Yesterday's Results Round-Up South and South West – Monday 27 July 2026

Monday delivered another packed evening of grassroots darts, with 30 tournaments added to the Q4QS database. There were strong performances right across the country, while the South West once again produced several eye-catching winners and some outstanding averages.

Finlay Cleave Impresses In Paignton

One of the standout performances of the evening came in Paignton, where Finlay Cleave claimed the Vault 18 title with a convincing 3-0 victory over Andy Steed.

The final was played to an excellent standard, with both players recording 93.94 averages, while Dan Bevan (91.09) and Robbie Martin (91.09) also featured among the night's highest performers.

Carl High Continues His Rise In Minehead

After being highlighted in my preview earlier this week, Carl High justified the attention by winning Vault 18 at The Banckers Draught, Minehead.

High edged past Jack Walker 3-2 in an entertaining final to continue his impressive recent form. Jack Walker, Brooklyn Anthony and Steve Boundy were all among the players enjoying another productive evening in Somerset.

Josh McCarthy Claims Calne Honours

At Vault 18 @ North Star Club, Calne, Josh McCarthy lifted another title after defeating Declan Cox 3-2 in the final.

McCarthy also produced the tournament's highest average of 96.72, underlining why he remains one of the strongest performers on the local circuit.

Salisbury Success For Danny Humphries

The Stratford Social Club hosted another competitive Vault event, with Danny Humphries defeating Daryl Beaven 3-1 in the final.

Humphries topped the averages with 92.02, while Zachary Petty and Daren Field also produced strong displays during the evening.

Barnstaple And Beyond

There was another excellent turnout in Barnstaple, where Ben Rigler overcame Harry Childs in a closely fought final.

Meanwhile, Johnny Haines won in Didcot, Callum Grealis took the honours in Basingstoke and Lee Evans triumphed in Andover as another busy Monday of Vault action unfolded across the country.

Performances That Caught My Eye

Some of Monday's best performances included:

• 🎯 Josh McCarthy – 96.72 (Calne)
• 🎯 Finlay Cleave – 93.94 (Paignton)
• 🎯 Andy Steed – 93.94 (Paignton)
• 🎯 Danny Humphries – 92.02 (Salisbury)
• 🎯 Taylor Foster – 91.09 (Minehead)
• 🎯 Ben Rigler – 88.41 (Barnstaple)

Highest Average Of The Day

The performance of the day belonged to Stuart Scarsbrook, who produced a superb 112.73 average on his way to victory at the Daventry Vault. Anthony Coleman also exceeded 109, while Ryan Davies, Callum Grealis and Jake Eichen all broke the 103 barrier during an outstanding evening of darts.

Another excellent night's darts is now in the books, with plenty of familiar names continuing their fine form as the race towards the major ADC events gathers pace.

Congratulations to everyone who picked up titles and produced standout performances. 

Players Championship 25 & 26 Preview

 

Germany Hosts A Rare Opportunity As Many Of The Biggest Names Sit Out

The PDC ProTour heads to Germany this week for Players Championships 25 and 26, but these two floor events have a very different feel to normal.

An extraordinary 20 Tour Card holders are absent, including world champion Luke Littler, world number one Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen's recent rivals Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, Rob Cross, Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton, Josh Rock, James Wade, Gary Anderson and many more.

That creates one of the most open Players Championship events of the season.

With so many established stars missing, there is a huge opportunity for the next generation of players, ProTour regulars and in-form outsiders to make a deep run and collect valuable ranking money.

A Huge Opportunity

Normally a Players Championship features virtually every elite player on the tour.

This week is different.

With nearly a quarter of the leading Tour Card holders absent, players who may usually expect to meet a top-eight seed in the later rounds suddenly find the draw looking considerably kinder.

History shows these are often the events where careers can change. One title or one semi-final can dramatically improve a player's ranking, confidence and qualification prospects heading towards the televised majors.

Players To Watch

Wessel Nijman

Nijman arrives as one of the form players on the circuit.

His recent victory in the PDC Slovak event came with a superb 99.45 tournament average, including an outstanding 103.80 average in an 8-3 victory over Rob Cross. He has also already won a Players Championship this season and remains one of the most dangerous scorers in the field.

