Spotting Tomorrow’s Stars – My Day Marking at the PDC Development Tour

 I recently had the chance to help out as a marker/referee at the latest PDC Development Tour —and what a brilliant experience it turned out to be.

With more than 400 players per event, it was a long day. I marked around 30 matches in total, so there wasn’t much downtime. But the standard, the atmosphere, and the sheer range of talent on display made every minute worthwhile.

A Wide Mix of Players

One of the things I love most about the Development Tour is the variety of players who step onto the oche. You see everything from established Pro Tour competitors sharpening their game to teenagers taking their very first steps into the PDC system.

It was also great to see several former JDC players involved, a real sign that the pathway from junior darts to the professional ranks is becoming stronger and more structured.

As the day progressed and the draw tightened, the quality noticeably lifted. The scoring became heavier, the finishing sharper, and those pressure legs really separated the serious prospects from the rest.

Two Hot Prospects on My Board

I was fortunate enough to mark matches involving two players who are very much ones to watch on the world stage right now: Jenson Walker of England and Sebastian Bialecki of Poland.

Walker has been in tremendous form recently and currently sits as the number one ranked WDF player. Bialecki, meanwhile, continues to impress on the Pro Tour, showing composure and maturity well beyond his years.

Both played exactly as you’d expect  crisp scoring, confident finishing, and that natural rhythm you tend to see in players heading toward the very top of the game.

New Names to Keep an Eye On

One of the most enjoyable parts of marking Development Tour events is discovering players you hadn’t previously heard of — and realising you might be watching a breakthrough moment.

Two players really stood out.

Kyle Manton (England)
A name I hadn’t come across before, but he immediately caught the eye. Strong overall game, very tidy on the treble 20, and a calm presence at the board. He lost his board final to the talented Dutch prospect Jami van den Herik, and if anything, it looked like nerves rather than ability that cost him. He’s definitely someone I’ll be watching closely this year.

Carl van Mens (Germany)
Another impressive performer. Van Mens looked composed from the first dart I saw him throw with a smooth action, good temperament, and consistent scoring throughout. His run ended at the hands of an in-form Jenson Walker, which says a lot about the level he reached. Germany’s development structure seems to be strengthening year by year, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more German names pushing through soon.

A Long Day - But a Rewarding One

When there are over 400 players involved, you don’t get much rest as a marker. But being that close to the next generation of talent is fascinating.

You see raw ability.
You see nerves.
You see breakthrough performances.
And occasionally, you see something special.

The Development Tour truly offers a glimpse into the future of darts  and after what I witnessed, the future looks very bright indeed.

I’ll definitely be keeping tabs on many of the names I encountered. Because I’m certain a few of them will be appearing on our TV screens sooner rather than later.