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.

Worthington's Champion of Champions 2026 Preview: 256 Players, Two Legs to Win – and Almost Anything Can Happen

 

There are bigger tournaments in darts. There are richer tournaments. There are tournaments with considerably longer matches and far more television coverage.

But there can't be many quite like the Worthington's Champion of Champions, which takes place on Saturday 22nd August 2026

In Cardiff, 256 qualifiers will come together for one of grassroots darts' great annual shootouts. Every player has earned their place through a qualifying venue, there are no PDC Tour Card holders in the field, and eventually one player will emerge as the 2026 Champion of Champions.

The extraordinary part is how little time they have to prove themselves.

Every match is best of three legs.

First to two.

That's it.

You could arrive as one of the strongest players in the tournament, lose the bull, watch your opponent throw a 15-darter, miss one dart at double in the second leg and be packing the darts away a few minutes later.

Equally, you could arrive in Cardiff as one of the lesser-known qualifiers and genuinely believe you can beat anybody in the room.

That's what makes the Champion of Champions special.

And this year's provisional field looks absolutely fascinating.

From Price and Clayton to the Grassroots Stars of Today

Red Dragon relaunched the Champion of Champions in 2014 and its roll of honour tells you plenty about the quality required to win it.

Steve Degville won the first edition in 2014 before Gerwyn Price took the title in 2015. Jonny Clayton followed in 2016, Paul Hogan in 2017 and Ryan Searle in 2018.

Jim Williams became champion in 2019 before the competition's interruption, with Alec Small winning in 2022, Kurt Parry in 2023, Nick Kenny in 2024 and David Davies becoming the latest champion in 2025.

It's quite a list.

Price, Clayton and Searle subsequently became established names at the highest level of professional darts, while Williams and Kenny have also competed extensively within the PDC system.

But perhaps the most remarkable statistic is this:

Nobody has ever won it twice.

Ten completed tournaments. Ten different champions.

And there is another sequence on the line in Cardiff.

The last five completed editions have all produced Welsh champions: Jim Williams, Alec Small, Kurt Parry, Nick Kenny and David Davies.

Can Wales make it six?

With the tournament being staged in Cardiff and another huge Welsh contingent expected, there is every reason to think it can.

But in this format, expecting anything is dangerous.

The Modern News of the World?

The Champion of Champions is sometimes compared to the old News of the World Championship and it's easy to understand why.

Short-format darts creates a completely different test.

In a best-of-11 or best-of-19 match, the stronger player has time to recover from a poor leg. Over best of three, there is almost no margin for error.

One leg against throw can effectively decide the match.

One missed double can decide the match.

One 12 or 15-dart burst can decide the match.

Even winning the bull could become hugely significant.

To win a 256-player straight knockout tournament requires eight victories.

Eight best-of-three matches.

That potentially means a player could become Champion of Champions by winning just 16 legs of darts.

Of course, actually doing it is anything but easy.

You have to repeatedly deal with the pressure of knowing there is virtually no recovery time. You have to find doubles immediately. And you need to survive the inevitable match where your opponent suddenly produces their best darts of the day.

That's why simply looking at the rankings won't tell us who is going to win.

But they can tell us who arrives with a particularly interesting chance.

Stevenson Sets the Statistical Standard

Of the provisional qualifiers I've been able to match against the Q4QS database, Simon Stevenson is the highest-ranked player.

Stevenson sits at No.62 in the database with an overall average of 88.47 and has won seven of his last ten recorded matches.

More importantly, the numbers show the level he's capable of producing.

He won the Legends Darts Lounge UK Open Grand Final Qualifier with a 92.31 tournament average and has recorded notable victories in the database including a 98.82 average against John Mann. His recent Challenge Tour appearances also include a Last 64 run at Event 18 where he averaged 92.44 across the event.

In a conventional tournament, Stevenson would be one of the obvious favourites.

He still is here.

But Champion of Champions favourites come with a very large warning label.

Jim Williams Could Become the First Two-Time Champion

If history is the theme, Jim Williams might have the biggest story of all.

The 2019 champion is back and attempting to do something nobody has managed before.

