Q4QS Weekly Spotlight: Three Players Who Caught My Eye This Week

 Another week of grassroots darts, another three players who caught my eye.

This week's selections are Jenson Macey, Eileen Harrison and Lee Hughes.

As I've said before, the Weekly Spotlight isn't simply about finding the three players who won the most tournaments or produced the highest averages.

Of course, outstanding performances deserve recognition. But so does consistency, improvement, determination and simply putting yourself in contention time after time.

And I think this week's three selections demonstrate that rather nicely.

We've got a junior winning tournaments and making an impression in open competition, a WADC player reaching three finals in two days, and an experienced Welsh circuit regular enjoying another excellent week.

Three very different stories.

---

Jenson Macey — Q4QS Rank #3,674

Player Profile

Jenson Macey is building a very impressive record in the Q4QS database.

Across 408 recorded matches, Jenson has won 324, giving him a 79.4% win rate.

He's competed in 73 recorded events, winning 21 of them, alongside another 12 runner-up finishes and 10 semi-finals.

His overall match average stands at 66.87, with a Q4QS Average of 65.61. However, his recent performances have been considerably stronger, with a last-ten match average of 76.76.

His best recorded average is 92.37, and he's already recorded victories over players including Riley Milligan and Leo Howard.

That's an encouraging record for a player who is also testing himself against experienced opposition in open tournaments.

This Week

Jenson began the week in excellent fashion, winning Sunday's Junior Volts at The Phoenix Club in Waterlooville.

He saved one of his best performances for the final, beating Joshua Price 3–0 with a superb 92.02 average.

Two days later, he was back in action at DiceHeads in Gosport, where he collected another Junior Volts victory.

His run included a 79.11 average against Aiden Styler and a 79.84 against Sausage Sharp before beating Riley Pinhorne in the final.

But it was Thursday's performance that made his week particularly interesting.

Playing in the open Vault 19 event at Fareham Social Club, Jenson reached the final after defeating a succession of opponents, including Gary Daniels in the semi-final.

He eventually lost 3–1 to Lloyd Walker, but averaged 84.35 in defeat.

So that's two junior tournament victories followed by a final in open competition.

For me, that's the standout part of Jenson's week.

It's one thing to be successful against players of a similar age. It's another to take that form into open competition and reach a final against experienced opponents.

A very good week indeed.

---

Eileen Harrison — Q4QS Rank #28,722

Player Profile

Eileen Harrison is a rather different selection this week, and that's precisely why I wanted to include her.

Her Q4QS record is still relatively small, with just 19 recorded matches across four events.

But she's won 13 of those matches, giving her a 68.4% win rate.

More interestingly, three of those four events have ended with Eileen reaching the final, while the other produced a semi-final appearance.

Her overall match average currently stands at 39.27, with a best of 50.09.

She hasn't yet completed the six events required to qualify for a Q4QS Average, so it's still early days as far as building a meaningful statistical profile is concerned.

But that's not what caught my attention.

This Week

On Sunday, Eileen competed in two separate WADC Vault 3.0 tournaments.

At Red Rose Darts Hub in Preston, she reached the final after recording victories over players including Grace Pownall, Kelsey Bradshaw and Celia Allen.

She eventually lost 3–1 to Gracie Willmitt, but produced her best recorded average of 50.09 in the final.

She also reached the final at The Dart and Pint in Oldham.

This time her run included a 3–2 semi-final victory over Wendy Murray before she narrowly lost 3–2 to Celia Allen.

Two finals in one day.

Then on Monday, she was back at Red Rose Darts Hub, reaching yet another WADC final.

After victories over Grace Pownall, Niamh Sergeant, Rachel Tapley and Netty Cork, she eventually lost 3–0 to Jo Clements.

Three finals in two days. Three runner-up finishes.

And not a tournament victory among them.

That's exactly the sort of week I think deserves a mention.

There's sometimes a tendency in darts coverage to concentrate on the winners and forget everyone else.

But reaching three finals in such a short period is an achievement in itself, particularly for somebody whose recorded tournament history is still developing.

It's also a good reminder of why the WADC circuit matters.

Not every player is going to average 70, 80 or 90. Not every tournament is going to attract a huge field.

But competitive darts needs opportunities for players at different levels to participate, improve and enjoy meaningful competition.

Eileen certainly made the most of those opportunities this week.

And I hope a tournament victory isn't too far away.

---

Lee Hughes — Q4QS Rank #2,235

Player Profile

Lee Hughes has a considerably more established record in the Q4QS database.

