Yesterday's Darts Results Review – 5 August 2026

 

Wednesday once again delivered a packed evening of grassroots darts, with 86 tournaments added to the Q4QS database and hundreds of players competing across the UK. From established names continuing their excellent form to new winners making their mark, there was plenty to catch the eye.

The headline performance in the South West came from Craig Difford, who claimed Week 5 of the Pawlett Pavilion Grand Prix with a commanding 3-0 victory over Kieran Spurdle. Difford produced the highest average of the tournament at 93.94, continuing what has been another impressive run of form.

Over in Bristol, Zach Quinn added another title to his growing collection by winning the latest Vault 18 at The Sartan Club. Quinn edged past Danny Humphries 3-2 in an excellent final, with Humphries also producing one of the performances of the night, averaging 96.97 during the event. The pair continue to establish themselves as two of the most consistent performers in the South West.

There was another notable winner in Dorset as Robbie Martin lifted the title at Stalbridge RBL, producing a string of quality displays throughout the evening and recording four of the tournament's five highest averages.

Further west, Harry Madge continued his excellent season by taking victory at Galaxy Sports Bar, Torquay, overcoming Luke Grantham in the final after another consistent night's work.

At The Wellington Arms, Ilfracombe, Nigel Gullon battled through another competitive field, while Ryan Griffiths emerged victorious at Shooters Bar, Leominster, defeating Chris Hurds in the final after Zac Griffiths had earlier produced the tournament's highest average of 103.66.

Standout Performances

Although tournament victories rightly take the headlines, several players produced outstanding individual performances during the evening.

• Zac Griffiths fired a superb 103.66 average at Shooters Bar.
• Danny Humphries registered 96.97 during the Sartan Club event.
• Daniel Donovan also reached 96.97 in Ilfracombe.
• Josh McCarthy impressed with a 95.41 average at Stonehouse.
• Josh Lewis followed closely behind on 94.40.

These performances underline the quality now regularly seen across grassroots darts, with ton-plus averages becoming increasingly common at local competitions.

A Mention for Dexter Cornes

Congratulations also go to Dexter Cornes, who claimed victory in the Hangar 61 Under-55 Average Tournament. Events like these continue to provide an excellent competitive environment for developing players and those progressing through the regional ranks, and another title will provide Dexter with plenty of confidence moving forward.

With another 86 tournaments completed, the Q4QS rankings continue to evolve daily, making every Wednesday one of the busiest and most significant nights of the grassroots darts calendar.

Darts Is Global. But Is Elite Darts Really Global?

 

Walk into almost any major darts tournament today and you'll hear a variety of languages being spoken. The sport has never been more international.

Players now emerge from Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines and many other nations. The PDC has invested heavily in the World Series, regional tours and international qualifiers, helping spread professional darts further than ever before.

But while darts is undoubtedly a global sport, is elite darts truly global?

A look at PDC Tour Card distribution between 2021 and 2026 suggests the answer may be more complicated than many fans realise.

England's Dominance Is Shrinking

For decades England has been the dominant force in professional darts, but that dominance is gradually reducing.

In 2021, English players held 59 of the 128 PDC Tour Cards.

By 2026, that figure had fallen to 43.

At first glance, that looks like evidence that the professional game is becoming increasingly worldwide.

The surprise comes when you look at where that growth has actually occurred.

Europe Is Driving the Change

Rather than seeing dramatic increases from Asia, North America or Oceania, most of the expansion has come from continental Europe.

Germany has more than doubled its representation, growing from seven Tour Card holders in 2021 to fifteen in 2026.

The Netherlands has increased from sixteen to twenty-two, while countries including Poland and Sweden have also strengthened their presence on the professional circuit.

Meanwhile, many of the traditional UK nations have remained relatively stable.

Scotland has fluctuated without sustained growth, Wales enjoyed a brief peak before falling back, and Northern Ireland currently has the same number of Tour Card holders as it did five years ago.