Win it twice.

Williams remains one of the highest-quality players in the provisional field. He is ranked 209 in the Q4QS database but averages 87.17 overall, while his recent results demonstrate that his scoring remains extremely dangerous.

He reached a Vault final at Shooters Bar in Leominster with a 92.55 event average and has subsequently produced Challenge Tour event averages around the 89 mark.

There are players ranked above Williams in this field.

There aren't many I'd particularly want to draw against him in a first-to-two shootout.

If Williams wins, he doesn't merely take the 2026 title.

He breaks one of the tournament's great traditions.

Paul Hogan Is Flying

Then there is the 2017 champion.

Paul Hogan might sit only 471st in the current Q4QS rankings, but that ranking seriously understates the form in which he arrives.

His database record reads:

Last 10: 10 wins, 0 defeats.

Hogan recently won at the Wolversdene Club in Andover with an 87.02 event average and has been collecting titles and deep runs consistently. His recent five-event sequence includes three victories, another win at Burghfield and a semi-final.

Experience also counts for something in a format like this.

Hogan knows how to win the Champion of Champions because he's already done it.

Nine years later, could he become its first repeat winner?

On current form, it certainly isn't an outrageous suggestion.

Alec Small and Kurt Parry Chase History Too

Two more former champions arrive with outstanding recent numbers.

Alec Small, champion in 2022, is another player showing 10 wins from his last ten recorded matches.

His recent Vault results include an 88.04 winning average at the National Club in Wattsville, while his database numbers show repeated tournament victories rather than one isolated good performance.

Then comes 2023 champion Kurt Parry.

Parry has won nine of his last ten, recently won a Vault at Duffy's in Pontypridd and then reached another final at the Mile End Inn while averaging 86.48.

His overall Q4QS average of 81.61 doesn't put him alongside Stevenson and Williams for pure scoring, but that's precisely where this tournament becomes interesting.

Parry doesn't need to average 90 for eight matches.

He needs to win two legs at a time.

And he has already demonstrated that he knows exactly how to do that on Champion of Champions day.

What About the Defending Champion?

David Davies is another fascinating inclusion on the provisional qualifier list.

The defending champion has the opportunity to become the first player ever to successfully retain the title.

His wider database numbers aren't as eye-catching as some of the headline contenders, but that hardly matters when discussing a player who proved only 12 months ago that he can navigate this unique format.

There is no gradual settling into the Champion of Champions.

The defending champion gets exactly the same two-leg target as everyone else.

Survive, and move on.

The Q4QS Top 20

Among the provisional qualifiers matched to the Q4QS database, the leading 20 are:

#	Player	Q4QS Rank
1	Simon Stevenson	62
2	Keenan Thomas	105
3	Neil Wild	136
4	Graham Usher	137
5	Jim Williams	209
6	Chas Barstow	241
7	Johnny Haines	307
8	Dean Reynolds	324
9	Jamie Kelling	360
10	Martin Thomas	417
11	Stephen Cake	423
12	Paul Hogan	471
13	Mike Huntley	516
14	Chris Hurds	518
15	William Thomas	547
16	Jason Collins	568
17	Matt Dennant	654
18	Clive Langford	671
19	Nigel Prior	685
20	Alec Small	691

That list itself demonstrates the depth.

Keenan Thomas has recently won a Vault event with an 86.29 average and has Challenge Tour experience. Graham Usher carries an 85.12 overall average and has been playing both Challenge Tour and ADC competition.
Chas Barstow has an 86.10 overall average, while Johnny Haines has won nine of his last ten and recently produced a 90.85 event average in a Vault victory.

And that's before we reach some of the most interesting form players in the entire tournament.

The Dangerous Outsiders

If you're looking for players capable of wrecking the predictions, Neil Wild immediately stands out.

Wild is 9-1 across his last ten matches in the database and has produced some extraordinary scoring. One recent tournament victory came with a 104.63 event average, including recorded match averages of 119.55, 104.51 and 100.31.

If anything approaching that Neil Wild turns up in Cardiff, nobody will want to see his name beside theirs.