Chris Dobey

Dobey may start as one of the favourites.

He reached the quarter-finals of Players Championship 24 and has produced several 100+ averages during recent ProTour events. His scoring remains among the very best on tour and the absence of several elite names strengthens his chances further.

Michael van Gerwen

Van Gerwen remains capable of winning any floor event despite a mixed few months.

His Players Championship 15 victory earlier this season came with a tournament average approaching 102, while he also recorded a stunning 122.34 average in one of his recent matches. If he finds his rhythm early, few players will want to face him.

Gabriel Clemens

Few players arrive with more confidence.

The German delighted home supporters by winning Players Championship 24, defeating Brendan Dolan and Luke Woodhouse during another excellent week. Returning to Germany immediately afterwards could make him one of the most dangerous players in the draw.

Kevin Doets

The Dutchman continues to threaten a major breakthrough.

He has already produced 100+ averages this season and has shown he can beat established names on the ProTour. Consistency remains the key, but his ceiling is extremely high.

Andrew Gilding

"Goldfinger" continues to quietly collect excellent results.

Recent victories over Michael van Gerwen and Luke Woodhouse demonstrate the level he is capable of producing, while his experience could prove invaluable in an unpredictable field.

Dark Horses

Several players could spring a surprise this week.

• Sebastian Bialecki continues to impress after Development Tour success.
• Cristo Reyes recently reached a Players Championship final.
• Owen Bates arrives full of confidence after reaching the UKDA National Finals final.
• Daniel Ayres has produced several deep runs across ADC and PDC events.
• Tommy Morris has already shown he can beat established professionals.
• Cam Crabtree continues to develop into one of the most exciting young players outside the elite.

Who Could Benefit Most?

With so many elite players missing, these events offer a genuine chance for someone to take the next step.

Don't be surprised if a player outside the world's top 32 reaches the final—or even lifts the trophy.

The ProTour has a habit of creating new stars, and Players Championships 25 and 26 could easily produce another breakthrough winner.

My Prediction

If the draw opens up as expected, I expect Wessel Nijman, Chris Dobey and Michael van Gerwen to be among the leading contenders.

However, if I had to pick one player to continue his momentum, Gabriel Clemens looks an excellent bet after lifting the Players Championship 24 title and now returning to home soil full of confidence.

Yesterday's Results Round-Up South and South West – Sunday 26 July 2026

 

Sunday produced another huge day of grassroots darts, with 55 tournaments added to the Q4QS database. Across the South West there was plenty to celebrate, with titles decided in Gloucester, Plymouth, Taunton, Cinderford, Swanage, Kentisbeare and Portishead, while several players produced outstanding performances to round off another busy weekend.

Dom Taylor Wins Portishead Sunday Chuck

One of the busiest local competitions took place at Portishead Workmen's Darts, where Dom Taylor came through a strong field to defeat Alfie Palmer 4-3 in the final.

The quality was high throughout the evening, with Liam Trotman recording the highest average of 90.44, closely followed by Alfie Palmer (90.18) and Dave Fisher (88.41).

Lee Andrews Claims Gloucester Vault

At Vault 18.0 @ Matson Rugby Club, Gloucester, Lee Andrews enjoyed an impressive run to lift the title.

Andrews defeated Curtis Greenwood 3-0 in the final and also posted the tournament's highest average of 86.71. Curtis Greenwood, Lee Bradley and Will Jackson were all among the players enjoying another productive evening in Gloucester.

Mark Gilbery Triumphs In Plymouth

There was another competitive Vault event in Plymouth, where Mark Gilbery edged past Keaton Hughes 3-2 in the final.

Gilbery produced the tournament's best average of 88.04 and continued his excellent form with seven victories on his way to the title.

Taunton And Devon Winners

At The Queens Arms, Taunton, C-Jay Pipe defeated Josh Wright 3-2 to win another Vault 18 title.

Meanwhile, at The Wyndham Arms, Kentisbeare, Craig Todd claimed the trophy after overcoming Connor Coffey in the final, ensuring Devon also featured among Sunday's South West winners.

Swanage Produces The Performance Of The Day

The standout individual display in the South West came from Ricky King at Vault 18.0 @ Swanage RBL.

