the solitary Sabbath event, the Fylde Coast thrower replicated his triumph just hours earlier with admirable composure, transforming a promising weekend into something approaching resplendence.

Evidently invigorated by the previous evening’s accomplishment, the Target youngster commenced the final afternoon with palpable assurance. Having relinquished a mere seven legs en route to the quarter finals, Drayton first negotiated Dylan Slevin before prevailing in a nervy, last leg decider against compatriot Archie Self. That victory orchestrated a culminating duel with Crabtree.

Indeed, the tournament bore the unmistakable imprint of domestic ascendancy, with all four semi-finalists emerging from English soil. Confronting Crabtree – the man who had topped last year’s Development Tour rankings – Drayton engaged in an evenly poised opening exchange as the pair shared the first half a dozen legs. Thereafter, Jack exhibited decisive acceleration, grabbing two successive legs with clinical authority to consummate the contest and secure the crown.

A two-month interlude now ensues before the cohort reconvenes, this time in Milton Keynes toward the close of April, where narratives will resume, and fresh protagonists will seek to disrupt the embryonic hierarchy.

PDC DEVELOPMENT TOUR – EVENT FIVE

Leicester, England (22^nd February)

Quarter-Finals

Tyler Thorpe 5-2 Charlie Manby

Cam Crabtree 5-3 Cayden Smith

Jack Drayton 5-3 Dylan Slevin

Archie Self 5-0 Dominik Gruellich

Semi-Finals

Cam Crabtree 5-2 Tyler Thorpe

Jack Drayton 5-4 Archie Self

Final

Jack Drayton 5-3 Cam Crabtree

2026 DEVELOPMENT TOUR – ORDER OF MERIT 

1. Jurjen van der Velde (NED) – £7350 

2. Jack Drayton (ENG) – £6750 

3. Sebastian Bialecki (POL) – £4350 

4. Charlie Manby (ENG) – £3850 

5. Dylan Slevin (IRE) – £2850 

6. Angelo Balsamo (NED) – £2600 

7. James Beeton (ENG) – £2600 

8. Cam Crabtree (ENG) – £2600 

9. Peter Kelemen (HUN) – £2100 

10. Dominik Gruellich (GER) – £1850

—–ENDS—-

Images: PDC

The post Drayton’s Leicester Double appeared first on Darts World Magazine.

The post Drayton’s Leicester Double appeared first on Darts World Magazine.

While his homeland proudly staged its maiden European Tour extravaganza, The Poland Darts Open, The Bolt was successful in Leicester, adding yet another embellishment to an already flourishing résumé.

Geography may have separated Bialecki from Krakow’s spotlight, but his accomplishment ensured he remained firmly within the narrative.

The MODUS managed youngster was in imperious condition across a day that interrogated stamina as ruthlessly as it did tungsten proficiency.

Having exited at the last 32 stage earlier in the afternoon to Tyler Thorpe, the 22-year-old demonstrated admirable psychological elasticity. He recalibrated, regrouped and embarked upon a relentless surge through the second event, ultimately overcoming James Beeton in a final that concluded beyond the 10pm threshold.

It is truly a marathon for those immersed in the latter stages of Development Tour combat, yet Bialecki will be gloriously indifferent to the physical toll. His procession to the title included the dismissal of WDF standout Jenson Walker and the ever-capable Owen Bates.

In the final, a polished display hovering north of a 90 average underpinned a 5-3 triumph over the recently crowned Scottish Open champion, Beeton – a performance defined by composure rather than volatility.Earlier in the day – which must have felt like a week ago – Jurjen van der Velde claimed the season’s inaugural Development Tour crown.

The 23-year-old Dutch prospect produced a performance of notable refinement, dispatching Ireland’s Dylan Slevin with a resplendent 95.35 average to secure his maiden title in authoritative fashion.Walker and Bates, both frequent protagonists in these youth skirmishes, were among van der Velde’s conquests, as was Beau Greaves.

The Yorkshire prodigy had earlier delivered a staggering 117 average in her preceding encounter, a statistical exhibition bordering on the surreal. Mercifully for van der Velde, her output in their direct confrontation, while still displaying her calibre, it proved insufficient in what amounted to a compelling duel between two recent PDC World Championship runners up.One down, three to go.

Another brace of events on Saturday then an early finish on the Sabbath.