Matt Dennant comes in at 9-1 and has been accumulating Vault titles. His recent results include multiple tournament victories and a recorded 104.86 match average.

Bryan Flew is another name I like in this format. He's 8-2 across his last ten and recently produced winning event averages of 88.39, 84.61 and 85.52 across a run of strong Vault performances.

Stephen Cake is in excellent form too. Cake is 8-2, recently won at the Junction Inn with an 85.15 average and has followed that with further titles and a final.

Mike Huntley brings a 9-1 recent record, while Alec McCready has the same last-ten record and has been collecting titles around Hereford and Leominster.
And don't overlook Gavin Sterio, also 9-1, or Dean Reynolds, whose recent 9-1 run includes victory at the Towy Sports Bar Open.
In a best-of-three tournament, those are exactly the sort of players who can suddenly find themselves five or six rounds deep.

Players to Watch

There are stories much further down the field as well.

Robbie Long's recent results include a nine-win unbeaten tournament at Hangar 61, while his database contains a 96.39 match average amongst his notable performances.

William Thomas deserves attention after winning all ten of his most recently recorded matches. His recent results include a tournament win, another final and a semi-final run at the Towy Sports Bar Open.

Kai Clark has Development Tour experience alongside strong grassroots results and is 8-2 in his last ten.

Clive Langford has also been winning, including success at the Out Out Bar UK Open Grand Finals, and has seven victories from his last ten recorded matches.

There will undoubtedly be others.

That's an important point with a tournament like this. Rankings tell us about what players have already achieved in the events captured by the database. They don't guarantee what happens when two players stand eight feet from a dartboard and race to two legs.

Can Wales Make It Six?

The Welsh dominance is difficult to ignore.

Five consecutive completed editions have been won by Welsh players.

The provisional field again contains enormous Welsh representation, including former champions Williams, Small, Parry and Davies alongside players such as Cake, Huntley, Flew, Sterio and a long list of dangerous qualifiers from across the country.

Home advantage doesn't guarantee anything.

But the sheer depth of Welsh grassroots darts means it would be no surprise whatsoever if the trophy remained in Wales.

The intriguing alternative is whether somebody from outside Wales can finally break the sequence.

Stevenson has the highest Q4QS ranking among the provisional qualifiers. Wild's recent numbers are frightening. Usher, Barstow, Haines, Hogan, Evans and Dennant provide serious opposition.

Wales may have the numbers.

It certainly doesn't have a monopoly on contenders.

Two Legs From Disaster – Eight Matches From Glory

That's ultimately why I love the Champion of Champions concept.

Imagine being the best player in a 256-player tournament and knowing that none of it matters if your opponent throws two brilliant legs.

Imagine being ranked well outside the leading contenders and knowing exactly the same thing works in your favour.

You don't have to beat Simon Stevenson over 19 legs.

You don't have to outscore Jim Williams for an hour.

You don't have to match Neil Wild's best tournament averages across an entire afternoon.

You have to beat whoever stands in front of you twice.

Then do it again.

And again.

Eight matches later, you're Champion of Champions.

The format creates jeopardy from the opening dart. It rewards nerve, doubling and the ability to produce your best darts immediately. There is almost no opportunity to play your way into a match.

That makes predicting a winner extraordinarily difficult.

But if I were building a shortlist from the provisional field and current Q4QS data, Simon Stevenson and Jim Williams have to be among the headline names, while the current form of Neil Wild, Paul Hogan, Johnny Haines, Alec Small, Kurt Parry, Lee Evans and Matt Dennant makes all of them extremely interesting.

Then there are another 200-plus players perfectly capable of making that prediction look ridiculous.

And that's the point.

The Red Dragon Champion of Champions has produced future PDC stars, established champions and grassroots heroes.

It has never produced a two-time winner.

Wales has won the last five.

And somewhere in Cardiff, among 256 qualifiers, there may be a player almost nobody is talking about who is only 16 winning legs away from becoming the 2026 champion.

In most major darts tournaments, saying almost anyone can win is a cliché.

At the Champion of Champions, it might actually be true.

