What's in a Name? Which First Name Rules the Q4QS Rankings?

 

Every now and then I spot something in the rankings that makes me wonder...

This week I noticed that Luke Humphries sits at No.1 in the Q4QS Rankings, Luke Littler is No.2, and Luke Woodhouse isn't far behind.

So naturally I started thinking...

Is Luke the strongest first name in darts?

To find out, I grouped every player in the Q4QS rankings by first name. Rather than simply looking at the highest-ranked player, I added together the rankings of each name's best five players. That rewards names with real depth rather than just one superstar.

The results were a real surprise...

The Strongest First Names in Q4QS

🥇 1. Jack (Combined Ranking Score: 558)

• Jack Drayton (#34)

• Jack Aldridge (#50)

• Jack Tweddell (#136)

• Jack Johnson (#145)

• Jack Todd (#193)

🥈 2. Daniel (571)

• Daniel Ayres (#25)

• Daniel Klose (#46)

• Daniel Zapata (#87)

• Daniel Larsson (#171)

• Daniel Nicholls (#242)

🥉 3. James (670)

• James Wade (#13)

• James Beeton (#40)

• James Hurrell (#163)

• James Howard Hughes (#226)

• James Parkin (#228)

4. Ryan (761)

• Ryan Searle (#100)

• Ryan Hogarth (#114)

• Ryan Joyce (#119)

• Ryan Branley (#196)

• Ryan Furness (#232)

5. Michael (811)

• Michael van Gerwen (#6)

• Michael Smith (#84)

• Michael Unterbuchner (#178)

• Michael Wiles (#202)

• Michael Bajowski (#341)

6. Adam (812)

• Adam Gawlas (#37)

• Adam Sevada (#116)

• Adam Leek (#142)

• Adam Beck (#189)

• Adam Paxton

7. Scott (895)

• Scott Robertson (#26)

• Scott Waites (#29)

• Scott Walters (#258)

• Scott Campbell (#277)

• Scott Winder (#305)

So what about the Lukes?

This was the whole reason I looked into it.

With Luke Humphries at #1, Luke Littler at #2 and Luke Woodhouse at #11, I thought Luke would probably top the table.

Not even close!

Once you get beyond those three, the rankings thin out, meaning Luke only finishes 15th overall in the first-name standings.

It just shows that having the world's two best players doesn't necessarily give you the strongest name overall.

Is your name any good?

Being called Paul myself, I couldn't resist checking.

There are 107 Pauls in the current Q4QS rankings.

The leading five are:

• Paul Krohne (#19)

• Paul Milford (#240)

• Paul Rowley (#369)

• Paul Hogan (#379)

• Paul Redfern (#575)

That puts Paul in 17th place overall. Not bad... but I'll admit I'm slightly disappointed we couldn't crack the Top 10!

What about some of darts' legendary names?

I also wondered how some of the sport's most famous first names were represented today.

• Eric – Just 9 players appear in the rankings, with Eric Wadlow (#1064) currently leading the way.

• Phil – 27 players, headed by Phil Johnson-Hale (#708).

• Philip – 16 players, with Philip Van Gasse (#738) the highest ranked.

• Raymond – Led by Raymond Smith (#58) and Raymond van Barneveld (#399), giving the name a respectable showing.

• Ray – Only 6 players, with Ray Byron (#3302) currently the highest ranked.

It seems some of darts' most iconic names have become surprisingly uncommon in today's rankings.

Which name comes next?

This started as a bit of fun, but it turned out to be a fascinating look at the depth of talent behind each first name.

It also raises plenty of other questions...

• Which surname is strongest?

• Which first name is the most common?

• Which names are climbing fastest?

• Is there a lucky darts name after all?

I'll definitely be digging into the data again.

Who Can Stop Them? South West's Hottest Winning Streaks

Winning one or two matches is always satisfying, but putting together ten consecutive victories is something altogether different.

As part of the Q4QS rankings, I thought I'd take a look at the players within a 50-mile radius of Bath who currently boast a perfect 10 wins and 0 defeats in their last ten matches. To qualify, players must have competed in at least six events, ensuring the list rewards sustained form rather than one exceptional evening.