He's played 305 recorded matches, winning 254 of them for an excellent 83.3% win rate.

From 48 recorded events, Lee has collected 14 tournament victories and another 16 runner-up finishes.

His overall match average is 73.31, while his Q4QS Average stands at 72.62.

His best recorded average is 107.36, achieved against Cai Redman earlier in the year.

He's also recorded victories over some very capable opposition, including Kurt Parry, Jeff Bass and Mike Huntley.

One particularly notable result in his profile is a 3–0 victory over Jonny Clayton, achieved in a Vault event at New Inn, Ton Pentre, in May.

So there's clearly plenty of ability there.

This Week

Lee started his week on Sunday at the Clwb Emrys Elite Finals Day at Rack & Flight Club.

He reached the final after a run that included a 4–2 victory over Jeff Bass, averaging 77.62.

He eventually finished runner-up to Andrew Kerry.

On Monday, he went one better.

Playing at Duffy's in Pontypridd, Lee collected another Vault tournament victory.

Among his results was an impressive 3–1 win over Mike Huntley, averaging 79.76.

And he wasn't finished.

On Wednesday, Lee reached another final at the Clwb Emrys Circuit event at Rack & Flight Club in Treorchy.

He beat George Humphreys 3–0 in the quarter-final with a 79.11 average, then defeated Owen Black 3–1 in the semi-final with an 80.38.

The final went the way of Cai Redman, who won 3–1, with Lee averaging 72.38.

That completed a sequence of three finals in four days, including one tournament victory.

And perhaps that's what impressed me most.

It's not always easy to maintain that level of consistency when playing different events against different opposition.

But Lee has managed it, and his wider record suggests that reaching finals is becoming something of a habit.

---

Three Different Reasons to Be Noticed

What I like about this week's selections is that they demonstrate three different sides of grassroots darts.

Jenson Macey is showing what can happen when a successful junior starts producing performances in open competition.

Eileen Harrison has demonstrated that you don't need to win a tournament, or produce enormous averages, to have a week worth recognising.

And Lee Hughes has shown the value of consistency, reaching three finals in four days against some very capable opposition.

There were plenty of other players who could have made this week's three, including several who won more tournaments.

But that's never been the sole purpose of the Weekly Spotlight.

I want to recognise performances, progress and stories that might otherwise pass unnoticed.

And these are the three players who caught my eye this week.

Congratulations to Jenson, Eileen and Lee.

Q4QS Weekly Spotlight

 

Three Players Who Caught My Eye This Week

Another week of grassroots darts, and my three selections this time are Tyler Garrett, Jack Johnson and Ryan Davies.

As always, this isn't simply about finding the three players who won the most tournaments or produced the biggest averages. The Weekly Spotlight is about performances that made me take notice.

This week we've got a junior producing a ton-plus average in a final, another young player hitting one of the biggest averages I've seen in the Q4QS data, and an experienced Welsh circuit regular who followed a final appearance with a tournament victory.

Three very different reasons for catching my eye.

---

Tyler Garrett — Q4QS Rank #1,861

Player Profile

Tyler Garrett may still be a long way down the overall Q4QS rankings, but his record already suggests that number doesn't tell the whole story.

Across 549 recorded matches, Tyler has won 406, giving him a 74.0% win rate from 102 events.

He's already collected 18 tournament victories, alongside 13 runner-up finishes, 16 semi-finals and 20 quarter-finals.

His overall recorded average stands at 70.17, while his best is 107.36. His last-ten average is considerably higher at 78.45, another indication of the level he's capable of producing. Tyler Garrett_profile

There are some impressive names among his best recorded victories too, including Robbie Martin and Stephen Cake, while he's beaten Harley Glycos on several occasions. Tyler Garrett_profile

This Week

Wednesday's Junior Volts at Pilcs Sports & Social Club in Pontypool was the performance that really caught my attention.

Tyler didn't just win it.

He produced some excellent darts along the way.

He averaged 96.97 in a 2–0 victory over Alfie O'Brien before beating Cody Sheppard 2–0.

Then came the knockout stages.

Tyler beat Oliver Williams 3–0 with an 85.08 average, Evan Flowers 3–0 with an 83.50, and reached the final against Joshua Russell.

And that's where he saved his best.

Tyler won the final 3–0 with a 100.20 average. Tyler Garrett_profile

A ton-plus average in a junior final is going to catch my eye every time.

---

Jack Johnson — Q4QS Rank #222

Player Profile

Jack Johnson is already much higher up the Q4QS rankings, and his wider record helps explain why.

