ADC Championship 2026 – Events 1–4 Weekend Review

 Southern: Aylesbury (Bradmoor Farm) • Northern: Middlesbrough Sports Village

The 2026 ADC Winmau Championship season got underway with a major structural change  and it’s one that looks like an instant success.

For the first time, the ADC has split the Championships into two parallel regional tours, North and South, while also removing the previous entry cap. The result? Bigger fields, stronger competition, and arguably the most accessible set of amateur Championships the ADC has ever delivered.

Across the opening weekends in Aylesbury and Middlesbrough, the new format immediately proved its worth.

Event Format Overview

Both the Southern and Northern Championships follow the same structure:

Each region hosts 12 Championship events, split across three weekends, with four events per weekend.
There is a £34,000 prize fund per region, plus a £10,000 Grand Final for the top qualifiers.
Each Championship event pays £1,000 to the winner, with prize money extending down to the quarter-final stage.
Finals are streamed live, adding valuable exposure for players progressing deep into events.

With Bradmoor Farm hosting the South and Middlesbrough Sports Village anchoring the North, players now have genuine geographical choice  one of the key goals of the new system.

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Southern Championship – Aylesbury (Bradmoor Farm)

Events 1–4

Bradmoor Farm once again delivered a packed and competitive weekend, with the removal of the old 256-player cap noticeably deepening the field.

The standout performance came in Event 1, where Dai Davies set an early benchmark for the season. Davies claimed the opening title with an impressive tournament average in the mid-80s, backed up by heavy scoring in the opening nine darts and composed finishing under pressure. Across the weekend, he looked sharp, controlled, and confident — a serious early contender in the Southern standings.

Beyond the winner, there were plenty of encouraging performances across Events 1–4. Players such as Steve West, Ashley Coleman, Alan Slater, Zak Cross, Mark Stafford, Dan Perry, Graham Hall, Lloyd Pennell, and Curtis Hammond all reached the quarter-final stage in Event 3, highlighting the depth of competition already emerging in the South.

Once again, Bradmoor Farm received praise for its organisation and atmosphere, cementing its reputation as one of the strongest amateur darts venues in the country.

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Northern Championship – Middlesbrough Sports Village

Events 1–4

While detailed match breakdowns from the Northern opener are still filtering through, all indicators point to a strong and competitive launch.

The Middlesbrough Sports Village proved a fitting venue for high-volume amateur darts, and the open-entry format ensured a large, motivated field. With £1,000 on offer per event, interest was high from established ADC regulars and ambitious new names alike.

One notable strength of the new structure is flexibility: ADC members are free to compete in either region, and many players continue to do both. That crossover ensures the Northern standings will quickly become highly competitive as the season progresses.

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General Impressions After Events 1–4

The opening weekends have already revealed several key takeaways:

Bigger Amateur Fields
The removal of entry caps has allowed far more players to compete, raising overall standards and creating deeper, more meaningful competitions.

Dual-Region System Is Working
Splitting the Championships into North and South has genuinely expanded access. Players can now compete regionally without sacrificing quality  or choose to play both regions and build ranking points aggressively.

Early Form Guide
In the South, Dai Davies has set the pace, while a strong group of experienced ADC names are already pushing close behind. In the North, the competitiveness is clear, even if standout names will emerge more clearly over the next block of events.

Prize Money & Pathways
With strong regional prize funds, a Grand Final, and a clear pathway into the ADC Global Championship, the ADC now offers one of the most attractive amateur darts routes in the UK — competitive, televised, and financially meaningful.

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Summary

The opening phase of the ADC Championship 2026 delivered exactly what the restructure promised:

Bigger participation
Wider regional access
Higher-quality darts
A strong early benchmark performance from Dai Davies
Competitive fields in both North and South with plenty still to unfold

As Events 5–8 arrive later in the season, the tables will begin to take shape — and we’ll get a clearer picture of who’s pushing for Portsmouth, who’s chasing global qualification, and who might emerge as this year’s amateur breakthrough story.

PDC Women’s Series 2026 – Opening Weekend Review

 The opening weekend of the 2026 PDC Women’s Series has already delivered a very clear storyline: Beau Greaves remains miles ahead of the field.