At the top of the list is Lee Evans, whose recent form has been nothing short of outstanding. Ten straight victories have helped him maintain an excellent standard, and he heads into his next event as one of the region's form players.

Just behind him is Robbie Martin, another player who has been quietly putting together a superb run. Consistency has been the key, and ten wins on the bounce is never easy regardless of the opposition.

The list also includes several familiar names from the South West darts scene. Kieran Smith, Dean Brown, Liam Cook, Andy Steed, David Farmer, Danny Humphries and C-Jay Pipe have all reached double figures without tasting defeat in their last ten matches.

Some of these players have achieved their runs over dozens, or even hundreds, of matches played this season, making the achievement even more impressive.

Current 10 Match Winning Streaks (Minimum 6 Events)

Rank	Player
1	Lee Evans
2	Robbie Martin
3	Kieran Smith
4	Dean Brown
5	Liam Cook
6	Andy Steed
7	David Farmer
8	Danny Humphries
9	C-Jay Pipe

One defeat is all it takes for a player to disappear from this list, while one more victory extends their streak even further. That makes it one of the most dynamic rankings on Q4QS, with changes possible every single tournament night.

The big question is...

Who will be the first to extend their streak? And perhaps more importantly... who will be the player to end it?

Yesterday's Results Round-Up – Tuesday 14 July 2026

 

Tuesday brought another packed evening of grassroots darts, with more than 40 tournaments added to the Q4QS database. Across the South West there were plenty of familiar names lifting trophies, some standout averages and another night of quality competition.

Neil Meneer Continues Winning Ways

Neil Meneer was back in the winner's enclosure at Vault 18.0 at Indian Queens WMC & Institute.

Neil defeated Jason Truscott in the final and produced one of the performances of the evening with a superb 102.48 average. It is another excellent result for one of the South West's most consistent performers, who continues to collect titles throughout 2026.

Darren Davies Wins in Portishead

A competitive field gathered for the Last Minute Open in Portishead, where Darren Davies claimed the title with a convincing victory over Luke Harding in the final.

Darren also recorded the highest average of the night at 91.09, while Steve Boundy and Luke Harding both impressed during strong runs to the latter stages.

Richie Hunt Claims Tuesday Night Title

The Tuesday Night Sub-70 Average Round Robin produced another entertaining evening.

Richie Hunt edged out Liam Moore in a close 3-2 final, while Liam produced the highest average of the event at 81.20. Dan Cornes, Teddy Sheppard and Collis Palmer were also among the players enjoying productive evenings.

Chard Delivers More Quality

At Vault 18.0 in Chard, Daren Field lifted the trophy after defeating Kieran Spurdle in the final.

Although he narrowly missed out on the title, Darren Herbert produced several excellent performances, including a 92.02 average, while Leighton Cox also impressed with a best of 96.97 during the evening.

Luke Reed Triumphs in Tiverton

The Tiverton Vault saw Luke Reed emerge victorious after overcoming Martin Walker in the final.

David Yeaman, James Head, Neil Ridd and Andy Steed were all among the players enjoying strong evenings as another competitive Devon event was added to the books.

Henry Cooper Wins Rearranged Event

The rearranged Kings Arms Vault saw Henry Cooper produce a dominant display, defeating Tommy Brooks in the final.

Henry fired two 93.94 averages during his successful run and rounded off an impressive night's work with eight match victories.

Charlie Mossman Leads the Next Generation

The JDC circuit continued to showcase some exciting young talent.

Charlie Mossman claimed victory in Minehead after edging Kyle Chivers in a close final, while another busy evening of junior darts highlighted the strength of the next generation across the region.

Performance of the Day

While there were several outstanding displays across the country, Neil Meneer's brilliant 102.48 average and another tournament victory stands out from a South West perspective. Darren Davies, Richie Hunt, Henry Cooper and Daren Field also enjoyed memorable evenings as another busy night of grassroots darts came to a close.

Congratulations to all Tuesday night's winners, and good luck to everyone back on the oche over the coming days.