Modus Super Series Champions Week Preview

 

The stage is set for one of the biggest weeks of the Modus Super Series season, as twelve weekly winners return to battle it out for the coveted Champions Week title.

Every player has already proved they can win a week, but one name arrives with a remarkable record that immediately catches the eye.

Derek Coulson – The Man Everyone Has to Beat?

If there is one player carrying serious momentum into Champions Week, it has to be Derek Coulson.

Not only did he qualify for Champions Week, he did so in emphatic fashion by winning every single match during his qualifying week. That's a rare achievement at Modus level and sends a clear message to the rest of the field.

Coulson has also shown he possesses genuine scoring power. Earlier this season he fired a stunning 106.59 average at a PDC Players Championship and recorded an impressive 6-1 victory over Niko Springer. If he reproduces anything like that form this week, he'll take some stopping.

Robertson Arrives in Red-Hot Form

While Coulson may be the headline act, Scott Robertson is arguably the form player coming into the event.

The Scotsman has won his last ten matches in the Q4QS database and arrives after lifting both the England Open and Denmark Open & Masters titles. During that run he defeated WDF World Champion Neil Duff with a superb 103.58 average, highlighting the level he's currently producing.

Neil Duff Looking to Add Another Big Title

Former WDF World Champion Neil Duff is always a dangerous proposition.

Duff recently won the Eastern European Darts Challenge and arrives having won eight of his last ten matches. Champions Week has a habit of rewarding experience, and few players in this field possess more of it.

Young Talent Ready to Shine

Several younger players will believe this could be their breakthrough week.

Jack Aldridge has already shown he can compete with established names after defeating Michael Unterbuchner on the Challenge Tour, while Henry Coates continues to gain valuable experience through both the Development Tour and Players Championship circuit.

Both have demonstrated the scoring ability required to upset the favourites if they can find consistency over the week.

Dark Horses

Champions Week often throws up a surprise, and several players fit that description.

Jack Tweddell recently impressed against Raymond van Barneveld despite defeat and continues to produce strong performances.

Archie Self arrives in outstanding form after winning four Vault titles in recent months and boasting a 9-1 record from his last ten matches, while David Evans has already shown he can compete deep into PDC Challenge Tour events.

None of them will fear the occasion.

Six To Follow

🎯 Derek Coulson
🎯 Scott Robertson
🎯 Neil Duff
🎯 Jack Aldridge
🎯 Henry Coates
🎯 Archie Self

Storylines to Watch

• 🏆 Can Derek Coulson continue the incredible form that saw him qualify by winning every match?
• 🔥 Scott Robertson arrives on a perfect 10-match winning streak.
• 💪 Can Neil Duff add another televised title to his collection?
• ⭐ Will one of the younger stars announce themselves on the Modus stage?
• 🎯 Which weekly winner will handle the pressure of Champions Week best?

Prediction

Champions Week rarely follows the script, but it's difficult to look beyond Derek Coulson after the way he qualified.

Winning an entire qualifying week without defeat is an outstanding achievement, and if he can maintain that level he'll be the man everyone wants to avoid.

Scott Robertson looks the biggest challenger on current form, while Neil Duff's experience means he can never be discounted. Expect a week full of quality darts, high averages and plenty of drama before one player is crowned Champions Week champion.

MODUS Super Series Week 12 Preview – Can Scott Robertson Continue His Remarkable Run?

 

The MODUS Super Series returns for Week 12, bringing together another intriguing mix of experienced professionals, established tour players and ambitious challengers looking to make their mark.

As always, the opening week groups can often produce surprises, but several players arrive in outstanding form according to the latest Q4QS database. Recent performances suggest this could be one of the most competitive weeks of the series so far.

Scott Robertson Arrives As The Man To Beat

Few players anywhere in Europe are carrying better form than Scott Robertson.

The Scotsman arrives after winning both the Denmark Open & Masters and the England Open, compiling a remarkable 10 consecutive victories in the Q4QS database. His recent victories over Neil Duff, Danny Jansen and Corné Groeneveld demonstrate exactly how dangerous he can be when confidence is high.

If Robertson settles quickly, he'll take plenty of stopping.