PDC DEVELOPMENT TOUR – EVENT ONE

Leicester, England (20th February)

Quarter-Finals

Jenson Walker 5-2 Sam Jackson

Jurjen van der Velde 5-3 Keanu van Velzen

Peter Keleman 5-4 Charlie Manby

Dylan Slevin 5-3 Nathan Potter

Semi-Finals

Jurjen van der Velde 5-2 Jenson Walker

Dylan Slevin 5-3 Peter Keleman

Final

Jurjen van der Velde 5-1 Dylan Slevin

PDC DEVELOPMENT TOUR – EVENT TWO

Leicester, England (20th February)

Quarter-Finals

Nathan Potter 5-3 Jurjen van der Velde

Sebastian Bialecki 5-2 Owen Bates

James Beeton 5-3 Patrick McShane

Dominik Gruellich 5-4 Jack Drayton

Semi-Finals

Sebastian Bialecki 5-1 Nathan Potter

James Beeton 5-1 Dominik Gruellich

Final

Sebastian Bialecki 5-1 James Beeton

—–Ends—–

Images: PDC

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The post Seb Bolts To Development Tour Title appeared first on Darts World Magazine.

Initially a series of matches played from invited competitors homes, dubbed ‘A Night at the Darts’, the idea then morphed into a sealed bubble, where players could be tested and secure, during the Covid restricted period, but still play and provide entertainment, and live sport for bookmakers, while also keeping players competitively active.

The new look event took place in a purpose-built studio/playing space in Southampton, UK and became known as the Live League for much of 2021 & 22. The group stage and multi day format was honed over time to that used today.

Toward the end of 2022 a third evolution was unveiled. A permanent home, in a purpose built ‘arena’, within a converted church in Portsmouth (the MODUS Live Lounge) was built.

It featured a stage, more TV/broadcast operations from Sporty TV and Online Darts and even a ticketed audience for finals nights.

By 2023 the 12-week qualifying format, with a Champions Week finale in Week 13, was firmly established and the total player’s pot was in excess of £1,000,000.

MODUS ‘Majors’: Special Darts Weeks With A Theme

2024 saw the start of special event weeks with Double Trouble (Neil Duff & Robert Thornton) and Women’s Week (Rhian O’Sullivan) proving very successful. The Legends League became the third of these ‘special weeks’ in January 2025.

The MSS stage also plays host to the Amateur Darts Circuit’s annual singles finals for men and women and their ADC Global Championship.

Charity one-offs for YouTube influencers and others are also being tested regularly.

An array of darting superstars, returning names and newcomers have competed in these formats and helped build a remarkable independent darts structure that offers opportunity across the darts spectrum. Watch it on Pluto TV or www.youtube.com/@MODUSSuperSeries

(NB: Owing to the continuous nature of this event we are adding more categories and detail all the time. It is by no means exhaustive nor complete)

MODUS Super Series – Champions Week Winners:

£20,000 first prize (13-week cycle)

12 – December 2025 – Charlie Manby (England)

11 – August 2025 – Jeff Smith (Canada)

10 – April 2025 – Jenson Walker (England)

9 – December 2024 – Darius Labanauskas (Lithuania)

8 – August 2024 – Marvin Van Velzen (Holland)

7 – May 2024 – Andreas Harrysson (Sweden)

6 – February 2024 – Scott Taylor (Eng)

5 – November 2023 – Jim McEwan (Scotland) – First Live League & Champions Week Winner.

4 – August 2023 – Luke Litter (Eng) – First back-to-back winner

3 – May 2023 – Luke Littler (Eng)

2 – February 2023 – Raymond Smith (Aus)

1 – December 2022 – Conan Whitehead (Eng)

Special Feature Weeks Winners:

January 2025 – Women’s Week V – Fallon Sherrock (England)

January 2025 – Seniors Showdown – Simon Whitlock (Australia)

January 2025 – ADC Global Championship* – Jack Tweddell (England)

December 2025 – Double Trouble – Steve West (England)

August 2025 – International Pairs II – Conor Heneghan & John O’Shea (Ireland) 

August 2025 – Rising Stars Week – Henry Coates (England)

June 2025 – Women’s Week IV – Gemma Hayter (England)

May 2025 – International Pairs – Jimmy van Schie & Danny Van Trijp (Netherlands)