2026 Betfred World Matchplay Preview 18th - 26th July 2026

 

Can anyone stop Luke Humphries and Luke Littler?

The Betfred World Matchplay has always occupied a special place on the darts calendar. Played at Blackpool's iconic Winter Gardens, it's the second biggest ranking title of the year for many players, and one that has produced some of the sport's most memorable moments.

This year's field looks as competitive as ever. The established stars remain at the top of the market, but recent Players Championship events and European Tour tournaments have shown that the chasing pack are more than capable of producing major upsets.

Using my recent database and player form, here's how I see the tournament unfolding.

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The Men to Beat

Luke Humphries

If there is one player arriving in Blackpool with the strongest momentum, it is Luke Humphries.

His recent victory at the US Darts Masters, combined with an outstanding Players Championship title where he averaged over 104, demonstrates exactly why he sits at the top of my rankings. Winning eight of his last ten matches, Cool Hand Luke looks every bit the player to beat.

His opening match against Cameron Menzies is anything but straightforward, but if Humphries negotiates that hurdle he could be difficult to stop.

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Luke Littler

There is almost nothing left to say about Luke Littler that hasn't already been said.

Nine victories from his last ten matches, another televised title and a remarkable scoring power continue to make him one of the most feared players in the sport.

The draw hasn't been especially kind however. Niko Springer is one of the most dangerous floaters in the field and represents a genuine opening-round test before Littler's route potentially becomes even tougher.

If Littler settles quickly, he remains one of the favourites for the Phil Taylor Trophy.

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Players Arriving in Form

Recent months have seen several players quietly build excellent runs of form.

Cameron Menzies arrives after winning a Players Championship title and boasts a 9-1 record over his last ten matches. His reward is arguably the toughest draw possible against Luke Humphries.

Luke Woodhouse has enjoyed perhaps the best spell of his career, winning the Baltic Sea Open before reaching another Players Championship final.

Wessel Nijman continues to develop into one of the most dangerous young talents on tour, while Chris Dobey has consistently reached the latter stages of floor events.

Ross Smith, Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen have all lifted ranking titles during the season and know exactly what it takes to win tournaments of this calibre.

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First Round Matches to Watch

Luke Humphries v Cameron Menzies

Possibly the toughest first-round tie in the draw.

Humphries is the deserved favourite, but Menzies has been outstanding over recent weeks and could easily make life uncomfortable.

Michael van Gerwen v Andrew Gilding

Experience against experience.

Neither player has quite reached their absolute best consistently this year, but both remain capable of producing spectacular darts when the television cameras arrive.

Gian van Veen v Krzysztof Ratajski

One of the most intriguing contests.

Van Veen continues to improve every month, while Ratajski's consistency always makes him difficult to beat.

Gerwyn Price v Martin Schindler

Price possesses the higher ceiling, but Schindler is exactly the type of dangerous opponent capable of punishing any slow start.

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Six To Follow

⭐ Luke Humphries

The current benchmark. Recent victories and outstanding averages make him the player everyone wants to avoid.

⭐ Luke Littler

Simply impossible to ignore. Another major title would surprise nobody.

⭐ Wessel Nijman

His development continues at an incredible pace and he looks increasingly comfortable on the biggest stages.

⭐ Luke Woodhouse

Excellent recent form could finally translate into a deep televised run.

⭐ Chris Dobey

Scoring power has never been in doubt. If his finishing clicks, he becomes extremely dangerous.

⭐ Cameron Menzies

Perhaps the form player outside the favourites. If he upsets Humphries, his confidence could carry him a long way.

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Dark Horses

Gian van Veen

Already proving he belongs amongst the elite.

Kevin Doets

Quietly producing excellent floor performances and capable of upsetting seeded opponents.

Ryan Searle

Heavy Metal possesses the scoring to beat anybody over longer formats.

Predictions?

The obvious names dominate the conversation, but major championships are rarely straightforward.

Luke Humphries enters as my slight favourite after his recent performances, while Luke Littler remains the player with perhaps the highest ceiling in world darts.