King lifted the title after defeating Jamie Elm and fired a superb 111.33 average, one of the highest averages recorded anywhere in the country on Sunday.

More South West Success

There were further local winners as:

• 🏆 Clint Keyse won at The Nags Head Inn, Cinderford.
• 🏆 Joseph Lauridsen claimed the JDC Volts title in Exeter.
• 🏆 Grant/White won the Cotton's Pairs competition.

South West Performances That Caught My Eye

Among Sunday's standout performances were:

• 🎯 Ricky King – 111.33 (Swanage)
• 🎯 Liam Trotman – 90.44 (Portishead)
• 🎯 Lee Andrews – 86.71 (Gloucester)
• 🎯 Mark Gilbery – 88.04 (Plymouth)
• 🎯 Dave Fisher – 88.41 (Portishead)
• 🎯 Alfie Palmer – 90.18 (Portishead)

Looking Ahead

Another packed weekend of darts has now been added to the Q4QS database. The South West continues to produce strong turnouts and quality performances, with established names and emerging players both enjoying success as the rankings continue to evolve.

Congratulations to everyone who competed, and especially to all of Sunday's tournament winners.

Which Is the Toughest Tour in World Darts? A Q4QS Analysis

 

Ask ten darts fans which is the toughest circuit in the world and you'll probably get the same answer.

"The PDC."

But that doesn't really answer the question.

Is a Players Championship tougher than a televised European Tour event?

How much harder is the Challenge Tour than the Development Tour?

Where does the Asian Tour fit into the overall picture?

And could some non-PDC events actually be stronger than people realise?

Using the Q4QS database, I decided to investigate.

How This Analysis Works

Rather than relying on prize money, reputation or television coverage, I looked at the strength of the players who actually entered each tournament.

Each event in the Q4QS database is given a Tournament Strength score based on the quality of the field, allowing different tours and competitions to be compared on the same scale.

The Tournament Strength Score is a combined measure derived from the Q4QS ratings and recorded performance levels of the players in each field, rather than simply the tournament’s overall average.

This isn't designed to say one tour is "better" than another.

Instead, it asks one simple question:

If you entered this event, where would you face the strongest opposition?

The Immediate Standout

One thing became clear almost immediately.

The PDC Players Championship circuit dominates.

In fact, the strongest event in the current database is:

Players Championship 11 – Tournament Strength 100.61

Even more impressive is the consistency.

Players Championship events occupy the vast majority of the highest positions in the rankings, with several events scoring above 99 and virtually every event comfortably above 97.

That tells us something important.

It isn't just that the very best Players Championship event is incredibly strong.

The standard remains exceptionally high throughout the entire series.

What About The Majors?

Many people naturally assume that televised majors must have the strongest fields.

The data paints a slightly different picture.

The PDC World Masters records a Tournament Strength of 98.92, while the UK Open scores 98.85.

Those are outstanding numbers, but they still sit behind several Players Championship events.

That may surprise some fans.

One possible explanation is depth.

Players Championship events regularly feature 128 Tour Card holders, meaning strength runs throughout the entire draw rather than being concentrated among a smaller elite field.

European Tour Events

European Tour events also perform exceptionally well.

Among the strongest in the database are:

• European Trophy – 96.81

• European Darts Grand Prix – 96.75

• Austrian Darts Open – 96.48

• International Darts Open – 96.03

Again, these are elite-level tournaments.

However, they generally sit just below the very strongest Players Championship events.

An Unexpected Discovery

One of the biggest surprises isn't a televised event at all.

It's the European Tour Card Holder Qualifiers.

Several qualifiers score above 95, placing them ahead of many established professional tournaments.

Anyone who has watched these events probably won't be shocked.

With so many Tour Card holders battling for a limited number of qualification places, the competition is brutally intense from the very first round.

It's another reminder that some of the toughest darts isn't always played on television.

What This Doesn't Tell Us

There are also some important caveats.

Tournament strength doesn't necessarily tell us which event is the hardest to win.

Different events have different formats.

Some have seeded draws.

Others have open draws.

Some feature 32 players.

Others have more than 150.

All of those factors influence the difficulty of lifting the trophy.