May 2025 – Women’s Week III – Lisa Ashton (England)

March 2025 – Double Trouble – Andreas Harrysson (Sweden)

January 2025 – Legends League – Richie Howson (England)

January 2025 – Women’s Week II – Kirsi Viinikainen (Finland)

December 2024 – ADC Global Championships* – Devon Petersen (South Africa)

September 2024 – Double Trouble – Robert Thornton (Scotland)

May 2024 – Women’s Week – Rhian O’Sullivan (Wales)

February 2024 – Double Trouble- Neil Duff (Northern Ireland)

* Although the Global Championship is not an official Super Series Week it is played on the MSS stage, in the MSS venue and with similar group and finals day formats

Modus Live League – Champions Week Winners:

£6,000 First Prize (8 weeks)

April 2022 – Robert Owen (Wales)

March 2022 – Jim McEwan (Scotland)

2022 – Richie Burnett (Wales)

2021 – Robert Thornton (Scotland)

2021 – Martin Adams (Eng)

Nine Darters:

Danny Van Trijp (August 2025)

Conan Whitehead (July 2025)

Mason Whitlock (September 2024)

Sebastian Bialecki (Champions Week Oct/Nov) 2023

Fallon Sherrock (Aug 2023) First broadcast 9-Dart leg by a female thrower

Steve West (MSS First during Champions week)

Stephen Burton

Conor Heneghan ( Live League and Super Series)

Colin Osborne ( Live League)

Martin Adams ( Live League x 2)

MODUS Super Series Weekly Winners*

Super Series (5K)

Nathan Potter (March 2026)

Radek Szaganski (February 2026)

Keanu Van Velzen (February 2026)

Steve Green (January 2026)

Charlie Manby (November 2025)

Dean Finn (November 2025)

Jamie Owens (October 2025)

Keegan Brown (September 2025)

Brian Raman (August 2025)

Jurjen van der Velde (August 2025)

Richard McKee (July 2025)

Adam Gawlas (June 2025)

John O’Shea (June 2025)

Jeff Smith (May 2025)

Merv King (April 2025)

Devon Petersen (March 2025)

Reece Robinson (Feb 2025)

Shane McGuirk (Feb 2025)

Sam Spivey (Feb 2025)

Jenson Walker (Feb 2025)

Alec Small (Jan 2025)

Kai Gotthardt 

Andy Hamilton

Derek Coulson

Marvin Van Velzen

Thomas Banks

Connor Scutt

Romeo Grbavac 

Adam Paxton

Paul Hogan

Jimmy Van Schie

Richard Rowlands

John Henderson

David Davies

Jim Long

Darius Labanauskas

Beau Greaves (First female player to win a MSS weekly league)

Bradley Brooks

Neil Duff

Reece Colley

Tom Sykes

Chris Landman

Cam Crabtree

Andy Boulton

William Borland

Andreas Harrysson

Moreno Michels

Matthew Dennant

Sebastian Bialecki

Rob Grundy

Darryl Pilgrim

Scott Taylor

Jon Worsley

Mike Warburton

Mike Gillet

Steve West

Justin Hood

Jelle Klaasen 

Matt Clark

Lukas Wenig

Andy Jenkins

Adam Smith-Neale

Jim McEwan

Dan Read

Ciaran Teehan 

Graham Usher

Lee Evans

Conan Whitehead

Chris Mason

Josh Payne

Colin Osborne

Graham Hall

Chas Barstow

*The list includes weekly winners from the original Live League venue and format. Only the players first weekly win and the month and year is noted.

NB – MODUS Super Series is an ongoing event and is being regularly added to and updated….

—–ENDS—–

Image: Conan Whitehead (Winner of the first Super Series) – MODUS

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A year on from losing his seat at the top table, Mervyn King has reclaimed his place among the elite, restoring a sense of order that many felt had been disturbed by his absence.

With six decades nearly behind him but competitive fire still very much raging, the former European Darts Grand Prix champion has secured himself two more seasons to chase the one prize that has always eluded him. Time may be relentless, but it has never frightened the 59-year old Suffolk arrow-smith.

Alongside ‘The King’, Charlie Manby’s rise continues at breakneck speed. The Palace favourite, fresh from a dream World Championship debut that carried him all the way to the last 16, treated Q-School as another stepping stone rather than an obstacle.

