Every week there are hundreds of matches taking place across the Q4QS coverage area. While tournament winners naturally grab the headlines, they aren't always the only players producing performances worthy of recognition.
Each weekend I'll be selecting three players who have genuinely caught my eye over the previous seven days. Sometimes they'll have won titles, sometimes they'll have produced exceptional averages, and sometimes they'll simply have shown the sort of form that suggests bigger things are on the horizon.
This week's trio all impressed for different reasons. Sam Chance enjoyed a remarkable week by lifting two Vault 18 titles, Sion Thomas continued his outstanding season with another dominant display in South Wales, while Jamie Kay showed the quality needed to compete on the national stage at the UKDA National Finals.
Here are this week's Q4QS Weekly Spotlight selections.
Sam Chance
Player Profile
Sam Chance has been quietly putting together an excellent 2026 season and is establishing himself as one of the most consistent performers on the North Devon circuit. Across 66 recorded matches he has won 49, giving him an impressive 74.2% win rate, while reaching a healthy 67.2 match average.
Two tournament victories and a further three runner-up finishes show that Chance is regularly challenging for titles rather than simply collecting match wins. His recent form has been particularly strong, with nine wins from his last ten matches, and his best performance to date is an excellent 85.89 average.
Consistency is another strength. His overall average and Q4QS average are virtually identical, suggesting he produces his level week after week rather than relying on occasional standout displays. His current nemesis appears to be Daniel Donovan, against whom he has struggled, but elsewhere his record speaks for itself.
This Week
Sam Chance was impossible to ignore this week after collecting two Vault 18 tournament titles in the space of just three days.
His first success came on 22 July at The Wellington Arms, where he produced arguably his performance of the season. After defeating Neil Ridd and Mathew Hern in the knockout stages, he finished by overcoming Andy Steed 3–1 in the final, averaging an outstanding 85.04. Earlier in the same event he also produced an even higher 85.89 average against Mark Gover.
Not content with one title, Chance returned on 24 July to win another Vault 18 event. His route to the title included victories over Jack Kemp, Neil Ridd, Oscar Yeaman and Matt Lambert before completing a convincing 3–0 victory over Kian Gover in the final, averaging 72.73 in the deciding match.
Winning two events in one week is impressive in itself, but doing so while producing multiple 70+ averages and an 85 average in a final makes this one of the standout weeks by any player in the Q4QS results.
Why he caught my eye
- 🏆 Two Vault 18 titles in the same week.
- 🔥 9 wins from his last 10 matches.
- 🎯 85.04 average in a tournament final.
- 💪 Defeated Andy Steed, Kian Gover, Neil Ridd, Matt Lambert and Mathew Hern during his title runs.
- 📈 Looks to be carrying genuine momentum into the coming weeks.
Sion Thomas
Player Profile
Sion Thomas has established himself as one of the leading players on the South Wales circuit during 2026. With 153 victories from 174 matches, he boasts an outstanding 87.9% win rate, while his 77.99 overall average demonstrates that his success is built on consistently high-quality darts rather than simply winning close matches.
His season record speaks for itself. Thomas has already claimed 13 tournament titles, reached nine further finals, and arrives in exceptional form having won his last ten matches. His scoring power is equally impressive, highlighted by a remarkable 111.33 match average, while multiple ton-plus performances underline the level he is capable of producing when at his best.
Although his current Q4QS card places him just outside the top 1,000, the underlying numbers suggest a player capable of competing with the strongest fields. Victories over highly-rated opponents such as Lee Evans, Stephen Cake and Mike Huntley demonstrate that Thomas is comfortable performing against quality opposition.
This Week
If there was any doubt about Sion Thomas's current form, this week removed it.
Thomas produced a flawless run to the Vault 18 title at Cambrian Sports Bar in Llanelli, winning every match on his route to the trophy. His campaign began with a stunning 103.66 average against Jack Tompsett before following it with a 100.20 average against Corey Campbell, immediately setting the tone for the evening.
The standard never dropped. Further victories over Darren Bourne, Oscar Bourne, Dylan Holborn, Stephen Bowen and Bobby Short booked his place in the final, where he completed the job with a convincing 3–0 victory over George Jones.
Looking beyond the tournament itself, Thomas has now put together ten consecutive victories, averaging almost 86 across his last ten matches and almost 87 across his last five. That combination of winning and sustained scoring power makes him one of the form players in the Q4QS database.
Why he caught my eye
- 🏆 Vault 18 champion at Cambrian Sports Bar.
- 🔥 Ten consecutive match victories.
- 💯 Two ton-plus averages (103.66 and 100.20) during the tournament.
- 🎯 Won every match on his route to the title.
- 📈 Averaging 85.95 across his last ten matches, showing elite current form.
Jamie Kay
Player Profile
Jamie Kay has quietly developed into one of the South West's most accomplished players, combining success on the local ADC circuit with impressive performances on the national stage. His statistics underline that consistency, with 46 wins from 66 matches, a 69.7% win rate and an excellent 83.0 overall average.
An average above 82 across an entire season is no accident, and Kay has already shown he can mix it with high-quality opposition. His season includes a tournament victory, multiple quarter-final and semi-final appearances, and a best average of 103.66, demonstrating the scoring power needed to trouble top-class players.
Perhaps most impressive is the calibre of players he has defeated. Victories over established names such as Callum Goffin, John Henderson, Ryan Furness and James Parkin highlight his ability to compete well beyond local events, while his recent form suggests there is still room for further improvement.
This Week
Jamie Kay earns his place in this week's spotlight following an outstanding run at the UKDA National Finals.
After opening with a convincing 4–0 victory over Barry Collier, Kay continued his progress with wins against James Tate and Andrew Kateley, booking his place in the Last 32 of one of the strongest fields of the week.
Although his tournament ended with a 4–0 defeat to Jack Johnson, the scoreline tells only part of the story. Kay produced a superb 92.95 average, comfortably his highest of the tournament, showing he was competing at an exceptionally high standard despite exiting the event.
It is exactly the sort of performance that deserves recognition. Winning matches is important, but producing almost a 93 average on a national stage demonstrates the quality needed to compete with some of the country's strongest players.
Why he caught my eye
- 🎯 Excellent run to the Last 32 of the UKDA National Finals.
- 🔥 Three convincing victories before meeting Jack Johnson.
- 💪 Finished with a superb 92.95 average against elite opposition.
- 📈 Continues to show he can compete at national level as well as dominating regional events