This analysis focuses on one aspect only:

the overall strength of the field.

What's Next?

This article is only the beginning.

Over the coming weeks I'll be digging much deeper into the Q4QS Tournament Strength data.

Among the questions I'll be exploring are:

• Is the Challenge Tour significantly stronger than the Development Tour?

• Which ADC Vault has attracted the strongest field?

• Are some local events tougher than recognised national tours?

• Which venues consistently attract the highest-quality players?

• Which individual tournament was the strongest of 2026?

The answers may challenge a few long-held assumptions.

Final Thoughts

One thing is already beyond doubt.

The Players Championship circuit isn't just home to many of the world's best players—it consistently produces the strongest tournament fields anywhere in darts.

Perhaps the bigger question is what comes next.

Just how big is the gap between the Players Championship, the Challenge Tour, the Development Tour and the rest of world darts?

That's exactly what I'll be investigating next.

Yesterday's Results Round-Up South West – Saturday 25 July 2026

 

Saturday was another excellent day for grassroots darts, with 35 tournaments added to the Q4QS database. Across the South West there were packed fields, close finals and some outstanding performances, with Taunton, Hangar61, Stalbridge, Street and Evesham all producing plenty of talking points.

Joe Smith Tops Huge Taunton Field

The busiest event in the South West took place at the Pegasus Charity Round Robin in Taunton, where Joe Smith produced a superb display to lift the title.

Smith defeated Dave Morris 5-0 in the final after winning 10 matches during the day, underlining both his consistency and stamina. Jack Davey recorded the highest average of the tournament with 75.15, but it was Smith who finished the day with the trophy.

Meanwhile, the Pegasus Under-55 Average Round Robin was won by Alex Bird, who defeated Finley Bird 3-0 in the final to complete another successful afternoon at the Taunton venue.

Ashton Brown Wins Thriller At Hangar61

One of the highest-quality events of the day came at Hangar61, where Ashton Brown edged past Mason Teese 4-3 in a superb final.

The standard throughout the tournament was exceptional. Mason Teese posted the highest average of 96.97, Ashton Brown fired 93.94, while Jayden Walker also impressed with 92.69. With 89 matches played, it proved to be one of Saturday's showcase events.

Tom Crocker Claims Stalbridge Title

Another strong Dorset field gathered for the Stalbridge RBL SDF Competition, where Tom Crocker defeated Jake Carlton 3-1 in the final.

Nigel Lamb and Wayne Halliwell both produced tournament-best averages of 88.41, highlighting the strength of the competition throughout the day.

Success For Street And Evesham

The Street Darts Organisation Week 6 Open saw Luke Harding continue his impressive form by defeating Kelvin Hart in the final.

Street also hosted the Week 6 Under-50, where Alex Bird added a second title to his day, completing an excellent double after his earlier success in Taunton.

Later in the evening, Mitchell Leeming lifted the Vault 18 title at The Bengeworth, Evesham, overcoming Zak Edmunds 3-2 in another closely contested final. Pete Hughes was again among the event's standout performers.

Standout Performances

Several players produced performances that caught the eye across Saturday's action:

• 🎯 Mason Teese – 96.97 (Hangar61)
• 🎯 Ashton Brown – 93.94 (Hangar61)
• 🎯 Jayden Walker – 92.69 (Hangar61)
• 🎯 Nigel Lamb – 88.41 (Stalbridge)
• 🎯 Wayne Halliwell – 88.41 (Stalbridge)
• 🎯 Joe Smith – 10 match wins to claim the Taunton title.

Looking Ahead

Saturday once again demonstrated the strength of the South West darts scene, with busy venues, competitive fields and plenty of quality on display. As another weekend of results is added to the Q4QS database, the rankings continue to evolve with players building momentum heading into the weeks ahead.

Congratulations to all of Saturday's winners and everyone who took to the oche.

Women's World Matchplay Preview: Can Anyone Stop Beau Greaves?

The Women's World Matchplay returns this weekend, bringing together eight of the finest players in the women's game for one of the most prestigious titles on the calendar.

While the field may be small, the quality certainly isn't.