Across the four events in Hildesheim, Greaves extended her unbeaten Women’s Series run to an extraordinary 113 consecutive matches, sweeping all four titles with a blend of dominant scoring and ruthless finishing. It wasn’t just that she won , it was how comfortably she did it.

What we saw over the weekend was a player operating at a level that currently feels untouchable.

Beau Greaves: Total Control

Greaves was simply imperious throughout all four events. Ton-plus averages became routine, and even the very best in the women’s game struggled to take legs, let alone matches, off her.

The standout moment came in the Event Four final, where she whitewashed Lisa Ashton with a 100+ average and  a performance that perfectly summed up the weekend. Earlier in the event, she had already brushed aside the likes of Fallon Sherrock, Deta Hedman, Kim Holden, and Angela Kirkwood with similar authority.

After just one weekend, Greaves sits comfortably clear at the top of the 2026 Women’s Series Order of Merit, already holding a commanding lead. Even more impressively, she’s doing all this while balancing a full PDC ProTour schedule  and showing no signs of fatigue.

The Chasing Pack: Who’s Closest?

Lisa Ashton
Ashton once again proved she is the best of the rest. She reached multiple finals over the weekend and remains Greaves’ nearest challenger on the rankings. However, even at her sharpest, she couldn’t seriously threaten the world number one. The gap is still very real.

Fallon Sherrock
Sherrock remains the player most capable of producing big moments and high averages, and there were flashes of that form again this weekend. She reached the latter stages consistently and sits third in the early standings, but even mid-90s darts weren’t enough to slow Greaves when it mattered.

Robyn Byrne
Byrne showed signs of solidity, reaching later rounds and producing tidy performances. However, her scoring remains a level below the very top. She continues to hover in the low-to-mid 60s on average, which currently isn’t enough to trouble the elite trio.

Potential Breakthrough Player

Jade Gofford
One of the most encouraging stories of the weekend was Jade Gofford. She reached the Top 16 with an impressive performance against Rhian O’Sullivan, averaging over 80 in defeat, and posted several mid-70s averages earlier in the event.

She currently sits inside the top five on the Women’s Series rankings, reflecting genuine progress. While she isn’t yet scoring heavily enough to challenge Greaves across a full match, her upward trajectory is clear  and of the emerging names, she looks the most likely to take a significant step forward this season.

The Dutch Contingent

Dutch participation was lighter than usual this weekend due to the Dutch Open taking place at the same time. That event was won by Priscilla Steenbergen, who claimed the women’s title with an impressive final victory.

Steenbergen’s success underlines the depth of Dutch women’s darts, and her confidence and momentum could make her an interesting contender when she returns to the Women’s Series circuit. Whether that translates into challenging Greaves this year is another question , but she is certainly one to watch.

Is Anyone Ready to Challenge Beau Greaves?

Right now, the honest answer is no.

Greaves is operating at a level rarely seen in the women’s game, routinely producing averages in the 95–107 range across multiple events in a single weekend. Neither Sherrock nor Ashton, both proven champions, can live with her when she’s in full flow.

If there is a name to keep an eye on as the season progresses, Jade Gofford appears to be showing the clearest signs of upward movement. But the gap at the top remains enormous.

Looking Ahead

With the Dutch players returning, Steenbergen carrying confidence from her Dutch Open triumph, and Gofford’s continued improvement, the field should look stronger when Events 5–8 roll around.

For now, though, one thing is clear: Beau Greaves is rewriting the standards of the Women’s Series, and the rest are still playing catch-up.

My Progress Over the Last Few Weeks – A Breakthrough?

 

It’s been a strange few weeks. Life has thrown its usual mix of busy spells and distractions, which meant the blog took a temporary back seat. But one thing I didn’t step away from was the practice board  and, in a quiet sort of way, things have started to change.

I’ve been here before, thinking I’d made a breakthrough, so I’m saying this carefully.
But something really does feel different this time.

Thursday 22nd January – A First on a Thursday Night

This was the first real sign that things might be moving in the right direction.

I played five group games  and won all five.

On a Thursday, with an Open-standard field, that simply doesn’t happen for me. The averages weren’t spectacular, but that didn’t matter. Winning was the priority, and I felt sharp, solid, and genuinely competitive.