By the time he dismantled King in the semi-finals, both men already knew the outcome beyond the scoreboard. The 6-2 result was ceremonial more than decisive, another flourish in a career that seems to be accelerating by the week.Drama was never far away.

One of the most gripping moments came in a winner-takes-all duel between Samuel Lewis and Lewis Pride, two players too far adrift on the rankings to rely on mathematics and forced instead into sudden-death theatre. It went the full distance, a last-leg shoot-out heavy with consequence, before Samuel Pride finally found the double that turned years of graft into professional salvation.

Beyond the headline acts, the ranking system quietly rewarded resilience. Stephen Burton sat atop the order of merit, his work effectively done before a dart was thrown on the final day, though the uncertainty of Q-School ensured he still turned up prepared for battle.

Tyler Thorpe continued to justify the growing whispers around his name, the 20-year-old adding a Pro Tour future to a CV that already includes Development Tour silverware. Ireland added another representative as Stephen Rosney converted late-season momentum into a golden ticket, while Scotland’s David Sharp completed the line-up after a consistently impressive campaign through the hardest corridors of the event.

Q-School has crowned its winners, but the real examination lies ahead. Winning a tour card is survival. Keeping it is war.

UK Q-SCHOOL (Final Stage – Day Four)

Semi-FinalsCharlie Manby 6-2 Mervyn King

Samuel Price 6-5 Lewis Pride

Tour Card Winners (via Order of Merit): Stephen Burton, Mervyn King, Tyler Thorpe, Stephen Rosney and David Sharp

—–Ends—–

Images: PDC

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These are the exempt operators. The ones spared the opening bloodbath. Rested. Watching. Calculating. Knowing full well that exemption does not guarantee salvation – it merely delays judgement.

Here, Darts World turns its lens toward some of the most recognisable names poised to enter the final-stage arena, where margins are microscopic and failure is terminal.

UK FINAL STAGE – ONES TO WATCH

Jack Tweddell: Freshly crowned ADC Global Champion, Tweddell arrives with momentum roaring like a tailwind. His dramatic triumph over Jonny Haines at the MODUS Live Lounge has already made 2026 feel like a breakthrough year. Now comes the next ascent. The Swindon man knows this is the gateway from respected amateur force to weekly combat with the elite. Confidence? Abundant. Pressure? Immense.

Charlie Manby: Still glowing from a fairytale debut at Alexandra Palace, Manby arrives armed with belief bordering on bravado. A stellar Development Tour campaign was followed by a last-16 World Championship run featuring scalps such as Cameron Menzies, Adam Sevada and Ricky Evans, before eventual finalist Gian van Veen finally closed the door. At just 20, Manby feels less like a prospect and more like an inevitability.

Scott Waites: Experience. Pedigree. And unfinished business. One of only two former PDC TV major champions in the entire Q-School field, Waites still harbours ambitions of a second act. Averaging just shy of 90 on last year’s Pro Tour shows the engine still runs – even if the gears didn’t quite mesh often enough to stay aboard. Never discount a former Grand Slam winner when silverware is within theoretical reach.

Ted Evetts: Once the golden boy. Then the lost one. Now, perhaps, the reborn. A former World Youth Champion who never fully capitalised on early glory, Evetts has spent the last year rebuilding piece by piece. His third-place finish on the Challenge Tour was agonisingly close to automatic redemption. If “Super Ted” finds the version of himself that once dominated his peers, this could be the week professional status is reclaimed.

EUROPEAN FINAL STAGE – ONES TO WATCH

José de Sousa: Once feared. Once revered. Once among the elite. The former Grand Slam champion’s fall from grace has been stark, but the echoes of his prime still linger. A sub-90 Pro Tour average last season tells only half the story; so does a triple-figure tally of maximums that once flowed like water. If “The Special One” reconnects with the ruthless finisher he used to be, Kalkar could witness resurrection.

Andreas Harrysson: Momentum personified. Harrysson floats into Germany on the back of history – the first Swede to reach the World Championship last 16. That run wasn’t a fluke. Topping the PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour secured his Ally Pally ticket, and victims such as Ross Smith and Ricardo Pietreczko can attest to his danger. On his day, Dirty Harry is a demolition job waiting to happen.