Behind them, the likes of Dobey, Cross, Price, Aspinall and van Gerwen all possess the quality to lift the trophy if they can produce their best darts over the week.

Don't discount one or two surprise names either. Every year Blackpool creates new stories, and 2026 feels no different.

Yesterday's Results Round-Up – 13 July 2026

 

Monday night saw another busy evening across the grassroots darts scene, with more than 30 tournaments added to the Q4QS database. As always, I'm concentrating mainly on the South West, where there were plenty of familiar names collecting titles and producing impressive performances.

Josh McCarthy Continues His Fine Form

The standout performance came at Vault 18.0 @ North Star Club, Calne, where Josh McCarthy continued his excellent run of form.

Josh defeated Mitch McCarthy in the final to collect another Vault title, producing the day's highest average at the venue with a superb 91.34 average during his semi-final victory over Cori Wiltshire.

Mitch McCarthy continued his own excellent spell by reaching another final, while Cori Wiltshire impressed with a 91.09 average of his own and Michael Davies also fired in an excellent 87.57 average.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to look beyond Josh whenever he enters a local Vault event.

Andy Steed Back in the Winner's Circle

Over in Paignton, Andy Steed claimed the title after overcoming Charlie Wiles in the final.

Andy produced one of the performances of the day with a 93.94 average and once again demonstrated why he remains one of the strongest players in the South West. Charlie Wiles also enjoyed an excellent evening to reach the final, while Richie Blaynee and Leigh Bowman both posted averages above 85.

Kian Gover Triumphs in Barnstaple

The Barnstaple Vault produced another competitive field with Kian Gover lifting the trophy after defeating Zac Sanders in the final.

David Yeaman recorded the highest average of the night with an excellent 91.09, while Zac Sanders won eight matches during the evening before narrowly missing out on the title.

Martin Haines Wins in Salisbury

The Stratford Social Club in Salisbury produced another quality Monday night tournament.

Martin Haines edged past Stephen Lawrence in a close final, while Ashley Melvin was arguably the standout scorer on the night with several averages over 80, including a best of 90.51.

David Farmer Takes Minehead Honours

Minehead's Vault also produced some excellent darts as David Farmer lifted the title with victory over Jack Walker.

Taylor Foster posted the highest average of the evening at 96.97 before Farmer eventually took the tournament with several excellent displays of his own.

Junior Darts Continues to Flourish

It was another encouraging night for the JDC.

• Logun Godbeer won at Highbridge after beating Tai Anderson in the final.
• Zachary Petty claimed victory in Salisbury.
• Kian Hopkins came out on top in Milton Keynes.

The standard being produced by the next generation continues to impress, with Logun Godbeer and Zachary Petty both recording excellent 85.89 averages.

Monday Round Robin

At Clandown, Darren Cox enjoyed an excellent evening to defeat Garreth Peat in the final. Darren produced an 85.89 average during his successful run and finished the night with seven victories.

Performance of the Day

Although there were several outstanding performances across the country, Josh McCarthy once again strengthened his position as one of the form players in the South West with another Vault title, while Andy Steed's return to winning ways in Paignton was another notable result.

Congratulations to all of Monday's winners, and good luck to everyone back on the oche over the coming days.

Sunday 12 July Results Round-Up – Jack Seymour, Shaun Vernall and C-Jay Pipe Among South West Winners

 

Sunday brought another packed day of grassroots darts across the South West, with ADC Vault events, junior competitions and local opens producing another excellent day's action. Several familiar names continued their strong recent form, while a number of players produced eye-catching performances as the race towards the regional finals gathered pace.

Jack Seymour Tops The Ton In Eastleigh

One of the standout performances of the day came at Eastleigh WMC, where Jack Seymour claimed the title in emphatic fashion.

Seymour fired a superb 103.66 average, the highest recorded average across the South West on Sunday, as he continued his impressive spell of form. Dan Rosher also enjoyed an excellent run to the final in another high-quality Hampshire event.

Shaun Vernall Adds Another Gloucester Title

At Matson Rugby Club in Gloucester, Shaun Vernall continued his excellent season by lifting another title.