I eventually went out in the Last 16, but even that didn’t sting. I walked away feeling good and better than I had in quite a while.

Thursday 29th January – A Tough Group, Better Scoring

A week later, the results on paper didn’t look as impressive: just two wins from five.

But context matters. It was a very tough group.

My scoring was noticeably improved and, although doubles let me down at key moments, I had chances in every match. These were players I’d normally expect to lose to comfortably, yet this time I was pushing them, taking legs, and losing narrowly.

Instead of feeling deflated, I walked away thinking:

I’m starting to mix it with the next level up.

Thursday 5th February – Consistency Emerging

This night felt like a blend of the previous two weeks:

• Really solid scoring

• Four wins out of five in the group

• Another Last 16 exit  but one that could easily have gone my way

My opponent produced a 17-dart leg to win the deciding leg 3–2. Hard to complain about that — sometimes you just get hit with a cracking leg at the wrong moment.

Once again, though, the key takeaway was that my level stayed high.

So… What’s Changed?

Interestingly, the breakthrough didn’t come on the oche.

It came while I was marking and refereeing at Challenge Tours and Masters qualifiers.

Being around higher-level players forced me to really pay attention  not just to how good they were, but how they played:

Their stance
Their throw
Their rhythm
Their arm path
Their overall movement

As I watched, I started comparing everything to my own technique  and that’s when I noticed something big.

My arm was going back twice before the throw.

Almost nobody else did this.

Most players had one clean movement: back and forward, smooth and controlled.

So I started testing it in practice.

At first it felt weird. Then awkward. Then suddenly… it clicked.

And when it clicked, the darts grouped properly.
Straighter, tighter, and far more predictable.

Taking It Into Competition

My practice routines focus heavily on grouping and doubles, but I didn’t fully realise how much this technical tweak had helped until I took it into live match play.

Suddenly:

• Trebles were appearing more often

• Doubles were going in more consistently

• My confidence felt calmer and more assured

Even the losses felt like good losses — games where I still played proper darts.

Right now, I’m consistently around a 60 average, and the next goal is clear:

Push towards a consistent 70 over the next six months.

If I can do that  and I genuinely believe I can. I’ll go into competitions feeling like I belong and can make real progress.

For the first time in a long while,
that feels very possible.

Helena, Jen & David — Darts Creators Bringing Fun, Personality & Play to the Online Oche

 

In the world of darts, there’s the pro circuit with televised tournaments and ranking glory… and then there’s the social side — the people who make darts feel friendly, relatable, and fun on social media. Let’s meet three of those voices: Helena, Jen Mounts, and David Williams (Darts4Fun) Creators who show that darts isn’t just a sport but a community.

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👩‍🎯 Helena — Helena Darts

Platforms: Instagram, Facebook (plus bio links to other channels)

Helena brings an energetic and authentic voice to darts content. Her social feeds mix practice shots, fun clips, heartfelt moments, and ones that remind everyone that improvement — and enjoyment — are part of the journey. Helena’s presence is all about connection and positivity within the darts community.

✨ Where to find her:

• Instagram (@HelenaDarts) — reels and clips showing real darts moments.

• Facebook Page — community posts and updates linked to her darts journey.

📌 Why fans like Helena: Her content feels familiar — like following a friend’s progress, wins and misses included.

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🏆 Jen Mounts — Jen Mounts Darts

Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube

Jen Mounts shares darts content with a creative and playful vibe. Her presence across Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube includes friendly games, challenges, and fun interactions — often with friends and family — making the sport engaging even for casual fans. While she might post match-style videos, it’s her fun-focused approach that stands out.

✨ Where to find her:

• Instagram (@jenmountsdarts) — photos and short clips.

• Facebook Page — community engagement and darts vids.

• YouTube (Jen Mounts Darts) — longer videos and variety content.

📌 Why fans like Jen: She lights up the feed with light-hearted darts action, perfect for anyone who loves watching darts just for fun.

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🎯 David Williams — Darts4Fun

Platforms: Instagram (@d_williams180), Facebook, YouTube

David Williams, known online as Darts4Fun, is another creator making waves with his social darts content. His Instagram handle @d_williams180 features challenging reels, friendly competitions, and community-style content tagged with #darts4fun.

