Winmau Championship Grand Finals 2026 Preview: 16 Players, £10,000 and a Global Championship Place on the Line

 

The road through the 2026 ADC Winmau Championship reaches its conclusion this weekend as 16 players head to the MODUS Live Lounge in Portsmouth for the Winmau Championship Grand Finals.

After 24 events split between the North and South series, the top eight from each ranking table have made it through to the Grand Finals on October 3rd-4th 2026

There is £10,000 in prize money to play for, with £3,000 going to the champion, but there is also another significant prize attached to the weekend.

The winner earns qualification for the ADC Global Championship. If the champion has already secured a Global Championship place, that qualification opportunity passes to the next eligible player who has not already qualified.

The action will be shown live on Pluto TV from the MODUS Live Lounge. (from 12.30pm BST)

For Q4QS, it also gives me the chance to put the entire 16-player field through the database and see who arrives in Portsmouth with the strongest numbers and recent form.

And this is a seriously strong field.

Ryan Hogarth arrives in outstanding form

There probably isn't a better recent-form story in the field than Ryan Hogarth.

Hogarth is currently No.30 in the Q4QS rankings with an 88.68 Q4QS average, and he comes into the Grand Finals having won his last ten recorded matches.

His most recent tournament ended with a title at the Welsh Open, Masters & Classic, where he went 9–0 and averaged 89.16 across the event.

Among those results was a 6–3 victory over Ross Montgomery with a 95.10 average.

Before that he had also reached successive semi-finals in Winmau Championship North events, averaging 87.35 and 90.27.

He could hardly be arriving in Portsmouth in better form.

Daniel Ayres brings PDC-level numbers

Daniel Ayres is only two places behind Hogarth in the Q4QS rankings at No.32, but actually has the slightly higher Q4QS average at 89.89.

His recent results have included plenty of action against PDC-level opposition.

Ayres averaged 94.92 in beating Cameron Menzies at Players Championship 28 and also recorded wins over Niels Zonneveld and Ritchie Edhouse.

Even in defeat in his latest event, the UK & Ireland Tour Card Holder and Amateur World Championship Qualifier, he averaged 94.11.

Those are serious numbers heading into this weekend.

Steve Lennon is another major threat

Steve Lennon sits at No.45 in the Q4QS rankings and actually has the highest Q4QS average of these opening three at 89.97.

He reached the semi-finals of the recent UK & Ireland qualifier, averaging 90.20 across the event before eventually losing to Carl Wilson.

His recent Challenge Tour performances include tournament averages of 91.52 and 90.93 in reaching consecutive quarter-finals.

That consistency around the 90 mark makes Lennon another player to watch very closely.

Plenty more depth behind them

This isn't simply a tournament dominated by three names.

Lewis Pride is Q4QS ranked No.70 with an 87.68 average and has produced a 97.15 match average recently.

Lewis Cook sits just outside the Q4QS Top 100 at No.102 and comes into Portsmouth with an 8–2 recent record. His last two Vault appearances produced a victory and a final.

Danny Trueman has an 84.47 Q4QS average and recently averaged 89.72 in the UK & Ireland qualifier.

Callum Francis reached a Challenge Tour final recently, going 7–1 and averaging 85.40 across the tournament. His run included victories over Steve Lennon and Daniel Ayres.

Ashley Coleman is another interesting name. His Q4QS average is 86.35 and he averaged 92.88 across his recent run to the last 32 of the UK & Ireland qualifier.

Don't overlook the players further down the Q4QS rankings

One of the things I like about this field is that even the players further down the Q4QS rankings have numbers which suggest they can cause plenty of problems.

Jack Main recently reached a Vault quarter-final averaging 86.50 and produced a 103.66 match average along the way.

Chas Barstow has won a recent Vault and also reached a final and semi-final, while his last five events include a 91.91 tournament average.

Dan Nicholls is 9–1 from his last ten recorded matches. He recently won a round-robin event with an 85.67 average before reaching another semi-final averaging 84.11.

And then there is Roger Crook.

Crook may be Q4QS ranked No.532, but his recent Vault record is remarkable. His last five recorded events include three tournament victories, another unbeaten group-stage run and a final.

Those events have included tournament averages of 81.84, 86.51, 81.07, 84.16 and 85.80.

That is exactly why rankings alone never tell the whole story.

Q4QS Six to Follow

Ryan Hogarth – Q4QS No.30, 10–0 in his last ten and arrives having just won the Welsh Open, Masters & Classic with an 89.16 tournament average.