Vernall overcame another competitive Gloucestershire field, with Mitch McCarthy once again showing consistency by reaching the latter stages. Chris Rose also featured among the leading averages as Gloucester produced another strong standard.

C-Jay Pipe Continues Winning Run

The action in Taunton saw C-Jay Pipe collect another title after an excellent day's darts.

Paul Gardiner reached the final, while Martin Walker produced one of the performances of the day with a 100.20 average, underlining the quality on display throughout the tournament.

Sean Taylor Wins In Plymouth

Another competitive field gathered at Legends Lounge, Plymouth, where Sean Taylor claimed victory.

Darren Pearce continued his excellent recent form by reaching the final, while Dave Lee and Oliver Wells also enjoyed productive afternoons in Devon.

Ricky King Continues Fine Dorset Form

Over in Swanage, Ricky King added another title to his growing collection.

King produced a best average of 93.94 during another excellent display, maintaining the consistency that has made him one of Dorset's form players over recent weeks.

Mark Wellington Triumphs In Cinderford

The latest event at The Nags Head Inn, Cinderford produced another competitive Gloucestershire field.

Mark Wellington emerged victorious after another strong day's darts, with Shaun Vernall and Taylor Morgan also impressing during the competition.

JDC Success Across The Region

There was also plenty of junior action, with:

• Charlie Mossman winning in Minehead.
• Joseph Lauridsen taking the title in Kentisbeare.

Both events once again highlighted the strength of emerging talent across the South West.

South West Winners

🏆 Jack Seymour – Eastleigh

🏆 Shaun Vernall – Gloucester

🏆 C-Jay Pipe – Taunton

🏆 Sean Taylor – Plymouth

🏆 Ricky King – Swanage

🏆 Mark Wellington – Cinderford

🏆 Charlie Mossman – Minehead (JDC)

🏆 Joseph Lauridsen – Kentisbeare (JDC)

Performance of the Day

⭐ Jack Seymour earns Performance of the Day after producing a superb 103.66 average during his title-winning run in Eastleigh.

Another excellent Sunday demonstrated the depth of quality across South West grassroots darts, with experienced campaigners and rising stars alike continuing to produce impressive performances.

UKDA National Finals 2026 Review

 

The UKDA National Finals represent one of the highlights of the grassroots darts calendar, bringing together county champions, league winners and some of the best players from across England and Wales to compete for national honours.

While professional events naturally attract most of the headlines, weekends like this remind us just how much quality exists throughout the county game. Across the singles, pairs and Champions Cup competitions there were outstanding performances, dramatic deciding legs and several worthy champions crowned.

Here's my review of an excellent weekend of darts.

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Men's Champions Cup

The Men's Champions Cup produced a superb final as Portcullis edged Kings Head 4-3 to lift the title.

It was fitting that the final went all the way, with both teams producing solid performances throughout the weekend before delivering another closely fought contest when the trophy was on the line. Portcullis averaged 78.22 across the final compared to Kings Head's 75.61, illustrating just how competitive the match remained from start to finish.

Portcullis reached the final after a convincing 6-1 semi-final victory over Slough, while Kings Head booked their place by defeating Lincoln 4-3.

A one-leg victory in the final capped an impressive campaign and earned Portcullis the National Champions Cup title.

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Women's Champions Cup

The Women's Champions Cup final was another entertaining contest.

Armed & Hammered defeated Springfield A 3-2 to become national champions after a closely fought final.

Having averaged just over 60 compared with Springfield's 58, Armed & Hammered produced the stronger overall performance when it mattered most, but Springfield pushed them all the way before eventually falling just short.

Both teams had negotiated difficult knockout draws to reach the final, making it a fitting conclusion to the women's team competition.

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Men's National Pairs

The Men's National Pairs produced several excellent matches throughout the knockout stages before an outstanding final.

John-Sebastian Wright & Ashley Coleman claimed the title after edging Lee Budgen & Reece Robinson 4-3 in a thrilling decider.

The eventual runners-up had already survived a deciding-leg semi-final against Nigel Prior and Jake Eichen, while Wright and Coleman booked their place with a convincing 4-1 victory over Lewis Mayes and Raymond Marshall.