Adam Sevada: If North America is to produce another Tour Card holder this year, many believe Sevada is the best bet. A dominant CDC Tour campaign – including an unprecedented run of four consecutive titles – showcased his ceiling. The tools are there. The question is whether sustained elite opposition can sharpen them further. A strong Q-School could change everything.

Andy Baetens: Belgium’s World Championship campaign was bleak, but Baetens emerged with dignity intact. Pushing Dirk van Duijvenbode to a final-set decider reminded everyone of the class beneath the surface. A former Lakeside Champion does not forget how to win. If consistency joins pedigree, this could mark a return to the big stage.

UK Final Stage Exempt Players (full list)

• Ted Evetts
• Mervyn King
• Jack Tweddell
• Sam Spivey
• Scott Waites
• Scott Campbell
• Carl Sneyd
• Graham Hall
• Lee Cocks
• Joe Hunt
• Charlie Manby
• Ryan Branley
• James Beeton
• Jenson Walker
• Patrik Williams
• Nathan Potter
• Henry Coates
• Tyler Thorpe
• Fallon Sherrock
• Devon Petersen
• Darren Beveridge
• Steve Lennon
• Matthew Dennant
• Dylan Slevin
• Adam Hunt
• Jim Williams
• Rhys Griffin
• Robert Grundy
• Nathan Rafferty
• William Borland
• Brett Claydon
• George Killington
• Stephen Burton

EU Final Stage Exempt Players (full list)

• Michael Unterbuchner
• Alexander Merkx
• Danny van Trijp
• Jamai van den Herik
• Jurjen van der Velde
• Adam Gawlas
• Jannis Barkhausen
• Adam Sevada
• Jesus Salate
• Ben Robb
• Tomoya Goto
• Andreas Harrysson
• Levy Frauenfelder
• Bradly Roes
• Chris Landman
• Florian Hempel
• Andy Baetens
• Jose de Sousa
• Patrick Geeraets
• Jitse Van der Wal
• Radek Szaganski
• Jelle Klaasen
• Martijn Dragt
• Danny Lauby
• Benjamin Reus
• Michele Turetta
• Mario Vandenbogaerde
• Matt Campbell

—–ENDS—–

Images: PDC

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The first true seismic shift came in set four. With The Asp holding a 2-1 lead, the door was ajar. Wide open, in fact. Chances were offered. Opportunities begged to be taken. But they weren’t. And at this level, hesitation is fatal. Doets, ever the predator, didn’t ask twice. He swept in, capitalised ruthlessly, and hauled the contest back onto level terms with a cold efficiency that spoke volumes.

Set five delivered irony in spades. A role reversal of the highest order. This time it was the Mancunian who pinched a set he had no divine right to claim, a crowd-pleasing Big Fish checkout detonating inside the Palace and denying the 27-year-old any chance of a response. Three-two Aspinall. Momentum, supposedly, restored.

For many, that would have been the emotional gut-punch. Heads drop. Belief wavers. Scripts unravel. Not Kevin Doets. What followed was an exhibition of composure and controlled brutality. The next two sets were claimed without concession. Not a single leg surrendered. Clinical. Merciless. A thunderous 164 checkout ripping the heart out of the contest and underlining that this was no accident, no lucky escape, but a statement forged in tungsten.

Another heavyweight exits stage left. And for the Dutch-born, Swedish-residing sharpshooter, the Hawkeye is already locked onto an even bigger target. A man he still views as the undisputed apex predator of the modern game – Luke Humphries. Take down Cool Hand and the landscape changes entirely. Possibility becomes belief. Belief becomes danger. And Kevin Doets, brimming with self-assurance and sharpened ambition, suddenly looks like a man very comfortable living in the latter stages of this tournament. Ally Pally has seen this story before. The question is – just how far does Hawkeye want to take it?

Somerset slinger, Justin Hood continues to script a debut drenched in fairytale and fizz, comfortably dismissing Ryan Meikle before sending his happy little feet waddling gleefully into the last 16. Hood may not have arrived beneath the chandeliers of Alexandra Palace as a household name, but with every victory – and every cheeky, knowing glance fired straight down the lens of the Sky cameras – the Glastonbury man is quietly, irresistibly winning hearts across the darting globe.

Three sets played, three sets claimed, all flowing in the Glastonbury throwers favour as he transformed Ally Pally into his own personal festival of fun. The vibes were immaculate. The balance between frolics and focus exquisitely judged. Meikle did eventually scribble his name onto the scoreboard, but it amounted to little more than a footnote. A consolation in a story already being written elsewhere.