Ted Evetts Building Momentum

Former World Youth Champion Ted Evetts also comes into Week 12 full of confidence.

He's won his last 10 recorded matches, including recent ADC Vault titles, and remains one of the quickest scorers in the field. Evetts has always possessed plenty of natural ability, and another deep MODUS run would surprise nobody.

Kevin Burness Searching For A Breakthrough

Northern Ireland's Kevin Burness continues to knock on the door.

A recent finalist on the PDC Challenge Tour showed he remains highly competitive, and his consistent scoring makes him one of the most dangerous floaters in the draw. If Burness gets into an early rhythm, he has the game to trouble anyone.

Experienced Campaigners Ready To Pounce

Former World Championship semi-finalist Andy Hamilton brings vast experience to the week's line-up and remains one of the toughest competitors in any format.

Meanwhile Jarred Cole, Sean Ryan, Chris Wickenden, Terry Nash and Shaun Fox all arrive after encouraging recent performances and will believe they can spring a surprise against the more established names.

Opportunities For The Underdogs

One of the attractions of the MODUS Super Series is that momentum can change quickly.

Players such as Chris Wickenden have already shown they can produce big averages against quality opposition, while Sean Ryan and Jarred Cole both arrive after lifting recent local titles.

A fast start could be enough to completely change the complexion of the week.

---

Q4QS Six To Follow

🎯 Scott Robertson

The obvious favourite on current form. Two recent tournament victories and ten straight wins make him the standout player entering Week 12.

🎯 Ted Evetts

Back in winning form and carrying plenty of confidence after recent ADC success. One of the quickest scorers in the field.

🎯 Kevin Burness

Challenge Tour finalist with plenty of experience. More than capable of making a deep run.

🎯 Chris Wickenden

One of the dark horses. Has already produced 97+ averages against quality opposition this season.

🎯 Jarred Cole

Fresh from a recent title and quietly putting together consistent performances.

🎯 Sean Ryan

Recent Rileys UK Open Qualifier winner who arrives with confidence and momentum.

---

Players Who Could Cause An Upset

If the favourites slip up, don't be surprised to see one of these players take advantage:

• Terry Nash
• Shaun Fox
• Stijn Deklerck
• Andy Hamilton

Each has shown enough recent form to make life difficult for the higher-ranked names.

---

Prediction

Scott Robertson deserves favourite status based on current form, but the strength in depth throughout the field means nothing will come easily.

Ted Evetts and Kevin Burness look the most likely challengers, while Chris Wickenden and Jarred Cole could prove to be the week's surprise packages.

Expect another entertaining week of MODUS Super Series darts, with plenty of opportunities for emerging players to make a name for themselves.

PDC Euro Tour Event 10 Preview

Another European Tour weekend is upon us and, as always, it looks packed with storylines.

Recent ProTour events have produced several surprise runs, emerging stars continue to push towards the elite, while some of the biggest names in world darts are looking to rediscover the consistency that has made them multiple title winners.

Nijman looking every inch a contender

If there is one player arriving with genuine momentum, it has to be Wessel Nijman.

Already sitting fourth in the Q4QS rankings, Nijman arrives after lifting the PDC Slovak title with a superb tournament average of 99.45, including an outstanding 103.80 average in his victory over Rob Cross. Although his most recent Players Championship ended in an early exit, his recent body of work suggests he is becoming one of the most dangerous players on the circuit.

Dobey continues to produce big numbers

Chris Dobey remains one of the most reliable scorers in the game.

An eight wins from his last ten matches highlights his consistency, while a 105.09 match average earlier in the Players Championship series reminded everyone just how explosive "Hollywood" can be. Another quarter-final last time out keeps him firmly among the favourites to go deep once again.

Can Van Gerwen find another title?

Michael van Gerwen's season has perhaps lacked the relentless consistency fans expect from the Dutch legend, but the quality is still there.

His Players Championship victory earlier in the season featured a tournament average of almost 102 and included a 106.57 average in the final against Dirk van Duijvenbode. When MVG finds his rhythm, few players can live with him.