With so many matches decided by narrow margins throughout the latter stages, the final perfectly reflected the quality and competitiveness of the event.

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Women's National Pairs

The Women's National Pairs title went to Sally Smith & Kate Hulme, who produced an outstanding display to defeat Eve Watson & Sandra Quinn 4-0 in the final.

Their route to the title was equally impressive, including a deciding-leg semi-final victory over Amy Chappell and Faye Mason before producing arguably their best performance of the weekend in the championship match.

Watson and Quinn also enjoyed an excellent tournament, coming through a tough draw to reach the final before eventually finishing runners-up.

Women's Singles

The Women's Singles produced a superb conclusion to the UKDA National Finals, with Vicky Pruim completing an unbeaten run to lift the title.

Pruim won all seven of her matches across the competition, finishing with an overall tournament average of 76.11, but the scorelines only tell part of the story. Her route to the title included several high-quality opponents and two testing encounters in the closing stages.

The quarter-finals featured an excellent line-up, with Eleanor Cairns edging Rhian O'Sullivan 4-3 in the closest match of the round, while Vicky Pruim overcame Jennifer Nuttall 4-2. Lisa Ashton produced another battling performance to defeat Eve Watson 4-3, before former world champion Deta Hedman completed the semi-final line-up with a 4-2 victory over Lauryn Salter.

The semi-finals delivered two fascinating contests. Pruim was pushed all the way by Eleanor Cairns before prevailing 4-3, while Deta Hedman demonstrated all of her experience with an impressive 4-1 victory over Lisa Ashton to reach another major final.

That set up a final between two highly respected names in the women's game, but it was Pruim who saved her best performance for the biggest stage. A commanding 5-1 victory over Deta Hedman secured the national title and completed an outstanding unbeaten weekend.

While Pruim deservedly takes the headlines, Deta Hedman's run to the final once again demonstrated why she remains one of the most respected competitors in the sport. Lisa Ashton also reached the last four after another strong campaign, while Eleanor Cairns' deciding-leg semi-final showed just how competitive the event had become.

Overall, the Women's Singles showcased both established stars and emerging talent, producing an entertaining championship and a worthy National Champion.

Men's Singles

The Men's Singles provided a fitting climax to the UKDA National Finals, delivering a tournament packed with quality, consistency and several memorable performances.

The standout player throughout the weekend was Jack Johnson, who completed a perfect campaign by winning all eight of his matches to become UKDA Men's National Champion. Johnson also finished with an impressive overall tournament average of 88.43, underlining the consistency that carried him through an exceptionally strong field.

The knockout stages featured several eye-catching contests. Darryl Pilgrim edged Paul Rowley 4-3 in one of the matches of the quarter-finals, while Jack Johnson defeated Sean Holley 4-1. James Hubbard booked his place in the last four with a 4-2 victory over Thomas Lovely, before Owen Bates completed the semi-final line-up with an emphatic 4-0 success against Dean Reynolds.

Johnson then produced one of his strongest displays of the tournament in the semi-finals, defeating James Hubbard 5-1 to reach the championship match. The other semi-final proved to be one of the contests of the weekend as Owen Bates edged Darryl Pilgrim 5-4 in a deciding-leg thriller.

That set up a meeting between the tournament's two outstanding performers.

Bates had impressed throughout the weekend, finishing with the highest overall tournament average of the finalists at 92.72, while Johnson had simply found ways to keep winning. The final lived up to expectations, with Johnson eventually claiming a 6-4 victory to secure the national title.

Bates can take enormous credit from an outstanding tournament, reaching the final after seven victories and producing some of the highest-quality darts of the weekend. Darryl Pilgrim and James Hubbard also enjoyed excellent runs to the semi-finals, while Dean Reynolds, Sean Holley, Thomas Lovely and Paul Rowley all reached the last eight after consistently high-level performances.

The overall standard of the Men's Singles was outstanding, demonstrating once again the remarkable depth of talent currently competing within county darts. Johnson's unbeaten title run will rightly be remembered as one of the standout performances of the 2026 UKDA National Finals.