The raw numbers tell a tale laced with intrigue. On the averages and scoring columns, the pair were barely separated – Meikle even nudging almost a full point higher. But darts matches are rarely won on surface beauty alone. Dig deeper, and the truth emerges. Despite Meikle’s highly respectable 50% doubling, compared to Hood’s scruffier 32.5%, the key lay in opportunity. Chances created. And here, Happy Feet ran riot, fashioning more than twice as many looks at the outer ring as his compatriot. Pressure, persistence, presence. That is where this contest was decided.

The 32-year old has already made public his dream destination should he somehow ascend the ultimate summit. Justin Hood: World Champion and restaurateur extraordinaire, funnelling the £1 million winnings into opening his own Chinese restaurant. Whether he has fully priced up such an oriental enterprise remains open to debate, but perhaps one more victory might at least get the doors open and the woks warmed. It is a lovely dream. And the way he is playing – who knows. Josh Rock or Callan Rydz await.

Elsewhere, another debutant is dining richly at the feast. Yorkshire youngster Charlie Manby also continues a tournament to remember, seeing off the mercurial Ricky Evans to book a mouth-watering last-16 showdown with back-to-back World Youth Champion Gian van Veen.

Evans, never knowingly underdressed or under-choreographed, binned his pre-Christmas Shakin’ Stevens walk-on in favour of Madonna, emerging brandishing pom poms like a man auditioning for centre stage in a West End revival. It was classic Rapid. Theatre first, tungsten second. But once the music faded and the darts flew, there was precious little rhythm from either.

After four sets, the scoreboard told a tale of perfect symmetry. Level. Locked. Half-time honours even. But midway through set five, something slipped. Evans’ range deserted him, the flamboyance curdled, and Manby pounced with ruthless clarity. Champagne Charlie uncorked his moment, took control, and suddenly the momentum swung violently.

From there, many expected Evans to dig in, steady the ship, and drag the contest back to parity. Instead, the wheels came clean off. Composure evaporated. Focus fractured. Manby, fuelled by his opponent’s increasingly audible frustrations with his own throwing arm, smelled blood. Three rapid-fire legs later, the deal was done. Former Development Tour foes will meet again, but this time on a far grander stage.

MONDAY 29^th DECEMBER – Afternoon Session Report

Justin Hood 4-1 Ryan Meikle

Ricky Evans 2-4 Charlie Manby

Nathan Aspinall 3-4 Kevin Doets

—–ENDS—–

Images: PDC

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Welcome to the Luke Humphries quadrant. And he wants both those accolades back. Comfortable? Don’t get used to it.

SECTION THREE

(2) Luke Humphries v Gabriel Clemens

(15) Nathan Aspinall v Kevin Doets

Ricky Evans v Charlie Manby (Q)

(10) Gian van Veen v Madars Razma

At the top sits the aforementioned Humphries, and while Gabriel Clemens has enjoyed something resembling a renaissance here – winning his first two televised matches in nearly a year – this feels like where the revival tour ends.

Cool Hand Luke has been operating at a different altitude for most of the season, and over a race to four sets, it’s hard to see the German keeping pace. Capable? Absolutely. Likely? Not based on the evidence.

Still, Humphries will know better than anyone that Ally Pally has a habit of biting those who get complacent. A similar narrative follows for Nathan Aspinall, who faces Kevin Doets. The Dutchman – Sweden-based and quietly consistent – probably arrives with marginally better recent form than Clemens, but The Asp has more gears that his opponent. Expect this to be tighter, noisier, and scrappier – but if Aspinall finds his range, Hawkeye won’t be gazing at the bright side for long.

Then comes the wild card clash – and it’s a cracker. Ricky Evans was electric against James Wade, rediscovering his rhythm and swagger at exactly the right time. Across from him stands Charlie Manby, a qualifier who’s played like anything but a debutant – showing maturity, calm and tungsten control way beyond his years.

Rapid’s matches have gone the distance so far, and there’s no reason to expect anything different here. Strap in. This one has decider written all over it.

At the bottom, the man despite the batch containing Luke Humphries, someone many expect to emerge from this section – Gian van Veen.