David also shares content on Facebook — including short videos and playful features like “Guess the player” — and appears in longer YouTube clips that mix fun moments with more structured darts play, sometimes connected to series like the Modus Super Series.

✨ Where to find him:

• Instagram (@d_williams180) — fun reels, challenges, and darts life clips.

• Facebook Page (Darts4Fun) — community posts and video shorts.

• YouTube — Darts4Fun / David Williams clips — curated fun moments and match footage.

📌 Why fans like David: His content brings friendly competition and witty challenges, reminding viewers that darts is at its best when it’s entertaining and inclusive.

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🌟 Why This Social Scene Matters

What unites Helena, Jen, and David isn’t professional rankings or titles — it’s personality, community, and play. Their content:

• Makes darts accessible and fun — not just about 180s and checkouts.

• Connects people — fans can join in via comments and shared jokes.

• Gives everyone a reason to grab a set of darts — whether to practice or just smile at the screen.

Social media has broadened darts beyond pubs and arenas into daily feeds around the world — and these creators are a big part of that.

Q School Stage One Summary: Stats, Statements and Stage Two Beckons

 Stage One of Q School is now complete, so it feels like a good time to take stock before attention turns to Stage Two and the chance to secure that elusive PDC Pro Tour Card.

As ever, Stage One gave us a fascinating mix of stories: experienced campaigners finding form at the right time, big names leaving it late, and a few quieter qualifiers putting their hands up as serious contenders.

Stage One – Key Stats

Below are some of the standout statistical performers from Stage One.

100+ Average hitters:

UK Q School

• Highest Tournament Average: Llew Bevan – 93.80

• Most 180s: John Henderson – 27

• Most 140s: John Henderson – 80

• Top Checkout Percentage: Llew Bevan – 50%

European Q School

• Highest Tournament Average: Benjamin Pratnemer – 90.2

• Most 180s: Jeffrey de Zwaan – 20

• Most 140s: Roger Janssen – 62

• Top Checkout Percentage: Jimmy van Schie – 44%

UK Stage One: Experience Shows

In the UK, John Henderson has certainly made a statement. His scoring power was relentless, particularly on Day 3, and his stats back up what the eye test suggested and he looks fully motivated to get back on the main tour. Henderson goes into Stage Two full of confidence and could be a serious factor if that scoring continues.

Llew Bevan also qualified with relative ease and was statistically one of the standout players of Stage One. His combination of heavy scoring and excellent doubling suggests he’s well equipped for the longer grind ahead.

Another former World Champion also looked in good shape, moving through Stage One comfortably and reminding everyone that experience still counts for plenty in this format.

Others had to take the scenic route. Scott Mitchell left it late and was close to elimination before producing a crucial run to qualify automatically in the last 32. John Part did just enough, scraping through as the final qualifier on the Order of Merit. Interestingly, in 2024, the last Order of Merit qualifier went on to earn a Tour Card in Stage Two, so perhaps the omens are good for “Darth Maple”.

Two additional names worth flagging are David Sharp of Scotland and Adam Leek from Australia. Both recorded two 100+ averages during Stage One and arrive at Stage Two quietly dangerous. They may not be headline names, but this is the sort of form that can carry a player deep into the week.

European Q School: Strong Signals Early

Over in Germany, the current WDF World Champion Jimmy van Schie eased through on Day One and looked every bit one of the favourites to secure a Tour Card. Calm, efficient, and consistent — exactly what Q School demands.

Arno Merk and Teemu Harju, fresh from positive performances at Ally Pally, made light work of qualification too. Jeffrey de Zwaan showed signs of being close to his best again, and he’ll be hoping this is the week he earns a return to the Pro Tour after several years at that level.

Two players who have really caught the eye are Ricardo Ulrich and Roger Janssen. Both have looked in excellent form, and sometimes Q School is all about timing. They may well have picked the perfect moment to peak.

On to Stage Two

Stage One has done exactly what it always does: thinned the field, sharpened the focus, and set up four intense days ahead. Now comes the real test — consistency, nerve, and the ability to handle pressure when everything is on the line.