He's played 205 recorded matches, winning 162 of them for an excellent 79.0% win rate.

From only 47 recorded events, Jack has already collected nine tournament victories, with another six runner-up finishes.

His overall match average is 82.48, while his Q4QS Average is slightly higher at 83.11. Jack Johnson_profile

There is some serious quality on his list of victories as well. He's beaten Owen Bates with a 95.24 average, Mitchell Lawrie, Jack Drayton with a 97.35, and Lewis Cook. Jack Johnson_profile

But one number from this week jumps off the page.

This Week

125.25.

That's the average Jack produced in a 2–0 victory over Robert Barton at the 6 and 1 Club in Tonbridge on Wednesday. It's also Jack's highest recorded average in the Q4QS database. Jack Johnson_profile

And it wasn't simply one spectacular match followed by an early exit.

Jack went on to win the tournament.

He averaged 99.95 in his 3–1 semi-final victory over Tony Balcombe before beating George Whyte 3–1 in the final with an 87.53 average. Jack Johnson_profile

Two days later he was back at the business end again at Walderslade Club in Chatham.

Jack reached the semi-final there, with his run including two separate 93.94 averages, against Jordan Walkling and George Whyte. Jack Johnson_profile

A tournament victory, another semi-final and a 125.25 average.

Jack was very close to making my three last week. This time he's made the decision rather easy.

---

Ryan Davies — Q4QS Rank #1,063

Player Profile

Ryan Davies is the most experienced of this week's three in terms of matches recorded by Q4QS.

He's played 897 matches, winning 704 of them for a 78.5% win rate across 146 events.

Ryan has won 25 tournaments, reached another 31 finals and made 34 semi-finals.

His overall recorded average is 77.43, with a Q4QS Average of 77.80 and a best of 115.62. Ryan Davies_profile

His record also includes multiple victories over Connor Hopkins, including averages of 89.36 and 100.20, as well as a win over Ashton Brown. Ryan Davies_profile

This Week

Ryan's week was more about sustained performance than one spectacular result.

On Tuesday he reached the final of the Vault at Lindsay Constitutional Club in Cefn Hengoed.

Ryan produced a 96.97 average during the event before eventually finishing runner-up to Connor Hopkins in a close 3–2 final.

Then on Friday he went one better at Wattsville National Club.

Ryan won the Friday Night Fun event, with his run including victories over John Prosser, Gordon Davies, Mason McCann, Callum Jenkins, Lozza Woods, Ieuan Podmore and Xavier Jones before beating Corey Evans 2–1 in the final.

His best recorded average during the event was 85.89, against John Prosser. Ryan Davies_profile

So a final early in the week followed by a tournament victory to finish it.

Ryan has now won nine of his last ten recorded matches. Ryan Davies_profile

Another very solid week from a player who seems to spend plenty of time at the business end of tournaments.

---

Three Different Stories

That's another week where I think the three selections show what this feature is supposed to be about.

Tyler Garrett produced a 100.20 average when it mattered most — in the final of a Junior Volts tournament.

Jack Johnson had an extraordinary 125.25 performance during a title-winning run, then reached another semi-final two days later.

And Ryan Davies backed up a Vault final with another tournament victory later in the week.

It doesn't always have to be the player who won the most tournaments.

Sometimes it's a performance, sometimes it's consistency, and sometimes one number simply makes you stop and look twice.

These are my three this week.

Darts Results 20 September 2026: 80 Tournaments, South West Winners & Standout Averages

 

Another busy Sunday has gone into the Q4QS database, with 80 tournaments added from 20 September.

As usual on a Sunday, there was a huge spread of darts to go through. Vault 19s made up a large part of the programme, but there was also plenty from the junior game, the JDC Foundation Tour and the WADC.

For my South and South West coverage, Plymouth, Gloucester, Taunton, Exeter, Bodmin and Stroud all provided results worth picking out.

Stevenson takes the title in Plymouth

Simon Stevenson won the Vault 19 at Legends Lounge in Plymouth, beating Andy Steed 3–1 in the final.

Stevenson finished with eight wins and produced three separate 91.09 averages during the tournament.

Interestingly, though, the two biggest averages of the event belonged elsewhere. Danny Bull and Darren Pearce both hit 96.97, making them the standout scoring performances from Plymouth.

Steed also had another deep run, finishing with seven wins before being stopped by Stevenson in the final.

Quiney wins at Tuffley

There was another strong result for Joe Quiney, this time at Tuffley Community Association in Gloucester.

