One of the biggest weekends in the WDF English darts calendar gets underway on Friday as players descend on Selsey for the England Open and England National Singles.
With men's, women's, boys' and girls' events all taking place, the weekend promises a fascinating mix of established stars, emerging talent and grassroots form players looking to make their mark on the national stage.
🎯 Men's Five To Follow
Joe Hunt
The highest-rated player in the field and one of the standout names entering the weekend. Hunt has consistently performed at Challenge Tour level and possesses the all-round game needed to go deep in both major men's events.
Scott Robertson
Arrives in excellent form following recent success and remains one of the most experienced competitors in the field. Robertson's consistency makes him a serious contender for silverware.
Robbie Martin
One of the form players in grassroots darts. Multiple tournament wins this season and fresh from another title-winning performance, Martin could be the danger man this weekend.
Chas Barstow
Few players enter the weekend with greater scoring power. Recent 100+ averages and strong results suggest Barstow is capable of a major run.
Connor Levett
A player who often flies under the radar but consistently delivers strong performances. If he finds his best game early, he could cause problems for the top seeds.
⭐ Dark Horse: Kieran Smith
👩 Women's Five To Follow
Gemma Hayter
The standout name among the women's entrants and a genuine title contender in both events.
Rhian O'Sullivan
A consistent performer who has continued to climb the rankings through strong results and impressive averages.
Deta Hedman
Experience counts for plenty at weekends like this. Hedman remains one of the most respected competitors in the women's game.
Leanne Topper
A proven performer capable of producing deep runs in major events.
Natalie Gilbert
An outsider capable of surprising some of the bigger names if she finds her best form.
⭐ Dark Horse: Joanne Oldershaw
🧒 Boys Five To Follow
Jayden Walker
One of the strongest junior entrants and a player who consistently appears near the top of tournament reports.
Alfie Hill
A talented youngster with the ability to score heavily and challenge the leading names.
Reggie Woodmore
Continues to improve and enters the weekend with strong ranking credentials.
George Willetts
A consistent performer who rarely gives matches away.
Addison Hefferon
One of the most exciting young talents in the field.
⭐ Dark Horse: Ronnie Sumner
👧 Girls Five To Follow
Using only players appearing in the Girls rankings and entered into the event:
Macy Gibbons
The leading contender entering the weekend and the player many will be looking to beat.
Paige Pauling
A strong all-round performer with plenty of experience in junior competition.
Lucy Shepherd
Capable of producing excellent darts and making a deep run.
Abbi Ettridge
Another player with the pedigree to challenge for the title.
Kelsey Haigh
Recent performances suggest she could be ready for a breakthrough weekend.
⭐ Dark Horse: Kacey Ayres
⭐ Q4QS Weekend Six To Follow
If you're only tracking six players across the entire weekend, these are the names I'd watch:
- Joe Hunt
- Scott Robertson
- Robbie Martin
- Chas Barstow
- Gemma Hayter
- Jayden Walker
🏆 Predicted Winners
England Open Men: Joe Hunt
England National Singles Men: Scott Robertson
England Open Women: Gemma Hayter
England National Singles Women: Gemma Hayter
Boys Event: Jayden Walker
Girls Event: Macy Gibbons
The men's events look particularly open this year, with several players arriving in excellent form. The women's field contains proven winners, while the junior events feature some of the brightest young talent currently emerging through the English system. Whatever happens, Selsey looks set to deliver a fantastic weekend of darts.