Woodhouse quietly building momentum

Luke Woodhouse may not always dominate the headlines, but his recent form deserves plenty of attention.

Winner of the Baltic Sea Open before reaching the final of Players Championship 24, Woodhouse has won eight of his last ten matches and looks full of confidence heading into another European Tour weekend.

Ross Smith remains a major threat

Ross Smith's scoring power is never in doubt.

A Players Championship title, tournament average above 100 and a remarkable 107 average in one of his recent victories show exactly why nobody will want to face him early in the draw. If his finishing clicks, he has every chance of lifting another title.

Experienced names searching for another big weekend

James Wade, Nathan Aspinall and Stephen Bunting all arrive with reasons for optimism.

Wade continues to produce high-quality performances despite a few frustrating early exits, Aspinall already owns a European Tour title this season and has won seven of his last ten matches, while Bunting has shown flashes of the form that made him one of the most dangerous players earlier this year.

Keep an eye on the next generation

The European Tour continues to provide opportunities for younger players to announce themselves.

Sebastian Bialecki arrives after Development Tour success, while Gian van Veen continues to impress after another recent semi-final run. Wessel Nijman is already proving he belongs among the game's elite, and several younger stars look capable of making another statement this weekend.

Dark horses

Every European Tour seems to produce one or two surprise packages.

Kevin Doets continues to produce excellent averages and remains capable of beating anyone on his day. Mickey Mansell comes into the weekend after another quarter-final run, while Joe Cullen has quietly put together some encouraging performances despite not yet making a major breakthrough.

My players to watch

If I had to pick six players most likely to make a serious impact this weekend, they would be:

• Wessel Nijman

• Chris Dobey

• Michael van Gerwen

• Luke Woodhouse

• Ross Smith

• Nathan Aspinall

With established champions, in-form outsiders and several rising stars all capable of winning on the European Tour, Event 10 promises another fascinating weekend. Recent form suggests there are plenty of genuine contenders, and I wouldn't be surprised if another fresh name finds themselves lifting the trophy on Sunday.

Modus Super Series Week 10 Preview: Form Players Ready to Battle

 

 

The Modus Super Series returns for Week 10 with another intriguing field combining established names, rising talent and players arriving in excellent form.

While there are no guarantees in one of darts' most unpredictable competitions, several players have built impressive momentum over recent weeks and will believe they can make a serious impact.

One of the standout names heading into the week is Nathan Potter. The Englishman recently reached the final of a PDC Development Tour event and has continued to produce consistently solid performances against strong opposition. If he can translate that form onto the Modus stage, he could be one of the players to beat.

Dutch youngster Jamai van den Herik also arrives with plenty of confidence. Recent Development Tour events have seen him reach multiple deep runs, including two semi-finals, highlighting both his consistency and scoring ability. His recent 9-1 record in the Q4QS database suggests he's carrying plenty of momentum into Week 10.

Few players anywhere are enjoying a hotter run than Chas Barstow. Multiple local titles and an unbeaten stretch of victories have made him one of the form players in grassroots darts. Confidence can often be priceless in the Modus format, and Barstow certainly won't be lacking any.

Scottish thrower Jim McEwan has also produced some eye-catching displays recently. A runner-up finish at the Isle of Man International Festival, coupled with several high-quality averages, demonstrates that he's capable of mixing it with quality opposition.

Another player worth watching is Kaya Baysal. The young talent arrives after claiming a title at the Swiss Open & Helvetia Open and has continued to make deep runs on the JDC circuit. His experience against fellow rising stars should stand him in good stead this week.

If there is a potential dark horse, Mike Warburton fits the bill perfectly. He recently produced a remarkable 110.51 average on the PDC Challenge Tour, showing the explosive scoring power needed to trouble anybody over the shorter Modus format.

Elsewhere, experienced campaigners Jamie Lewis and former World Champion Robert Thornton add further quality to what looks a highly competitive field, while Jack Aldridge and Carl Batchelor have both shown they possess the game to produce big performances when confidence is flowing.Finally is Lee Evans (the Welsh One!), who has the ability is playing his A game 

Six To Follow

Nathan Potter – Consistent Development Tour performances make him one of the most reliable players in the field.