Quiney beat Lee Bradley 3–1 in the final and also dominated the top end of the averages.

His best was 89.51, followed by 88.41, 82.17 and 79.11. He finished the event with six wins.

That makes this another useful result to add to Quiney's growing Q4QS record.

Ashley Howe wins in Taunton

At The Queens Arms in Taunton, Ashley Howe came through the Vault 19 event, beating Ryan Greenslade 3–2 in the final.

Howe finished with seven wins, with Greenslade recording six.

The highest average of the tournament came from Dave Fisher with 81.87, narrowly ahead of Jack Walker's 81.24. Paul Gardiner and Nigel Hodges both reached 79.11.

McCready comes through in Hereford

Alec McCready was the winner at Hereford Military Sports & Social Club, defeating Zak Turner 3–2 in the final.

McCready produced a consistent set of numbers along the way, including two 86.71 averages and an 85.40.

The highest average of the tournament belonged to Aiden Johnston, who reached 91.09.

WADC wins in Bodmin and Stroud

I’m continuing to make sure the WADC events get space in these daily round-ups, and there were two winners from the core Q4QS area to highlight.

At Bodmin Band & Social Club, Tracey Hancock beat Courtney Hancock 3–0 in the final. Tracey also recorded the highest average of the event at 60.12.

At Queen Victoria in Stroud, Sarah Wright defeated Jane Price 3–2 to take the title. Price produced the highest average there with 65.35 and also recorded 60.12.

There were other WADC events around the country too, including victories for Susan Power, Kayleigh Brown, Rhian Osullivan and Bridget McGuire.

Junior darts has a very busy Sunday

The junior programme was substantial as well.

At The Kings Pub in Exeter, Joseph Lauridsen won the Junior Volts event with a 3–2 victory over Oscar Yeaman. Aaron Rea produced the best average of the tournament at 81.24.

There were Junior Volts tournaments around the country, alongside four JDC Foundation Tour events.

On the England South Foundation Tour, Woody Wheeler won Event 15, beating Spencer Edwards 5–3, before Tyler Garrett took Event 16 with a 5–4 victory over Harrison Meggitt. Garrett also produced a 93.94 earlier in the day.

In the North, Harley Lewis won Event 15 before Aaron Hustwaite took Event 16. Ben Lundstrom's 93.94 was the best recorded average across those two events.

A few big numbers elsewhere

There were some very strong performances outside the main Q4QS area too.

Jack Seymour hit 111.33 at Eastleigh, while Archie Self produced 109.98 at The Starting Gate in Newbury and went on to win the tournament.

George Whyte reached 104.50 at Nambucca, Lewis Millions recorded 103.66 in Ipswich, and there were several 100-plus performances across the day's Vault programme.

With 80 tournaments added, Sunday was one of the larger daily updates and gives me another substantial batch of results feeding into the Q4QS rankings, player records, venue data, form and head-to-head records.

Three Players Who Caught My Eye This Week (6-12th September 2026)

 

Another week of grassroots darts, and another three players who stood out for very different reasons.

This week I've gone with Tyler Thorpe, Michael Wiles and Oscar Shipwright.

Thorpe put together back-to-back tournament victories and produced a 103.66 average along the way. Wiles enjoyed an exceptional run of results across the week, culminating in a remarkable scoring display at Clacton. And Shipwright takes his place after winning the Bucks Youth County Open Day at Bradmoor Farm.

As always, this feature isn't simply about finding the three biggest averages or the players who won the most tournaments. It's about performances and stories that caught my eye over the previous seven days.

Tyler Thorpe

Player Profile

Tyler Thorpe's overall numbers perhaps don't immediately tell the story of the player he has become.

Across 182 recorded matches he has 108 victories, giving him a 59.3% win rate, but his current form is on another level: 10 wins from his last 10 matches. His overall match average stands at 85.00, rising to 91.49 across his latest five matches.

There is also considerable quality on Thorpe's wider CV. He has beaten Sebastian Bialecki three times, while victories over Dirk van Duijvenbode and Andrew Gilding show that he is more than capable of competing against established PDC opposition.

His best recorded average is 107.36, while performances of 103.79, 103.66 and 103.30 further demonstrate the level he can reach.

This Week

Thorpe's week was built around back-to-back tournament victories.

The first came at Monday's Daventry Town Football Club Round Robin. His profile shows an 88.41 quarter-final average against Anthony Coleman before a 3–0 semi-final victory over Jack Waker.

A day later, he did it again at the MDC Round Robin.