Over the next four days, we’ll find out who has what it takes to join the PDC Pro Tour.

Q School Preview: The Toughest Week in Darts Begins

Q School starts on Monday 5th January, and I’m genuinely excited. It’s arguably my favourite tournament of the year , not because of the glitz or prize money, but because of what it represents. This is where darts dreams are either tested, realised, or heartbreakingly put on hold.

For some players, Q School is simply about seeing where they’re at. A chance to measure themselves against the very best and experience the intensity of elite-level competition. For others, though, it can be a life-changing week , the difference between grinding away on the fringes and earning a place on the PDC Pro Tour.

My own aim is to enter Q School in 2027, and I’d place myself firmly in that first category: someone wanting to test themselves and see how far they’ve come. Fingers crossed that by this time next year, my level is strong enough to justify taking that step.

One of the beautiful things about Q School is that anyone over 16 can enter. It’s a completely open field. That means you’ll see players with very little tournament experience throwing alongside seasoned campaigners who’ve spent years on the Challenge Tour, Development Tour, Women’s Series, WDF circuit , and even former World Championship and major tournament winners. That mix is what makes Q School so fascinating.

How Q School Works

Q School takes place across two venues:

• One in England, predominantly featuring UK and Ireland-based players (though international players often attend).

• One in Germany, mainly made up of mainland European players, again with a strong international flavour.

The competition is split into two stages.

Stage One

Stage One is played over three days, consisting of three separate tournaments.

• The last 16 from each tournament automatically qualify for Stage Two.

• Players who don’t reach the last 16 still have a chance through the Order of Merit.

• Players earn one point for each match won (excluding preliminary rounds), with leg difference also counting.

• Depending on how many players are already exempt into Stage Two, a certain number from the Order of Merit will progress.

• Typically, around four points is enough to get through.

Stage Two

Stage Two features:

• All qualifiers from Stage One

• Players exempt from Stage One, including those who have just dropped off the Pro Tour, and players who performed well on the Women’s Series, Challenge Tour, and Development Tour

Stage Two is played across four tournaments:

• The winner of each tournament earns a PDC Tour Card.

• The remaining Tour Cards are awarded via a Stage Two Order of Merit, usually around 10 in the UK and 10 in Europe, depending on numbers.

Why Q School Is So Unpredictable

Q School can be a real lottery. So much depends on the day:

• Is the draw kind?

• Can a player back up a good performance the next day?

• Does someone have one of those freak runs that completely ignores the form book?

Consistency, temperament, and timing are everything — and that’s what makes the next seven days so compelling.

With all that in mind, here are eight players from each venue that I’ll be keeping a close eye on. I’m not sure how many will make it through, but they’re all well worth watching as Q School unfolds.

Q School UK

Steve Beaton - Great to see the 'Bronzed Adonis' trying to win back his Tour Card. A player that has arguably the most experience in the field, not to mention he is a former World Champion. Still a very good player at his best and will be no surprise to see him qualifying. 

Charlie Manby - One of the favourites to make it through. He has had an incredible year and seems to be improving all the time. His run at the pDC World Championship has put him firmly on the radar, and showed that he would not be out of place on the main Tour. 

Ryan Branley - Ryan has already shown his class on the JDC and now noted as one of the best young players in the world. He has also shown he can compete on the Development Tour and MODUS Super Series and mix it with the best. If he can hold his nerve, he may well come through. 

Derek Coulson - This is someone that those inside darting circles will all be wary of. Coulson has bags of experience, and in 2025, seemed to make the MODUS Super Series his own. Defeating top names on a regular basis, he will have a lot of confidence, and I could see him going close.

Archie Self - Another one of the crop of very talented yongsters coming through. Another that has been JDC World number one, he will want to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors. He has been mixing it with the senior players on the ADC Tour and MODUS Super Series and did not look out of place. 

Gemma Hayter - One of only very few female entries, Gemma comes here as a real contender. She qualified for her first PDC World Championships this year, giving Josh Rock a run for his money. She is capable of consistent scoring and is certainly not there to make up the numbers.

David Davies - This Welsh player has lots of experience on the WDF and Challenge Tours, as well as the MODUS Super Series stage. He also made his PDC World Championship debut this year and made round two, losing only to Luke Littler. He showed his class and calm under pressure. I will be very surprised if he doesn't go close. 