World-class champions, former winners, established stars and in-form challengers all arrive with genuine hopes of lifting the trophy, but once again one player enters as the woman everyone else must beat.

Beau Greaves Leads the Way

It is impossible to look beyond Beau Greaves as the tournament favourite.

Her recent form has been exceptional.

Across the last ten matches in the Q4QS database she boasts a perfect 10-0 record, while she arrives after winning two consecutive PDC Women's Series titles before finishing runner-up in another event. She also produced event averages approaching 88 and 89 during that run, highlighting the level she is capable of producing.

Interestingly, her most recent appearance came against the men on the Players Championship circuit, where she lost to Owen Bates despite averaging over 90.

That defeat is unlikely to dent her confidence.

If anything, it demonstrates her willingness to test herself against the very best opposition.

Lisa Ashton Has Already Shown It Can Be Done

If anyone has proved Beau Greaves can be beaten recently, it's Lisa Ashton.

The four-time Lakeside Champion claimed victory at PDC Women's Series Event 15, defeating Greaves 5-1 in the final and averaging over 81 throughout the tournament. It was one of the standout performances of the season and serves as a reminder that Ashton remains one of the toughest competitors in women's darts.

She followed that up with another deep run by reaching the semi-finals of the UKDA National Finals, showing her consistency remains intact.

Fallon Sherrock Chasing Another Major Run

No preview would be complete without Fallon Sherrock.

Although she hasn't added another major title recently, Sherrock continues to reach the latter stages of big events.

A semi-final in Women's Series Event 15 and a quarter-final in Event 16 underline that she is never far away from another big weekend.

Few players possess more experience on television than "The Queen of the Palace", and that experience could prove invaluable.

Plenty of Form Players Arrive

One of the fascinating aspects of this year's event is just how many competitors arrive after lifting trophies.

Gemma Hayter heads to the Winter Gardens fresh from victory in the WDF World Masters, continuing what has been an excellent season.

Vicky Pruim arrives as the reigning UKDA National Finals champion and has built strong momentum over recent weeks.

Veteran star Deta Hedman also comes into the tournament after another title-winning campaign, proving once again that experience remains a huge asset.

Kirsi Viinikainen and Rhian O'Sullivan complete a field packed with recent winners, ensuring there will be no easy opening matches.

Five Players to Watch

Beau Greaves

Still the benchmark in women's darts. Two recent Women's Series titles, unbeaten in her last ten matches and producing some of the highest averages in the game.

Lisa Ashton

The player who recently defeated Greaves in a Women's Series final. If she reproduces that standard, another major title is well within reach.

Fallon Sherrock

One of the biggest names in women's darts. Television experience and proven ability to deliver on the big stage make her a dangerous opponent for anyone.

Gemma Hayter

The reigning WDF World Masters champion continues to build momentum and has quietly become one of the most consistent performers in the women's game.

Vicky Pruim

Fresh from lifting the UKDA National Finals title, Pruim arrives full of confidence and could be one of the dark horses this weekend.

Can Anyone Stop Greaves?

Every major tournament needs a storyline, and this one is obvious.

Can anyone prevent Beau Greaves from adding another major televised title to her growing collection?

Lisa Ashton has already shown it is possible.

Fallon Sherrock remains one of the most dangerous players on a televised stage.

Gemma Hayter, Vicky Pruim and Deta Hedman all arrive with recent silverware of their own.

With so many players bringing title-winning form into Blackpool, the Women's World Matchplay promises to be one of the most competitive editions yet. 

Floor vs Stage: Do Some Players Perform Better Under the Lights? A Q4QS Analysis of the 2026 PDC Season

 

One of the oldest debates in professional darts is whether certain players are better suited to the Players Championship circuit or the sport's biggest televised stages.

Some players seem to produce their very best performances in front of packed arenas and television cameras, while others quietly build exceptional records on the ProTour week after week.

But is there actually any evidence to support that idea?

To find out, I compared my 2026 Q4QS Knockout Pedigree Rankings from two very different environments:

• Players Championship events

• Televised ranking tournaments

Rather than comparing averages or prize money, these rankings measure knockout success during the 2026 season. I then compared where every player ranked in each list to see who climbed the rankings under the lights and who built their strongest record on the Players Championship circuit.