This time the scoring really caught the eye. Thorpe produced a 96.97 early in the event before firing in 103.66 against Charlie Symons. He then averaged 90.18 in the quarter-final, 98.02 in the semi-final and 88.53 in a 4–2 final victory over Carl Green.

Two tournaments. Two victories. Ten consecutive wins on his current profile.

A very easy choice for this week's Spotlight.

---

Michael Wiles

Player Profile

Michael Wiles has considerably fewer recorded events than many of the players who appear in this feature, but what he has done in them is impressive.

Wiles has won 74 of 85 recorded matches, an 87.1% win rate, with five tournament victories from only 15 recorded events. He is also currently 10 wins from 10.

His overall average is an excellent 85.37, but his recent numbers are considerably higher. Wiles is averaging 90.52 across his last ten matches and 96.09 across his last five.

His record also includes victories over Nathan Potter, Sam Spivey, Jack Johnson and Robbie Martin.

This Week

Wiles was arguably the most sustained success story I found in this week's results.

He kept appearing at the business end of Vault events during the week, but Friday's Vault 19 at Clacton Sports Bar was particularly impressive.

Wiles opened with a 103.66, followed it with 71.57 and then produced 96.97 and 98.14 in successive rounds.

Then came another 107.36 against Max Haley, before Wiles produced 107.36 again in a 3–0 quarter-final victory over James Hare. He eventually beat CJ Everrit 3–1 in the final to take the title.

That means three ton-plus performances in the same event — 103.66, 107.36 and 107.36 — alongside another two performances above 96.

His current profile now shows five tournament victories from just 15 recorded events and a perfect 10–0 recent record.

Whatever measure you use — winning, consistency or scoring — Wiles had a week worthy of the Spotlight.

---

Oscar Shipwright

Player Profile

Oscar Shipwright gives me a very different reason for making this week's three.

Shipwright has already accumulated 281 recorded matches, winning 202 of them for a 71.9% win rate. His 49 events have produced nine tournament victories, three runner-up finishes, nine semi-finals and ten quarter-finals.

His overall average is 70.47, but his ceiling is considerably higher. His best recorded performance is 103.66, with another 100.20 on his record.

Perhaps most interestingly, his best wins include two victories over Danny Lauby. One of those came in a tournament final, where Shipwright averaged 96.69 in a 3–2 victory.

That's a pretty good indication of the level he can produce.

This Week

This week's achievement came at the Bucks Youth County Open Day at Bradmoor Farm, and this wasn't a tiny knockout.

There were 147 recorded matches, with Shipwright collecting nine victories on his way to the title.

Among them was a 93.94 average against Harvey Chapman, followed later by 79.11 against Alfie Kirk, 69.91 against Sid Hopcroft and an excellent 83.50 in his 3–0 semi-final victory over Kieran Colley.

Shipwright then beat Jayden Laming 4–2 in the final to complete the run.

For me, this is exactly the sort of performance that belongs in the Weekly Spotlight.

Shipwright wasn't selected because he recorded the week's biggest average or accumulated several titles. He came through a substantial youth tournament, won nine matches and produced some very good darts along the way.

At a time when I'm increasingly looking for performances beyond the obvious names and serial winners, his week definitely caught my eye.

JDC VOLTS National Finals 2026 Preview: The Next Generation Heads to Hangar 61

 

Some of the very best young darts players in the country head to Hangar 61 in Bristol on Saturday for the 2026 JDC VOLTS National Finals.

Throughout the year, youngsters have been competing in JDC VOLTS events around the country. Now that pathway reaches its national conclusion, with a sold-out field of 48 players and considerably more than just the title at stake.

The format should make for a fascinating day. The players are split into eight groups of six, playing best-of-five-leg round robins. The top three from each group progress, but winning the group carries a significant advantage: the eight group winners advance directly to the Last 16, while second and third place must survive an additional play-off.

From there, the knockout matches are best of seven – but there is a major twist at the end.

The final will not be played at Hangar 61.

Instead, the two remaining players will earn the opportunity to contest the best-of-nine-leg final on stage at the PDC World Grand Prix in October. The eventual National Finals champion will also secure a place in the 2027 JPL.

For players at this stage of their development, that makes Saturday a potentially significant day.

A field with plenty of quality

My Q4QS data has matches for 38 of the entrants, with 35 of those already linked to player profiles.

And one player stands out immediately at the top of those rankings.

Jack Johnson comes into the tournament as Q4QS No.197 with an 83.02 Q4QS Average – but even those figures don't quite tell the story of his latest form.