Tom Lonsdale - A bit of a wildcard choice, although he did go very close in 2024. This player is particularly well known in the South West, where he is one of the top players. He has had a decent Challenge Tour season and performed well on the MODUS Super Series stage. If he can get a kind draw, he may surprise a few. Can be a very big scorer. 

Q School Europe

Jimmy van Schie - I will be very surprised if this Dutch player does not make it this time around. The current WDF World Champion showed real class in that tournament and can hit the very high averages. He has loads of experience in pressure situations and I believe this is his year. Definitely one that belongs on the Pro Tour. 

Danny van Trijp - Van Trijp has played on the Pro Tour before and is experienced enough to negotiate his way through again. A good season on the Challenge Tour, he also played well on the ADC Global Tour. He should challenge up to the very last. 

Arno Merk - Not too much was known outside of his native Germany until the PDC World Championship, where he really made a mark and stormed through to the third round. He has played well in the German series events, competing with the best Germany has to offer. He showed he has what it takes and will be riding high on confidence. 

Grant Sampson - With the emergence of African darts, I feel it is important to choose one of the continent's stalwarts. Sampson has lots of experience, and been one of the top Adrican players for several years. He has played in the PDC World Cup and PDC World Championships. Is this his time to shine? I hope so, as it will keep the African darts momentum running at it current rapid pace .

Andreas Harrysson - even prior to his PDC World Championship exploits,e he reached round 4, it seems a big surprise that the big Swede is not a Pro Tour player already. He took the Baltic Tour by storm and has consistently played well at the MODUS Super Series. He can be a very big hitter and should run very close by the end of qualifying

 

Cristo Reyes - It was fantastic to see Cristo Reyes back at Ally Pally in the World Darts Championships. He showed he has not lost his touch, so maybe his hunger for the game has reappeared. Maybe there could be another surge of the Spanish, as they have several names in the draw. Reyes at his very best will go far, so will be interesting to see how he plays. 

Boris Krcmar - This giant Croatian was unlucky to have lost his Tour card in 2024 and will be keen to get back on Tour quickly. He has shown his class at WDF tournaments in 2025 as well as maintaining his outstanding form at soft tip darts (he is a multiple World Champion).. At the PDC World Cup he showed he still has a lot to offer the game and he will go close. 

Petr Krivka - This Czech player is my wildcard choice. He is a quality player and played in the 2025 PDC World Cup. Czechia has a history of producing good darts players, and maybe Krivka can join that list of Tour players. On his day he is as good as most in the field, so with a kind draw and steady performances, we may see him challenging. 

Best of luck to all entrants across both venues!

Practice Update: Grouping, Confidence and an Upward Trajectory

 

One thing I’m really pleased with at the moment is my grouping. The darts are sitting much closer together, and it genuinely feels like progress rather than a short-lived purple patch. I’m fairly convinced this has come from the practice games I’ve been inventing, where the emphasis is on repetition, focus, and hitting areas of the board consistently rather than chasing big moments.

Those drills seem to be doing exactly what they were designed for. The wild darts are reducing, and even when I miss, I’m missing well, which is often the biggest difference between struggling and improving.

Tournament-wise, I know I need to get back into regular competition soon. I may try a Monday or Wednesday event to ease myself back in and then return to my usual routine of two tournaments per week. Match play is still the real test, and it’s important I don’t leave it too long before putting this progress under pressure.

Another interesting development is that my grip has naturally evolved slightly. I haven’t forced it, but I’ve noticed the darts are going in straighter, with less unwanted movement through the air. That’s usually a good sign. My hope is that I don’t revert back under pressure, because it feels like this change has come organically rather than through overthinking, which is exactly what I want.

My trusty Mervyn King darts are still performing well, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted by something new. The Wessel Nijman darts have caught my eye recently; the grip profile looks like it could suit my throw really well. That said, I’m not rushing into anything. I’ll give it a couple of weeks, see how things settle, and then decide whether a switch is genuinely needed.

For now, I’m encouraged. Things feel like they’re moving in the right direction and that’s not something I take lightly.