The numbers suggest that professional darts is becoming more European, rather than dramatically more global.

Talent or Opportunity?

This raises an interesting question.

Are European nations producing more elite players simply because they possess more talent?

Or are they benefiting from greater access to opportunity?

The modern PDC calendar may provide part of the answer.

Most Players Championship events, European Tour tournaments and qualifying competitions are held within Europe.

For players based in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium or Poland, travelling to events is relatively affordable. Competing regularly is realistic without crossing continents every week.

For players based in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada or much of Asia, the situation is completely different.

Flights, accommodation, visa requirements and extended periods away from home create financial barriers that European players simply don't face to the same extent.

The talent may already exist.

The opportunities are much harder to reach.

Germany Shows What Is Possible

Germany is perhaps the perfect example of what sustained investment can achieve.

A decade ago, Germany produced relatively few professional players.

Today it boasts one of the strongest national contingents on the PDC circuit.

The growth hasn't happened by chance.

European Tour events, televised tournaments, development opportunities and easier access to professional competition have all helped create a genuine pathway for emerging talent.

The PDC's European expansion has been a clear success story.

Could the Same Happen Elsewhere?

The next challenge may be taking that model beyond Europe.

Sports such as golf and tennis allow players to develop through strong regional tours before earning opportunities on the biggest stages.

Darts already has respected regional organisations, including the CDC in North America, DPA in Australia and New Zealand, and PDC Asia.

However, success on those tours often leads primarily to World Championship qualification rather than providing a sustained pathway into elite professional competition.

Imagine if winners of regional tours earned funded appearances at Players Championship events.

Imagine if top performers received European Tour invitations, Grand Slam qualification opportunities or additional ranking events designed to bridge the gap between regional success and full-time professional darts.

The benefits could be enormous.

The next world-class player could emerge from Tokyo, Manila, Toronto, Auckland or New York just as easily as from London, Rotterdam or Munich.

More competitive nations would mean stronger tournaments, bigger audiences, new commercial markets and an even healthier professional game.

The Next Stage of Global Growth

The rise of Germany demonstrates what can happen when opportunity becomes accessible.

The next great challenge for professional darts may not be finding talent around the world.

It may simply be making elite opportunities available to those talented players.

Because darts is already a global sport.

The next step is ensuring that elite darts becomes truly global as well.

Yesterday's Darts Results South and South West– 4 August 2026

 

Tuesday night delivered another busy evening across the Q4QS network, with 51 tournaments added to the database and plenty of standout performances from across the South West.

The headline performance came from Dom Taylor, who continued his excellent run of form by winning the Tuesday Open at Portishead Workmens Darts. Taylor defeated Steve Boundy 4-1 in the final and produced a superb 101.92 average in the decider, backing it up with further ton-plus scoring throughout the evening. Having now won successive local titles, he is quickly becoming one of the form players in the region.

At Bessellscotts, Bristol, Jack Walker claimed another Vault 18 title with a convincing 3-0 victory over Cori Wiltshire in the final. Walker averaged 83.50 in the final and continues to build momentum in the Bristol rankings.

Over in Chard, Kieran Spurdle lifted the title at The Choughs Hotel, defeating Daren Field 3-0. Spurdle averaged 88.41 in the final and has shown impressive consistency whenever he has appeared in the Q4QS database.

Danny Lauby came through a strong field at Bretforton Sports Club to take the title after edging Darrel Williams 3-2 in a competitive final. Although Lauby lifted the trophy, the scoring honours belonged to Pete Hughes, whose outstanding 103.66 average was the highest recorded performance at the venue. Liam George Elliott (96.97) and Vince Tipple (93.94) also enjoyed excellent nights on the oche.

Further south, Todd Woodberry won at Elmore Football Club, Tiverton, overcoming Junior Howard in the final to continue his recent good form on the Devon circuit.

There was also success in Taunton, where Jack Davey captured the Taunton U70 RR Super Series title with victory over James Wellbelove. Davey also recorded an impressive 90.18 average on his way to the title.