Jamai van den Herik – Excellent recent momentum with multiple deep runs.

Chas Barstow – One of the hottest players on current form.

Jim McEwan – Proven he can average well in pressure matches.

Kaya Baysal – Young talent with recent title-winning confidence.

Mike Warburton – Capable of producing huge scoring bursts that can change matches quickly.

Whatever happens, Week 10 promises another entertaining week of darts, with experienced professionals, emerging stars and in-form players all chasing valuable victories. If recent performances are anything to go by, expect plenty of big averages, close contests and perhaps a surprise run or two before the week is over.

US Darts Masters Preview – Can The North Americans Cause An Upset?

 

The World Series of Darts heads to New York this weekend as eight of the PDC's biggest stars take on eight leading North American representatives in the 2026 US Darts Masters.

On paper, the seeded players will start as overwhelming favourites. However, World Series events have often produced memorable shocks, and several North American players arrive with enough recent form to believe they can spring an upset.

Humphries And Littler Lead The Charge

Q4QS number one Luke Humphries arrives in excellent form after winning Players Championship 17 with a tournament average of 104.74. His recent record of eight wins from his last ten matches makes him one of the standout contenders for the title.

Luke Littler is not far behind in the conversation. The teenage superstar recently claimed the Poland Masters title with a superb 105.37 tournament average and remains one of the most feared scorers in world darts. Although he suffered an earlier-than-expected exit at the Belgian Open, few players possess a higher ceiling.

Gerwyn Price also arrives with silverware in recent weeks after lifting the European Darts Grand Prix, while James Wade, Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton, Josh Rock and Gian van Veen complete an exceptionally strong seeded line-up.

North America's Best Ready To Test The Elite

While the European stars dominate the headlines, the home contingent has enjoyed an encouraging year on the Championship Darts Circuit.

Leonard Gates comes into the tournament in outstanding form, winning both the US Masters Qualifier and the latest CDC Main Event. His experience and confidence make him one of the biggest threats to the seeded players.

Adam Sevada has also enjoyed an excellent season, collecting multiple CDC titles and reaching another quarter-final in his most recent outing. He has shown remarkable consistency throughout 2026 and will not fear any opponent.

David Cameron remains one of the most experienced players in North American darts and has already claimed the CDC Cross-Border Challenge this season, while Alex Spellman arrives with an impressive 9W-1L record across his last ten matches after several tournament victories.

Players Who Could Cause An Upset

Every World Series event seems to produce at least one surprise result. Looking at recent form, these four players appear best placed to challenge the established names.

Leonard Gates

Arguably the most dangerous unseeded player in the field. Recent CDC titles and vast stage experience make him a genuine threat.

Adam Sevada

His consistency throughout the CDC season has been outstanding. If he settles quickly, few seeds will relish facing him.

David Cameron

A former WDF World Champion who still possesses the experience to frustrate the world's elite over a short format.

Alex Spellman

Perhaps the dark horse of the tournament. His recent 9W-1L run suggests his confidence is growing at exactly the right time.

Q4QS Six To Follow

🎯 Luke Humphries

🎯 Luke Littler

🎯 Gerwyn Price

🎯 Leonard Gates

🎯 Adam Sevada

🎯 Alex Spellman

Q4QS Prediction

Luke Humphries starts as the player to beat based on recent performances, although Luke Littler's scoring power means he is never far away from lifting another televised title.

Among the North Americans, Leonard Gates appears best equipped to produce a headline upset, while Adam Sevada and David Cameron could also make life uncomfortable for the seeded stars if they reproduce their recent CDC form.

Whatever happens, the US Darts Masters remains one of the highlights of the World Series calendar, providing another opportunity for North America's leading players to test themselves against the very best in the world.

MODUS Super Series - ADC South West Qualifier Preview (Sat 20th June)

 

Another big opportunity awaits for South West players as the latest MODUS Super Series Qualifier gets underway, with a competitive field featuring proven winners, in-form performers and several players capable of producing a surprise run.