Johnson recently reached a Vault 19 final at Tonbridge with an 88.71 tournament average, before following it with a semi-final at Rusthall where he averaged 89.97. His recent individual performances include 93.94, 90.18 and 91.09 averages.

Those are serious numbers in any company.

But Johnson is certainly not alone.

Logan Symons Jr has been extraordinarily consistent in recent local competition. His latest five recorded tournaments contain two finals and three semi-finals, including a Vault 19 final at Indian Queens where he averaged 85.96. He's 8–2 across his latest ten matches.

Then there is Finlay Cleave, who arrives as one of the hottest players in the field.

Cleave won a Vault 19 event at Paignton with an 82.18 tournament average, including a 91.57 in one victory, and has won nine of his latest ten recorded matches. He also has another recent tournament victory in the database.

JDC experience could matter

There are plenty in this field already accustomed to playing within the JDC structure.

Dylan Cowley has an 8–2 recent record and has already won on the JDC England North Foundation Tour, going 7–0 with an 80.15 tournament average. He has also reached another Foundation Tour final and has a Vault victory averaging 82.04 on his recent record.

Ben Lundstrom is another North Foundation Tour winner. His recent title came via a perfect 7–0 run with a 75.66 average, while an 80.92 and 86.63 feature among his notable match performances.

Alfie O'Flynn-Rogers and Alfie O'Brien have both been competing on the JDC Advanced Tour. O'Flynn-Rogers has produced an 82.14 match average, while O'Brien has an 81.38 on his record and reached the Last 32 of Advanced Tour Event 16.

That experience of playing against strong youth fields could become particularly valuable once Saturday reaches the knockout stages.

Winners arriving from around the country

One of the things I like most about this field is that it genuinely brings together players who have been producing results in different parts of the country.

Jack Powell arrives having won the JDC VOLTS Wales Series 7 Regional Finals, going unbeaten at 5–0 with a 72.15 tournament average. He is also 9–1 across his latest ten matches.

There's a more local interest in Joseph Lauridsen, who won the JDC VOLTS Southwest Series 7 Regional Finals. Lauridsen went 5–0 in that tournament with a 67.17 average and has now won nine of his latest ten recorded matches.

Harvey-Lee Nelson-Harris won the West Midlands Regional Finals, while Remy Stapleton arrives after winning the East Midlands Regional Finals 5–0.

And Charlie Mossman has already enjoyed success in the VOLTS series at The Banckers Draught in Minehead, winning one event 9–0 with a 73.65 average.

So while the Q4QS rankings give us a useful guide, this is exactly the sort of tournament where simply working down a ranking list could be misleading.

Players arriving in form

There are several more who deserve attention.

Addison Hefferon is 8–2 and recently reached a final at the Welsh Open, Masters & Classic, averaging 77.17, before making another semi-final at a Vault 19 event in Bletchley.

Oscar Rumsey comes to Bristol immediately after an unbeaten 8–0 Vault 19 victory, averaging 76.83 for the event. He's 9–1 across his latest ten.

Sam Jones is also 9–1 and won the SDO Academy Development Series 3.4 last time out, while Logun Godbeer has been repeatedly reaching finals in the South West and is 8–2 across his latest ten.

That's before we get to players for whom my database has much less information. Ten entrants are currently unranked in this particular Q4QS export, so there is every chance that some of Saturday's biggest threats are not obvious from the numbers alone.

Six to Follow

Picking six from a 48-player national youth final is inevitably difficult, but these are the six I'll be particularly interested in following.

Jack Johnson – The standout Q4QS numbers in the field, and recent tournament averages of 88.71 and 89.97 suggest a player arriving in outstanding scoring form.

Finlay Cleave – 9–1 recently and already a Vault 19 winner, taking the Paignton title with an 82.18 tournament average.

Logan Symons Jr – Two finals and three semi-finals across the latest five recorded events, including an 85.96 average during a recent Vault 19 final run.

Dylan Cowley – A JDC Foundation Tour winner with an unbeaten 80.15 title run and an 8–2 recent record.

Addison Hefferon – Another 8–2 player who has combined a recent Welsh final with a Vault 19 semi-final.

Jack Powell – Comes into the National Finals as a JDC VOLTS Regional Finals champion and has won nine of the latest ten matches in the database.

There are plenty I could have included instead. Oscar Rumsey, Ben Lundstrom, Joseph Lauridsen, Charlie Mossman and Sam Jones all arrive with recent titles on their records, while several others have already shown they can produce considerably bigger averages than their overall numbers might suggest.