Daniel Ayres – Q4QS No.32 with an 89.89 average and recent wins against established PDC opposition.

Steve Lennon – Q4QS No.45 with an 89.97 average and comes straight from a semi-final run averaging 90.20.

Callum Francis – Recent Challenge Tour finalist whose run included victories over both Lennon and Ayres.

Ashley Coleman – An 86.35 Q4QS average and averaged 92.88 during his latest tournament run.

Roger Crook – The form outsider from the Q4QS numbers. Three wins and a final among his last five recorded events, with some excellent tournament averages along the way.

North meets South in Portsmouth

This is what the Winmau Championship series has been building towards.

Twelve events in the North and twelve in the South have reduced the field to eight qualifiers from each region, and now those 16 players meet on the MODUS stage.

The prize fund breaks down as £3,000 for the winner, £1,500 for the runner-up, £750 for each semi-finalist, £500 for the quarter-finalists and £250 for reaching the last 16. ADC - Amateur Darts Circuit

There is also that ADC Global Championship opportunity waiting at the end of it.

Looking purely at the Q4QS database, Hogarth, Ayres and Lennon bring some exceptional numbers into the weekend. But the deeper I look through this field, the harder it becomes to find anyone who can safely be discounted.

And with players such as Francis, Coleman, Main, Barstow, Nicholls and Crook all bringing their own strong recent form, this looks a fitting conclusion to the first North and South Winmau Championship campaign.

Quest For Q School Has a New Facebook Group

 

I've launched a new Quest For Q School Facebook group as another way of following what I'm doing with Q4QS.

The idea isn't to replace the website. In fact, quite the opposite.

I'll use the group to share some of the daily Q4QS content, including Yesterday's Results, rankings, interesting stats, players who have caught my eye and some of the stories coming out of the data.

I'll also post updates when there is something new to read on the site, whether that's a tournament preview, a new ranking feature, the Venue Hub, player rankings or one of the longer Q4QS articles.

You'll still find much more detail here on the website, so the group will hopefully provide a good way of seeing what's new and then following anything that interests you back to Q4QS.

It will also be somewhere I can share updates about the Q4QS Live Vidiprinter and point people towards other Q4QS channels and features as they develop.

I'm not really looking for the group to become another endless stream of competition adverts. There may be occasions when I'll allow something particularly relevant, but the main aim is to build a group around results, players, rankings, statistics and darts stories.

Q4QS is also becoming increasingly international, so you're very welcome wherever you happen to follow or play darts.

If you'd like to join, feel free. And if you know somebody else who might enjoy what I'm doing with Q4QS, you're welcome to invite them too.

Hopefully it becomes another useful part of Quest For Q School as the site continues to grow.

ADC & WADC Winmau Championship North Events 9–12 Preview: Who Can Make the Headlines in Middlesbrough?

 

The ADC and WADC Winmau Championship North returns to Middlesbrough Sports Village this weekend, with Events 9–12 taking place across 5–6 September.

Eight events into the 2026 North series, there has already been plenty of variety in the men's competition and a fascinating pattern developing in the women's events.

The ADC side has produced seven different title winners across the opening eight events, with only Daniel Ayres and Steve Lennon managing to win twice. David Sumner, Lewis Pride, Scott Winder and Danny Trueman have also taken titles, while the scoring standard has remained consistently high. Across Events 1–8, the average of each event's top ten match averages stands at 98.54, with Danny Trueman's 109.61 in Event 8 the highest individual performance so far.

The WADC series has followed a very different pattern. Every title so far has been shared between just four players: Natalie Gilbert, Vicky Pruim, Kim Holden and Steph Clarke, each winning twice.

That gives this weekend an obvious question on both sides: do the established North winners extend their grip on the series, or are Events 9–12 where somebody new finally breaks through?

ADC: A strong field with several players arriving in serious form

Daniel Ayres has arguably been the benchmark of the North campaign so far. He won Events 2 and 4, reached the final of Event 7 and has produced some of the strongest individual numbers of the series.

His recent form away from the ADC adds another layer. Ayres reached the Last 32 at Players Championship 28 with a 92.93 event average, beating Cameron Menzies, Niels Zonneveld and Ritchie Edhouse along the way.

But the man arriving with perhaps the most eye-catching recent record is Ryan Hogarth.

Hogarth already showed his ceiling during the earlier North events, producing a 105.64 average in Event 3 and reaching back-to-back semi-finals in Events 7 and 8. He has since won at the Welsh Open, Masters & Classic, going 9–0 with an 89.16 event average. His recorded last-ten form is a perfect 10–0.