Heading the field is Gareth Griffiths, who arrives in exceptional form. The Cornish thrower has won his last ten matches in the database and recently produced a title-winning average of over 92. With confidence high, he will be one of the names everyone is looking to avoid.

Henry Cooper is another player arriving with serious momentum. Back-to-back title victories and a perfect recent record make him one of the strongest contenders in the draw.

Neil Meneer continues to impress across Cornwall and Devon, while Lee Evans brings a wealth of experience and recent title-winning form. Both have shown they possess the consistency required to navigate a long qualifier.

The chasing pack is packed with dangerous names. Danny Humphries, Shaun Vernall, Rich Griffee, Andy Steed, Kieran Smith, Bailey White and C-Jay Pipe have all produced performances in recent months that suggest they are capable of making a deep run.

Further down the field, players such as Kev Dunstan, Nigel Lamb, Finlay Cleave, Ethan Bynorth and Zach Quinn will fancy their chances of upsetting some of the more highly-ranked names.

As always in ADC competition, form and confidence can change everything. One hot spell on the doubles can quickly transform an outsider into a genuine title contender.

Six To Follow

🎯 Gareth Griffiths
Won his last ten matches and arrives as the standout form player.

🎯 Henry Cooper
Unbeaten in recent weeks and collecting titles.

🎯 Neil Meneer
Consistent performer with multiple recent finals and victories.

🎯 Lee Evans
A proven winner who knows how to navigate strong fields.

🎯 Danny Humphries
Capable of producing big averages and big results.

🎯 Shaun Vernall
Recent title winner and quietly one of the most in-form players in the draw.

Dark Horse

⭐ Kev Dunstan

Recent ADC success and several title-winning performances make him a dangerous outsider.

Q4QS Prediction

Winner: Gareth Griffiths

Runner-Up: Henry Cooper

Semi-Finalists: Neil Meneer & Lee Evans

Dark Horse: Kev Dunstan

Modus Super Series Week 8 Preview

 

The Modus Super Series returns for Week 8 with a fascinating blend of established performers, emerging talent and proven winners looking to make their mark on the live-streamed stage.

Heading the field is Joe Hunt, currently ranked 11th in the Q4QS rankings. Hunt has continued to impress in PDC competition, recently reaching the quarter-finals of Players Championship 16 and recording notable victories over Michael van Gerwen, Christian Kist and Shane McGuirk. When Hunt finds his rhythm, few players in this field can match his scoring power.

Another player arriving with strong credentials is Dylan Slevin. The Irishman reached the semi-finals of a recent PDC Development Tour event and has posted a number of impressive performances throughout the season. A recent 7W-3L run highlights the consistency he brings into the week.

One of the form players entering the competition is Graham Hall. Hall arrives on the back of a remarkable 10-match winning streak and has collected multiple titles in recent weeks. Momentum can be a powerful weapon in the Modus format and Hall certainly has plenty of it.

Sam Spivey has been gaining valuable experience on the PDC Challenge Tour and recently reached the Last 32 stage of Challenge Tour 15. His scoring ability and competitive experience could make him one of the dark horses of the week.

Oliver King enters the competition as a recent Rileys UK Open Qualifier champion. Tournament-winning confidence can often be crucial in the Modus environment, and King has already shown he knows how to get over the line when trophies are on the line.

Joe Croft is another player worth keeping an eye on. Recent results include a tournament victory and a strong run to the Last 32 of the England Open. An 8W-2L recent record suggests he arrives full of confidence.

Elsewhere, Ryan Branley, Alec Small, Bradley O'Connor and Dean Finn all have the ability to cause problems throughout the week. The Modus Super Series has built a reputation for producing surprises, and it would be no shock to see one of the outsiders put together a memorable run.

Six To Follow

⭐ Joe Hunt
⭐ Dylan Slevin
⭐ Graham Hall
⭐ Sam Spivey
⭐ Joe Croft
⭐ Oliver King

With proven winners, PDC experience and several players carrying excellent recent form, Week 8 promises to be another highly competitive chapter in the Modus Super Series. The format often rewards consistency and momentum, and there is no shortage of both in this week's line-up.