A big opportunity at Hangar 61

For me, this is one of the more interesting tournaments taking place at Hangar 61 this year.

We talk a lot about pathways in darts, but the VOLTS series is a very visible example of one. Players have been competing around the country throughout the year and now 48 of them come together for a National Finals day.

By the end of Saturday, that field will have been reduced to just two.

And those two will have something rather special to look forward to: a final on the PDC World Grand Prix stage in October.

For the eventual winner, there's the additional prize of a 2027 JPL place.

Forty-eight young players arrive at Hangar 61 on Saturday morning.

For two of them, the journey continues onto a much bigger stage.

Q4QS Weekly Spotlight

Three Players Who Caught My Eye This Week

Another busy week of grassroots darts has produced three very different stories for this week's Q4QS Weekly Spotlight.

Sean Holley backed up an already formidable record with two more tournament victories. Joshua Russell combined another title with a superb run to the JDC Wales Regional Final and produced some of the best junior averages of the week. And Riley Milligan earns a first Spotlight appearance after another strong week on the JDC circuit, including an excellent performance at the South West Regional Finals.

As always, this isn't simply about finding the three biggest averages or choosing the week's biggest tournament winners. It's about performances, consistency and players whose progress or results have caught my eye over the previous seven days.

Sean Holley

Player Profile

Sean Holley's numbers underline just how consistently successful he has been.

Across 569 recorded matches, Holley has won 482, an outstanding 84.7% win rate. His 100 recorded tournament appearances have already produced 35 victories, eight runner-up finishes and another 24 semi-final or quarter-final appearances. His current form is also excellent at nine wins from his last ten matches.

The scoring numbers are equally impressive. Holley has an 81.63 overall match average, with that rising to 85.13 across his latest ten. His best recorded performance is 117.72, while his five highest averages all exceed 109.

There is plenty of quality among the opposition too. His recorded wins include Jack Drayton, Nathan Potter, Robbie Martin and Danny Lauby, with Holley averaging 100.99 in his victory over Martin.

This Week

Holley started the week by winning the Bank Holiday Comp at Wiltshire Darts House, coming through a tournament containing 113 recorded matches.

He beat Johnny Haines 5–1 in the final, recorded ten wins across the event and produced a 96.97 average along the way.

Later in the week came title number two.

At Bradmoor Farm's Friday Vault Break 3, Holley progressed through the knockout stages with averages of 90.18, 92.02, 88.46 and 84.03 before producing 94.92 in the final to beat Adam Mould 3–2.

That gives Holley two tournament victories in the week, and his profile now shows 35 recorded titles from 100 events.

Another hugely consistent week from a player who continues to make winning tournaments look remarkably routine.

---

Joshua Russell

Player Profile

Joshua Russell already has an enormous amount of competitive experience recorded in the Q4QS database.

His 795 matches have produced 646 victories, giving him an 81.3% win rate across 133 events. Even more strikingly, Russell has already recorded 42 tournament wins, as well as 18 runner-up finishes and 25 semi-finals. His latest form stands at nine wins from ten.

Russell's overall match average is 73.86, but his recent numbers are considerably higher: 89.21 across his last five matches and 86.37 across his last ten.

And his best-ever Q4QS recorded average is now 103.66 — a figure he has produced twice.

This Week

Russell began the week with another tournament victory, winning Clive Arms Vault Break 3. He recorded seven wins and defeated Edward Manley in the final.

There was more success at Cardiff County Cons later in the week. Russell beat Joe Hoffman with a 93.94 average in the quarter-final, Josef Howlett 3–0 in the semi-final and Edward Manley 3–0 in the final, averaging 85.08.

Then came Friday's JDC Volts Wales Series 7 Regional Finals.

Russell opened the knockout stages with successive 4–0 wins, averaging 95.43 against Archie Lane, 87.13 against Dylan Person and then producing a huge 103.66 against Rhodri Phillips in the quarter-final. He followed that with a 4–2 semi-final victory over James Prettyjohn before Jack Powell edged the final 4–3.

It meant Russell finished the week with two tournament victories and a JDC Regional Final, while also producing one of the week's outstanding averages.

---

Riley Milligan

Player Profile

Riley Milligan's inclusion gives this week's Spotlight another developing-player story.

Milligan already has 486 recorded matches, winning 370 for an impressive 76.1% win rate. Across 98 events, that has produced 16 tournament wins, 13 runner-up finishes, 13 semi-finals and 14 quarter-finals.