The reigning European Champion has been tipped by some to go the whole way, and it’s easy to see why. There are obstacles ahead, sure – but Madars Razma probably isn’t one of them. The Latvian is capable and resilient, but this feels like a step too far. GVV should navigate this without too much turbulence.

The betting boards point towards a Humphries v van Veen showdown for a semi-final place – a clash worthy of the billing. But darts, as ever, isn’t obliged to follow the script. With Aspinall prowling and others proving they belong on this stage, nothing here is guaranteed.

—–Emds—–

Images: PDC

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For a fleeting moment, the crowd dared to dream. The opening two visits to the oche delivered a perfect snapshot of what everyone hoped this contest might become – maximums traded like ceremonial salutes, respect wrapped in tungsten. Lim, as he so often does, rolled back the years. Humphries nodded politely. And then the world number two went to work.

What followed was ruthless efficiency. The 2024 champ roared into a 2–0 set lead, scoring with authority and control, the darts flowing as if guided rather than thrown. There was a brief easing of pressure, a gentle lifting of the foot from the accelerator, and Lim was allowed his chalk on the board – a courtesy rather than a concession. The Singapore Slinger accepted it with gratitude. Humphries begrudged him nothing. Because admiration does not interfere with obligation.

As the Berkshire born superstar later admitted on stage, fan or not, there was a job to be done. It was completed with minimum fuss and maximum professionalism. After all, it was only a few year’s back the legendary Lim caused Luke’s Ally Pally exit. Humphries now retreats into the Christmas interval, where a reunion with the resurgent Gabriel Clemens awaits – another stern examination.

Beginning the evening’s action, the Palace faithful bore witness to something altogether more explosive. Reigning European and World Youth Champion Gian van Veen ignited the night with a performance that currently stands as the benchmark of the tournament. From a set down, the Dutch prodigy detonated into life, tearing past the impressive Alan Soutar in breathtaking fashion.

Remarkably, van Veen had not won a single match on the Ally Pally stage prior to this year’s championship. And yet, he arrived as the bookmakers’ third favourite to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy. On this evidence, that faith was not misplaced. A monstrous 108.28 average thundered through the building – a statement performance if ever there was one.

It could have been different. Soutar began as he had against Teemu Harju in his opening tie – fearless, forceful, fully engaged. Van Veen scored heavily but misfired on the doubles, and the Scot snatched the deciding leg to take the opening set against the darts. Then came the moment. Needing 71 to double his advantage, Soutar agonisingly drifted into a neighbouring double and busted his score. Van Veen returned, efficient and unforgiving, and levelled the match. From there, the contest became a procession. Six legs on the spin. Total dominance. A merciless surge that included yet another searing 170 checkout to send the crowd into rapture. Soutar was excellent. Van Veen was simply superior. The reward is a post-Christmas meeting with Latvia’s Madars Razma.

Also safely through is two-time PDC major winner Nathan Aspinall, who booked his place in round three with a straight-sets victory over the flamboyant Leonard Gates. The dancing Texan never truly found top gear, and in truth neither did The Asp, but control matters more than fireworks at this stage. Every set ended 3–1 in legs to the Stockport man. Professional. Efficient. Drama-free. Aspinall now advances to face Kevin Doets.

And to close the penultimate night before the Christmas ceasefire, the fairytale continues for debutant Manby. Champagne Charlie delivered a composed, dominant straight-sets victory over Adam Sevada, whose below-par display marked the end of North American interest in this year’s championship. For Manby, however, the future continues to glitter.

The Huddersfield youngster, long tipped for big things, played with the assurance of someone utterly at home on the biggest stage. If nerves were present, they were expertly concealed. Scoring was solid. Finishing was decisive – just shy of 50 percent – while Sevada was starved of opportunities, limited to just three darts at double across the entire match, of which he pinned just the soltary effort. Victory for Manby now sets up a mouth-watering all-English clash with Ricky Evans the other side of Christmas.

After a tournament riddled with ambushes and upheaval, this was a session that largely obeyed the expected order. Which, at Alexandra Palace, often makes it all the more ominous.

MONDAY 22nd DECEMBER – Monday Evening Session

Gian Van Veen 3-1 Alan Soutar

Nathan Aspinall 3-0 Leonard Gates

Luke Humphries 3-0 Paul Lim

Charlie Manby 3-0 Ricky Evans

—–ENDS—–

Images: PDC

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