Across the wider Q4QS network there were numerous eye-catching performances, with Lee Evans firing a remarkable 115.62 average at Faringdon, while Neil Meneer matched that figure in Cornwall. Former PDC professional Ted Evetts also produced an excellent 111.33 average during play at The Crow Pie in Rugby.

Another excellent night of grassroots darts saw strong numbers across the South West, with Portishead, Bristol, Chard, Evesham, Tiverton and Taunton all producing competitive tournaments as players continue their push up the Q4QS rankings.

Yesterday's Darts Results South and South West – 3 August 2026

 

Monday night saw another busy evening across the grassroots darts scene, with 28 tournaments added to the Q4QS database from across the Midlands, Wales and Southern England.

As always, the South West provided plenty of quality, with several familiar names adding another title to their growing collections.

The standout performance came at The Bengeworth Club, Evesham, where Shaun Vernall continued his excellent run of form by lifting another Vault 18 title. Vernall defeated Graham Hall 3–2 in the final and fired a superb 107.36 average, sharing the highest average recorded anywhere in the Q4QS database on Monday. Pete Hughes also impressed at the same event with an identical 107.36 average, while Vince Tipple added a 100.20 average to underline the quality on show.

The South Bristol Darts Summer Open at the Sartan Club saw Ben Witcombe produce another impressive display, whitewashing Joe Silvester 4–0 in the final to take the title. Connor Davies led the scoring statistics with the highest average of the event, but Witcombe's consistency proved enough to lift the trophy.

At Stratford Social Club in Salisbury, Ben Collins added another Vault 18 success with a 3–1 victory over Mason Beaven. Although Danny Humphries posted the event's highest average of 100.20, Collins negotiated a strong field to secure another valuable Q4QS title.

Further north, Ryan Williams came through a closely fought evening at Shooters Bar, Leominster, edging Jamie English 3–2 in the final, while Roger Crook claimed the Didcot Vault title after overcoming Alex Denham in another deciding-leg final. Crook also produced one of the performances of the day with a superb 107.36 average.

The latest round of JDC VOLTS Series 7 also produced another excellent display from the next generation. Joshua Stott claimed victory at Stratford Social Club, defeating Jacob Stott in the final while recording an impressive 96.97 average during the event.

Elsewhere around the South West, Andy Steed continued his fine recent form by winning in Paignton, while Morgan Fowler finally got the better of Josh McCarthy to lift the North Star Club title in Calne after an excellent evening's darts.

With another 28 tournaments now added to the database, August is already beginning to shape the latest Q4QS rankings, and every title continues to strengthen players' claims as the summer season gathers momentum.

How Big Is the Step Up? Comparing the World's Leading Darts Tours

 

In my previous article, I explored which circuit attracts the strongest tournament fields in world darts.

This time, I wanted to go one step further.

How big is the gap between the world's leading tours?

Everyone knows the Players Championship is regarded as the benchmark of regular professional darts, but just how much stronger is it than the Challenge Tour? Is the Development Tour really a significant step down? How competitive has the Asian Tour become? And how do the regional circuits around the world compare?

Using my Q4QS database, I decided to find out.

How the Comparison Works

Every tournament in the Q4QS database is assigned a Tournament Strength Score.

This is not simply an average. Instead, it is a calculated rating that combines the overall quality of the field using factors such as player ratings, recent performances and overall field strength. The aim is to provide a consistent way of comparing tournaments from completely different tours and regions.

For this comparison, qualification events have been excluded wherever possible. On tours with a large number of tournaments, the strongest events have been used to provide a representative comparison. Smaller tours use all available events, or in the case of the CDLC, the five strongest events currently in the database.

As the database continues to grow, these figures will continue to evolve, but they already provide a fascinating snapshot of the current global darts landscape.