Jack Drayton brings similarly imposing momentum. He won ADC Championship South Event 11 with an 87.62 tournament average and is also 10–0 across his most recent ten recorded matches.

That potentially gives us an intriguing collision between players who have already dominated the North series and others arriving with outstanding form from elsewhere.

Six ADC players to watch

Ryan Hogarth – A Welsh Open title, an 89.16 winning event average and a 10–0 recent record make Hogarth one of the clearest headline candidates this weekend.

Jack Drayton – Another player arriving 10–0, with his recent ADC Championship South Event 11 title showing he can sustain his level through a long tournament run.

Daniel Ayres – Already a two-time North winner and now coming off a strong Players Championship 28 run; few entrants combine his North record with such a high current scoring ceiling.

Stuart Dutton – An 88% win rate in the selection data is backed up by genuine recent tournament form. Dutton has won at the Riverside with an 87.47 event average and more recently reached another final, while going 8–2 in his last ten.

Lewis Cook – Cook has been producing plenty of scoring power, including a 91.09 match average during Championship South Event 10, where he reached the quarter-finals. He is 7–3 across his last ten recorded matches.

Tom Baughan – Perhaps the less obvious name among the six, but his form warrants attention. Baughan is 9–1 across his last ten and has made two recent Riverside finals as well as a semi-final and quarter-final in his last five tournaments.

There are plenty of dangers beyond those six.

Danny Trueman comes back as the defending Event 8 champion after recording that huge 109.61 during his title run, while Steve Lennon has already won twice. Lewis Pride, Graham Usher, Carl Batchelor, Danny Lauby and Ciaran Forde all have enough evidence in the numbers to make deep runs.

The strength of these events has been their depth rather than simply one or two dominant names. Event 5, for example, had a top-ten average of 100.05, while every ADC event so far has had a top-ten figure above 96.

That makes four more tournaments over one weekend a particularly interesting test.

WADC: Can anybody break the four-player title monopoly?

The women's competition has a clearer established hierarchy.

After eight tournaments, Natalie Gilbert, Vicky Pruim, Kim Holden and Steph Clarke have won every single title between them.

Pruim won Events 2 and 6, Holden took Events 3 and 4, Gilbert won Events 1 and 7 and Clarke claimed Events 5 and 8.

And Pruim may be the player arriving in the strongest form of all.

She has since won at the Welsh Open, Masters & Classic with an 80.24 tournament average and followed it with another semi-final. Her recent notable wins include Deta Hedman and Fallon Sherrock.

The North events already showed what her scoring ceiling can look like. Pruim's 88.41 in Event 6 remains the highest WADC North match average across the first eight events.

Steph Clarke is another obvious threat. She has already won twice in Middlesbrough, including Event 8, and recently reached the final of Championship South Event 8 with a 72.53 tournament average.

But perhaps the player with the biggest unfinished business is Angela Kirkwood.

Kirkwood reached the final of North Event 1 and again in Event 8 without taking the title. She also produced an 87.38 average during Event 2 — one of the highest performances of the entire WADC North series.

Could Events 9–12 finally turn those deep runs into a win?

Six WADC players to watch

Vicky Pruim – Already a two-time North champion, and now arriving with another title and semi-final from the Welsh Open weekend. She remains the player with the highest WADC North match average so far.

Angela Kirkwood – Twice a North finalist and still searching for that first title. Her recent Women's Series quarter-finals and 7–3 last-ten record suggest another deep run would be no surprise.

Steph Clarke – Two North titles already, including Event 8, plus another recent final on the South circuit. Clarke has repeatedly shown she can convert a good day into a tournament run.

Jackie Brighton – The 82% selection win rate is backed by a recent WADC Vault title, where she went 5–0 with a 70.72 event average, followed by a regional final.

Eleanor Cairns – Already a North finalist in Event 2, when she produced 76.23 and 75.75 averages in the latter stages. Cairns also reached the quarter-finals of Championship South Event 5 and has remained competitive across the recent Women's Series.

Sarah Roberts – A recent WADC Vault winner who went unbeaten through that event with a 65.99 average. She also defeated Kirsty Hutchinson on her way to the quarter-final stages of North Event 8.

The six are certainly not the only names capable of making an impact.

Natalie Gilbert and Kim Holden deserve particular mention simply because both have already won twice in this series. Kirsty Hutchinson has reached a recent Women's Series semi-final, while Rebecca Allen's results include a JDC Girls Series title and a JDC Nations Cup win.

Four events could change the picture quickly

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this weekend is the volume.