Before diving into the numbers, there are two important points to make.

Firstly, these are Q4QS Rankings, not the official PDC Order of Merit.

Secondly, this comparison only covers the 2026 season. Players with insufficient participation have been excluded. Most notably, Luke Littler does not feature, having not competed in a Players Championship event during 2026. Without a Players Championship ranking, it simply isn't possible to make a fair comparison.

Biggest Movers Towards the Televised Rankings

The following players achieved a significantly higher Q4QS Televised Ranking than their Q4QS Players Championship Ranking.

Player	Q4QS Players Championship Rank	Q4QS Televised Rank	Movement
Josh Rock	62	6	▲ 56
Ryan Joyce	70	17	▲ 53
Gian van Veen	50	7	▲ 43
Mike De Decker	71	27	▲ 44
Gerwyn Price	43	2	▲ 41
Niels Zonneveld	55	15	▲ 40
Nathan Aspinall	47	9	▲ 38

Josh Rock heads the list, climbing an incredible 56 places between the two rankings. Ryan Joyce also makes a huge leap, while Gian van Veen continues to strengthen his reputation whenever the biggest tournaments come around.

Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall are perhaps less surprising. Both have built reputations over many years as players capable of producing some of their very best darts on the sport's biggest stages.

Biggest Movers Towards the Players Championship Rankings

These players recorded considerably stronger Q4QS Players Championship Rankings than their televised rankings.

Player	Q4QS Players Championship Rank	Q4QS Televised Rank	Movement
Andrew Gilding	5	29	▼ 24
Chris Dobey	2	20	▼ 18
Gary Anderson	30	40	▼ 10
Kevin Doets	3	12	▼ 9
Wessel Nijman	1	8	▼ 7
Luke Woodhouse	4	11	▼ 7
James Wade	9	13	▼ 4

Wessel Nijman's place at the top of the Players Championship rankings underlines just how impressive his ProTour campaign has been.

Chris Dobey, Kevin Doets and Luke Woodhouse have also put together exceptional Players Championship seasons, while Andrew Gilding's consistency on the floor has been rewarded with a remarkably high Q4QS ranking.

These results shouldn't be viewed as a weakness in televised tournaments. Instead, they demonstrate just how consistently these players have performed throughout the demanding Players Championship schedule.

Consistency Across Both Rankings

Some players don't show a dramatic difference between the two rankings.

Luke Humphries is a good example. While he ranks slightly higher in the televised list, he remains among the elite in both environments.

The same can be said for Michael van Gerwen, whose rankings remain consistently high regardless of whether he is playing on the Players Championship circuit or under the television cameras.

Those players may simply possess an ability to adapt to every environment they encounter.

Why Do The Rankings Differ?

There is probably no single explanation.

One obvious factor is match format.

Players Championship matches are generally played over shorter distances, meaning there is less time to recover from a slow start. Most televised ranking tournaments become progressively longer as the event develops, rewarding players capable of maintaining a high level over an extended contest.

The seeding system may also influence results.

Players Championship events are seeded using the Players Championship Order of Merit, whereas televised ranking tournaments are generally seeded using the main PDC Order of Merit. That can produce very different draws, particularly in the early rounds.

Participation is another important consideration.

Several leading players have reduced their Players Championship schedules during 2026, while others have entered almost every event. That inevitably affects the opportunities available to build a strong knockout pedigree.

Finally, there is the atmosphere itself.

Some players appear to relish performing in front of thousands of spectators, while others quietly produce outstanding results on the ProTour week after week.

Whether that's down to mentality, experience, preparation, playing style or something else entirely is impossible to measure—but it's certainly an intriguing discussion.

Final Thoughts

This analysis isn't designed to say that one player is better than another.

Instead, it highlights where players have built their strongest knockout records during the 2026 season.

Some have climbed the rankings when the television cameras arrive.

Others have quietly dominated the Players Championship circuit.

And a select few continue to perform at an exceptionally high level regardless of where they play.

As with any statistical comparison, there are caveats, but the trends are fascinating—and they raise an interesting question.

What do you think explains the differences? Is it the atmosphere, the format, the draw, the scheduling... or simply the mark of players who adapt to every challenge?