Q4QS World Tour Strength Scores (2026)

Rank	Tour	Tournament Strength Score
1	Players Championship	99.31
2	Challenge Tour	91.85
3	Development Tour	89.26
4	European Tour*	89.15
5	Asian Tour	87.13
6	DPA (Australia)	83.25
7	Nordic & Baltic	82.46
8	DPNZ (New Zealand)	79.22
9	CDC (North America)	79.05
10	PDC Women's Series	74.95
11	CDLC (Central & South America)**	66.48

European Tour figure remains provisional while a small number of associated non-main-tour events continue to be refined within the database.

*Based on the five strongest events currently available.

The Players Championship Sets the Standard

There are very few surprises at the top.

The Players Championship circuit comfortably records the highest Tournament Strength Score, reinforcing what many professionals have said for years.

With Tour Card holders competing week after week, it represents the toughest regular test in professional darts.

What's perhaps even more impressive is the consistency. The standard barely drops throughout the season, making every Players Championship a genuine challenge.

A Smaller Gap Than You Might Think

One of the most interesting findings is the gap between the top four tours.

The Challenge Tour sits less than eight points behind the Players Championship, while the Development Tour is only a couple of points further back.

That highlights just how competitive the pathway into professional darts has become.

The Challenge Tour is packed with experienced players trying to regain their Tour Cards, while the Development Tour showcases some of the brightest young talents in the sport. Although their purposes are different, the overall standard remains remarkably high.

The Rise of the Asian Tour

Another eye-catching result is the strength of the Asian Tour.

With a Tournament Strength Score above 87, it sits much closer to Europe's pathway tours than many fans might expect.

As more players from across Asia continue to make an impact on the world stage, this is perhaps no longer a surprise.

The numbers suggest the region is producing increasing depth as well as elite talent.

A Truly Global Game

One of the aims of this analysis was to look beyond Europe.

Australia's DPA currently edges the Nordic & Baltic Tour, while DPNZ and the CDC produce very similar Tournament Strength Scores despite operating on opposite sides of the world.

Meanwhile, the CDLC continues to provide an important pathway for players across Central and South America, with the strength of its leading events continuing to improve.

Each of these tours serves a different purpose, but all play a vital role in the global growth of darts.

What These Numbers Don't Mean

It's important to remember that this isn't a ranking of prestige.

Every tour exists for a different reason.

The Players Championship is elite professional competition.

The Challenge Tour offers a route back to the professional circuit.

The Development Tour is designed to develop future stars.

Regional tours provide opportunities for players across the world to compete at a high level without needing to relocate to Europe.

The Tournament Strength Score simply measures the competitive strength of the tournament fields.

Final Thoughts

While the Players Championship remains the clear benchmark, perhaps the biggest takeaway from this analysis is just how strong the pathway and regional tours have become.

The gap between tours is often smaller than many people assume, particularly between the Challenge Tour, Development Tour and Asian Tour.

As the Q4QS database continues to expand, I'll continue refining these comparisons and updating the figures.

Next time in this Tournament Strength series, I'll move away from the tours themselves and look at the individual tournaments.

Which events attracted the strongest fields anywhere in the world during 2026?

The answers may surprise you.

Yesterday's Darts Results South and South West – 2 August 2026

It was another outstanding day for grassroots darts, with 62 tournaments added to the Q4QS database covering the Midlands, Wales and Southern England. From local Vault events to JDC VOLTS competitions and major weekend opens, there was plenty of quality on display.

One of the standout performances came in Plymouth, where Andy Steed captured the Vault 18 title at Legends Lounge. Steed defeated Scott Lawrey 3–1 in the final and also produced the highest average from the featured winners with an excellent 94.80.

In Taunton, C-Jay Pipe continued his excellent form by winning at The Queens Arms. Pipe defeated Jack Walker 3–0 in the final and impressed throughout the day, recording a top average of 91.09.

The latest round of JDC VOLTS Series 7 produced another collection of talented young winners. Logun Godbeer claimed victory at Highbridge Social Club after defeating Alfie Coles in the final, while George Miller lifted the Exeter title with a 3–0 victory over Aaron Rea. Both players continue to build impressive junior records.