Four tournaments means one poor event does not necessarily define the weekend. Players have time to adjust, build confidence or suddenly find a scoring level that changes everything.

On the ADC side, Daniel Ayres and Steve Lennon currently lead the way with two titles each, but neither has yet established outright control of the series.

On the WADC side, the symmetry is even more remarkable: four players, two titles each.

By Sunday evening that picture could look very different.

Hogarth and Drayton arrive carrying outstanding winning runs. Ayres has combined North success with strong PDC performances. Dutton and Baughan are quietly putting together some excellent tournament results.

Pruim and Clarke already know how to win in Middlesbrough, Kirkwood has repeatedly gone close, while Brighton, Cairns and Roberts all have reasons to believe they can challenge the established four.

Events 9–12 may therefore tell us whether the first half of the North series established a genuine hierarchy — or merely set the stage for somebody else to break into it.

 

ADC Winmau Championship Tour Returns With Huge Stakes in Events 5 & 6

Some of the biggest names outside the PDC ProTour will head to the ADC Winmau Championship Tour this weekend as Events 5 and 6 take centre stage.

With major opportunities and significant prize money all on the line, the ADC Championship Tour has quickly established itself as one of the premier grassroots circuits in the UK.

To make the series accessible to players across the country, the Championship Tour operates separate North and South circuits. Players aren't restricted to one region, however, and are free to compete on either tour throughout the season.

A Place At The Grand Finals

Every match this weekend carries extra importance.

After the final Championship Tour event, the Top 8 players on the North Ranking Table will qualify for the prestigious Grand Finals at the MODUS Live Lounge in Portsmouth on 17-18 October 2026.

The Finals prize fund has doubled from last season to £10,000, with the champion collecting £3,000 and, perhaps even more importantly, securing a place in the ADC Global Championship.

The Route To £60,000

Finishing inside the Top 2 on the North Rankings also earns qualification for the ADC Global Championship 2026/27.

That event boasts a £150,000 prize fund, including an eye-catching £60,000 first prize, making the Championship Tour one of the most rewarding pathways available outside the professional circuit.

Strong Winners Already Emerging

Four events have already been completed this season, producing three different winners.

• Event 1: David Sumner
• Event 2: Daniel Ayres
• Event 3: Lewis Pride
• Event 4: Daniel Ayres

Daniel Ayres has made the early running with two victories from the opening four tournaments, although there is still plenty of darts to be played before the race for Portsmouth reaches its conclusion.

With Events 5 and 6 now approaching, every ranking point becomes increasingly valuable as players battle for qualification places.

Championship Tour Event Prize Fund

🏆 Winner – £1,000

🥈 Runner-up – £400

🥉 Semi-finalists – £200

Quarter-finalists – £100

Last 16 – £40

Last 32 – £20

Another Huge Weekend Ahead

The standard across the ADC Championship Tour continues to rise each season, with many considering it one of the strongest competitions outside the PDC ranking system.

For players chasing the Grand Finals, the ADC Global Championship and a potential £60,000 payday, Events 5 and 6 could prove pivotal in shaping the rest of the season.

Q4QS Six To Follow

Looking at your player export and the current storylines, I'd avoid simply picking the top six. A mix of favourites, form players and dark horses always makes for a stronger feature.

⭐ Daniel Ayres

Already a two-time Championship Tour winner this season and fresh from a PDC Challenge Tour title. If he finds his best game again, he'll be one of the men everyone has to beat.

⭐ Lewis Pride

An Event 3 winner who continues to impress against professional opposition. His scoring power means he can beat anyone over the shorter formats.

⭐ Oliver Mitchell

The highest-ranked player in the field on Q4QS and someone who has already claimed notable wins over several Tour Card holders this year.

⭐ Steve Lennon

The former Tour Card holder brings plenty of experience and remains capable of producing 90+ averages on demand. A dangerous draw for anyone.

⭐ Lewis Cook (Young Gun)

One of the rising talents in the field. Recent JDC Advanced Tour finals and an 8-2 run in his last ten matches suggest he could spring a surprise.

⭐ Graham Usher (Dark Horse)

Perhaps not among the headline names, but Usher has quietly been putting together some strong performances on the Challenge Tour and could easily make a deep run if the draw opens up.

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Two More Dark Horses (if you want an "Ones to Watch" section)

Ashley Coleman – Arrives in excellent form after winning a recent Vault event and has gone 9-1 in his last ten matches. Momentum counts in tournaments like these.

