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.

🏆 Q4QS SOUTH WEST TOP 100

16 June 2026

Here is a list of the Top 100 players in the South West (England) according to my Q4QS database

Usual caveats apply: Rankings are based on results currently in the Q4QS database. Players must currently have at least 6 qualifying events to appear. Rankings will continue to evolve as additional historical results, venues and tournaments are entered  Ranks based on Average, tournament strength, tournament performance, opponent strength and a couple more things!

Top 100

Rank	Player
1	Josh McCarthy
2	Ashton Brown
3	John Brown
4	Nick Eggbeer
5	Terry Jenkins
6	Geoff James
7	Kieran Smith
8	Bailey White
9	Mike Harper
10	Robbie Long
11	Scott Mc
12	Andy Steed
13	Danny Humphries
14	Luke Harding
15	Ricky Palmer
16	Graham Jenkins
17	Clive Burgess
18	Rich Griffee
19	Joshua Lewis
20	Shaun Vernall
21	Iain Howie
22	Dan Williams
23	Adrian Wood
24	Dean Brown
25	Joe Quiney
26	Zach Quinn
27	Andrew Cook
28	Steve Boundy
29	Declan Cox
30	Mitch McCarthy
31	Lee Andrews
32	Darren Herbert
33	Gary Hiscock
34	Gary Eastwood
35	Steve Brown
36	Ellis Radford
37	Steve Handley
38	Joe Bagguley
39	Matty Rogers
40	C-Jay Pipe
41	Jack Walker
42	Cameron O'Brien
43	Paul Meyer
44	Martyn Freeman
45	Rory Pearce
46	Steve Donohue
47	Woody Jewell
48	Leighton Cox
49	Darren Davies
50	Lewis Kendall
51	Owen Smith
52	Andy Hammond
53	Dave Legg
54	CJ Ayres
55	Jamie Shovelton
56	Joe Sellick
57	Mervyn Adams
58	Joseph Meason
59	Richard Smith
60	Cori Wiltshire
61	Taylor Morgan
62	Ashley Pope
63	Joe Smith
64	James Long
65	Sean Taylor
66	Leslie Higgs
67	Liam Moore
68	Daren Field
69	Steven Rees
70	Jacob Godber
71	Dave Fisher
72	Alfie Barney
73	Mark Wellington
74	Martin Walker
75	Al Ayres
76	Jake Tucker
77	James Wintle-McKay
78	Samuel King
79	SKITZ 007
80	Ben Collins
81	John Maggs
82	Warren Ryan
83	Shay Goff
84	Will Jackson
85	Joe Silvester
86	Craig Britten
87	Brogan Bayford
88	Robbie Roy
89	Brooklyn Anthony
90	Louis Hamblin
91	Matthew Webb
92	Glenn Pearce
93	Liam Rowe
94	Mitchell Atkins
95	Declan Holly
96	Ian Higgs
97	Alfie Palmer
98	Daniel Jeffrey
99	Richie Hunt
100	Collis Palmer

South West Darts Round-Up – 15 June 2026

 

Monday night delivered another packed evening of grassroots darts across the South West, with several standout performances recorded in the Q4QS database.

The headline result came from Bristol's North Star Club, where Josh McCarthy defeated Johnny Haines 3-2 in a high-quality final to claim the North Star Vault Break title. McCarthy also produced the highest average of the tournament with 99.28 and was one of the standout performers of the entire day.

Johnny Haines pushed the champion all the way and recorded a superb 98.02 average of his own, underlining the quality on display in Bristol.

Elsewhere, Jamie Kelling stole the headlines statistically with a 100.20 average on his way to victory in the Money In Money Out Round-Robin at The Wolversdene Club. Kelling won eight matches during the evening and capped the night by defeating Luke Getty in the final.

In Radstock, Bradley Hall lifted the U65 Average Round Robin title at Clandown Darts Promotions, overcoming Jayden Osmond in the final. Craig Britten posted the tournament's highest average with 81.24.

Southwick Sports Club saw Bak Ko take the honours after defeating Ronnie Sumner in the final. Both players enjoyed excellent nights, each recording seven victories during the event.

Away from the South West, several impressive performances were recorded nationwide, including Alec Small's outstanding 112.73 average at the Wattsville Vault Break, the highest individual average logged across all events entered into the database yesterday.

South West Highlights

🏆 Josh McCarthy wins the North Star Vault Break

🎯 Jamie Kelling averages 100.20

🔥 Johnny Haines averages 98.02

🏅 Bradley Hall wins at Clandown Darts Promotions

⭐ Bak Ko claims victory at Southwick Sports Club

Highest Recorded Averages

1. Alec Small – 112.73

2. Connor Hopkins – 109.98

3. Jamie Kelling – 100.20

4. Josh McCarthy – 99.28

5. Johnny Haines – 98.02

Grassroots darts continues to thrive across the South West, with strong fields, quality performances and another busy evening of results feeding into the Q4QS rankings.

South And South West Darts Round-Up: Radford Claims Rise Up Vault Finals Glory (14th June 2026)

Sunday produced another busy day of grassroots darts action across the South and South West, with regional finals, junior competitions and local opens all contributing to a packed schedule.

Radford Wins South West Rise Up Regional Finals

The biggest event of the day was undoubtedly the ADC South West Vault 17.0 LEVEL UP RISE Regional Finals at the Sartan Club.

A strong field gathered to battle for the title, with Ellis Radford emerging victorious after a 4-2 final win over Rich Griffee. Both players enjoyed excellent campaigns throughout the day, with Griffee and Radford each recording seven victories.

The standard was impressive throughout. Jake Tucker produced the highest average of the tournament with 90.55, while Rich Griffee posted 86.82 and Matty Rogers fired in 85.08. Steve Boundy and Ellis Radford also featured among the day's leading performers.

Junior Talent Shines At Hangar 61

At Hangar 61 in Patchway, the latest JDC VOLTS event showcased some of the region's most promising young talent.

Jacob Godber lifted the title with a 3-0 victory over Robbe Van der Steen in the final. Van der Steen produced the highest average of the day at 88.41, while Eelyas Van Bruyssel and Josh Latham also impressed during the event.

The competition once again highlighted the strength of youth darts in the South West and the importance of events such as these in developing future stars.

Boundy Triumphs In Round Robin Action

Steve Boundy added another title to his growing collection by winning the 16-man Open Round Robin.

Boundy defeated Jamie McKinnon in the final after both players enjoyed outstanding days. McKinnon recorded a superb 100.20 average, while Boundy matched that figure with a century average of his own.

John Maggs and Warren Ryan were also among the standout performers.

Vernall Produces Huge Numbers

Elsewhere, Shaun Vernall claimed victory in The Wahey KO with a dramatic 6-5 final win over Darrel Williams.

Vernall also recorded one of the performances of the day, producing a superb 98.40 average on his way to the title.

Top Performances Of The Day

Some of the highest averages recorded across the database included:

• Riley Milligan – 125.25
• Chas Barstow – 103.66
• Jamie McKinnon – 100.20
• Steve Boundy – 100.20
• Cameron Harris – 100.20
• Mike Huntley – 100.20
• Shaun Vernall – 98.40

Another excellent day of grassroots darts demonstrated the strength and depth of talent currently competing across the South and South West.

Player Profile:Ellis Radford

 A highly active competitor with over 240 matches recorded during 2026. Ellis combines consistency with the ability to produce standout performances, highlighted by a season-best average above the ton and three tournament victories. His strong win percentage demonstrates an ability to regularly progress deep into events and makes him one of the more accomplished players currently featured within the Q4QS database.

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.