Gloucester's Vault 18 event at Matson Rugby Club saw Shaun Vernall come through a strong field, edging Lee Andrews 3–2 in the final after another consistent day's work. Meanwhile, Ryan Greenslade emerged victorious from a competitive Sunday Evening Chuck at Portishead Workmens Darts, defeating Warren Ryan in a deciding leg 

Elsewhere around the South West, there were plenty more notable winners. Steve Boundy came through a strong field at Portishead Workmens Darts, while Paul Gardiner impressed at The Queens Arms in Taunton. Across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, another busy Sunday of Vault 18 and local competitions provided valuable ranking points as players continue their push up the Q4QS standings.

With August only just underway, every victory and every strong performance has the potential to make a difference in the race for next month's rankings, and another packed week of grassroots darts lies ahead.

Modus Super Series Week 1 Preview: New Season, Fresh Opportunity

 

The wait is over. A brand-new Modus Super Series season gets underway this week, launching another fascinating twelve-week campaign that will eventually culminate in the return of Champions Week.

Each of the twelve weekly competitions offers one player the chance to qualify for the season finale, where the week's winners will battle to become the overall Modus Super Series champion. Last season ended with Derek Coulson producing a superb Champions Week performance to lift the title, and now a fresh group of hopefuls begin their quest to follow in his footsteps.

Week One always carries extra significance. Every player starts with a clean slate, momentum is built quickly, and one outstanding week is all that's required to book an early place in Champions Week.

Several players arrive in encouraging form.

Matt Clark is arguably one of the form players entering the week. The Gibraltar Open & Classic champion has already shown he can finish tournaments strongly, lifting the title with an event average of 84.83 before reaching the latter stages of several WDF events. A recent 7–3 record across his last ten matches suggests confidence is high.

Another player capable of making a deep run is Joe Croft, who has quietly put together one of the strongest recent records in the field. Croft arrives on the back of victory at the Galaxy Sports Bar event and boasts an impressive 9 wins from his last 10 matches, making him one of the week's most in-form competitors.

Darren Beveridge has already demonstrated the scoring power needed to compete at this level. His excellent 96.63 average against James Beeton at PDC UK Q School earlier this year showed exactly what he is capable of when everything clicks together.

Patrik Williams also has pedigree, having produced a superb 95.01 average on the PDC Challenge Tour while recording notable victories over players including Daniel Nicholls. If he can rediscover that level consistently, he could become one of the week's dark horses.

There are several familiar names capable of causing problems throughout the week. James Buckby has Development Tour experience and has already produced performances above the 92 average mark this season, while former professionals Mark Dudbridge and Dean Gallagher both possess the experience to upset higher-ranked opponents despite mixed recent results.

One intriguing storyline surrounds Mason Whitlock, who recently reached the final of an event at The Phoenix Club before losing to Simon Whitlock. A strong week here would represent another step forward in his development. Meanwhile Richie Parkin continues to progress despite not yet meeting the minimum number of events for a published Q4QS ranking, having already produced some encouraging ADC performances.

As always with the Modus Super Series, consistency is everything. Five or six excellent matches can transform an entire week, while one difficult session can leave players chasing qualification. That's exactly why the format remains one of the most entertaining in modern darts.

With Derek Coulson watching on as the reigning champion, the race to become the first qualifier for Champions Week starts now.

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Six To Watch

🎯 Matt Clark – Recent Gibraltar Open champion arriving with winning momentum.

🎯 Joe Croft – Nine wins from his last ten matches and full of confidence.

🎯 Darren Beveridge – Proven scoring power capable of producing huge averages.

🎯 Patrik Williams – Challenge Tour pedigree and dangerous on his day.

🎯 James Buckby – Development Tour experience makes him one to watch.

🎯 Mason Whitlock – Recent finalist who continues to improve.