William Borland – Easy to overlook, but we all know the quality he possesses. If he settles quickly, he's more than capable of making a quarter-final or better.

Under-Average Darts Competitions – Good for the Game?

 

Few topics in grassroots darts create as much debate as under-average competitions.

Speak to ten players and you'll probably get ten different opinions.

Over the last few years, the rise of the ADC has transformed opportunities for players across the UK. More people than ever are playing competitive darts, and crucially, many of those players are not county stars, former professionals or players averaging 80-plus. They are simply people who enjoy the game and want regular competition against opponents of a similar standard.

For many years, local tournaments often saw the same handful of top players dominating week after week. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, it could sometimes discourage newer or developing players from entering regularly. Nobody particularly enjoys paying an entry fee every week only to be knocked out immediately by a county player averaging 85.

The answer, it seems, has been the growth of under-average competitions.

The Route for Ambitious Players

For players with aspirations of reaching the highest levels of the game, the ADC Vault system has created a genuine pathway.

Players compete over a series of events within their region, earning points throughout the season. The strongest performers qualify for a Finals Day, where the winner can earn an invitation to compete on television in the Modus Super Series, subject to meeting the required average criteria (typically around 77+).

A strong run on the Modus stage can be life-changing. Television exposure brings opportunities for sponsorship, endorsements, prize money and increased recognition, all without necessarily having to navigate the challenges of PDC Q School or qualify for major WDF events.

For ambitious players, the Vault system offers a clear and realistic route to bigger opportunities.

Darts for Everyone

Not every player wants to become a professional.

Many players simply want competitive, enjoyable darts against opponents of a similar standard.

This is where under-average tournaments have become incredibly important.

Across the UK you'll find Under 70, Under 65 and Under 55 competitions, each designed to cater for different ability levels. In some areas there are even Under 45 events aimed at complete beginners and newer players.

The average limit itself is usually determined by the organiser, allowing flexibility depending on the local player base.

An Under 70 event might suit players who are progressing from pub darts or lower-level leagues and want stronger competition. Under 65 tournaments often sit comfortably between recreational and county-level standards. Under 55 events are ideal for newer players who are still developing consistency and confidence.

The beauty of the system is that players can choose the level that suits them best.

A player averaging 45 can still enter an Under 70 competition if they wish. They'll simply face tougher opposition and perhaps gain valuable experience. Equally, a player averaging 68 may choose to test themselves at open events or Vault competitions.

Another positive development is that the ADC pathway doesn't stop at the Vault Finals. Alongside the main Vault structure, competitions such as Core, Emerging and Rise Up provide additional opportunities for players to progress and earn recognition. Importantly, these events are not restricted by carrying average in the same way as many under-average tournaments, meaning players can continue to challenge themselves as they improve. It creates a ladder of progression where virtually every player entering a local ADC event has something to aim for, regardless of their current standard.

My Personal View

Personally, I've always believed that the goal should be to become too good for your current level.

If you're winning regularly at Under 55 level, perhaps it's time to move into Under 65 events. If you're consistently performing well there, maybe Under 70 or open competitions become the next challenge.

Progression is one of the most satisfying parts of darts.

The under-average system doesn't stop players improving. In fact, it often encourages development by giving players achievable stepping stones rather than expecting them to jump straight into events filled with county stars and former professionals.

The Argument Against

Of course, there are criticisms.

The most common argument is that stronger players now have fewer tournaments available to them. Historically, many local events were open to everyone, allowing the best players to compete wherever they wished.

There is certainly some truth in that.

Top players naturally want regular high-quality competition, and some feel that the increasing number of restricted events reduces their opportunities.

However, it's worth asking an important question.

If the same small group of elite players dominated every local tournament, would we see the participation numbers that exist today?

Many players who now compete weekly may never have entered the sport at all without under-average competitions. The confidence gained from competitive matches against players of similar ability often leads to greater participation, league involvement and long-term commitment to the game.

Finding the Balance

The reality is that grassroots darts needs both.

It needs Vault competitions and open events for ambitious players chasing higher honours.

It also needs Under 70, Under 65, Under 55 and beginner-level events to encourage participation and provide enjoyable competition for the vast majority of players.

The ADC is still relatively young, and not every town or city currently offers the same breadth of opportunities. Some areas have a thriving calendar of events at every level, while others are still developing.

But the direction of travel is clear.

Vaults continue to expand. Under-average events continue to attract strong entries. More players are entering competitive darts than ever before.

As long as organisers continue to provide opportunities for players of all abilities, darts remains a game for everyone.

And that's surely a good thing for the future of the sport.