His overall match average stands at 69.93, but there is a spectacular number at the top of his record: a 125.25, produced during a JDC Volts event in June. He has also broken the 100 mark on three other occasions.

His best wins include an 88.41 average in a 3–0 victory over Logan Neil Symons, while he has also beaten Henry Cooper and Robbie Long.

This Week

Milligan's week began on the JDC England South Foundation Tour, where he reached the last 16 of Event 12 after victories over Aiden Styler and Jayden Moss.

But the performance that really caught my attention came at Friday's JDC Volts Southwest Series 7 Regional Finals.

Milligan began with a convincing 4–0 victory over Frankie Lynch, averaging 74.22.

He then produced his best performance of the week against Tai Anderson. Milligan averaged an excellent 84.33, but was edged out 4–3 in a close last-16 contest.

Interestingly, that 84.33 was the highest recorded average anywhere in the South West Regional Finals, despite Milligan not ultimately taking the title.

That is exactly the type of performance this feature is intended to recognise. The winner isn't always the only player whose week deserves attention, and Milligan's scoring at a regional final earns him his place alongside Holley and Russell this time. 

Beyond Mitchell Lawrie: The Young UK Darts Players Coming Through in 2026

 

The rise of Luke Littler helped shine an unprecedented spotlight on youth darts.

His progress from the junior system to the top of the professional game demonstrated what can happen when exceptional ability is matched by the right opportunities. Inevitably, attention has now turned towards the next generation.

Who might follow him?

Mitchell Lawrie is currently the most obvious answer. The young Scot has already produced remarkable results across junior and senior darts, establishing himself as one of the most exciting prospects anywhere in the sport.

However, one of the most interesting stories of 2026 is not simply the emergence of one outstanding player. It is the depth of young talent now appearing across the JDC system and beyond.

Names such as Lawrie, Kaya Baysal and Archie Self will already be familiar to many followers of youth darts. Yet a closer look at the Q4QS statistics reveals a much broader group of young players beginning to establish impressive records.

This article focuses on players from the UK who feature within my database. The figures are based on the tournaments and matches currently captured by the Q4QS system, rather than every match each player has played.

There are also several talented young players emerging elsewhere in Europe, particularly in Belgium, but they fall outside the scope of this particular analysis.

Mitchell Lawrie: The Current Standard-Bearer

Any discussion about the next generation has to begin with Mitchell Lawrie.

The young Scot has produced numbers that place him in a category of his own.

Across 97 recorded matches in the Q4QS database, Lawrie has won 90 and lost only seven. That gives him an extraordinary win rate of 92.8%.

He holds an overall average of 90.54 and a Q4QS average of 90.77.

Those numbers would be impressive for an established senior player. For somebody still progressing through youth darts, they are exceptional.

Lawrie’s achievements extend well beyond the database. He won the 2025 JDC Junior World Championship, became the WDF World Youth champion and reached the final of the senior WDF World Championship at Lakeside.

He has continued winning in 2026, collecting further senior WDF titles and dominating large parts of the JDC Advanced Tour.

What stands out most in the Q4QS data is the distance between Lawrie and the chasing group. Youth darts is highly competitive, but nobody else in this particular set of players has consistently matched his combination of scoring and winning.

Lawrie is no longer merely an exciting junior prospect. He is already producing the kind of performances that make people wonder how far he can eventually go.

The question is not whether he is one of the leading young players in the UK.

It is whether anybody in the current generation can close the gap.

Already Making Headlines

Jack Johnson

While Lawrie stands clear at the top of the figures, Jack Johnson leads the group immediately behind him.

Johnson currently ranks second in my system, averaging 84.16 across 68 recorded matches and winning 73.5% of them.

His achievements are not limited to statistical promise. Johnson won the JDC Super 16 in both 2024 and 2025, demonstrating an ability to deliver in major matches as well as across the wider junior circuit.

He also won the 2025 JDC National Volts title, defeating Alfie Hutton in the final on the World Grand Prix stage in Leicester.

Those successes have helped Johnson build a reputation as one of the most accomplished young players currently emerging from the UK system.

His average may remain some distance below Lawrie’s remarkable figure, but it places him firmly among the leading group. More importantly, he has already shown that he can handle the pressure that comes with competing for significant junior titles.

Kaya Baysal

Kaya Baysal has become one of the best-known names in junior darts over the last couple of seasons.

His record in the Q4QS database stands at 52 victories from 72 matches, alongside an overall average of 83.51. He has also won eight of his ten most recently recorded matches.

Baysal’s progress has not been restricted to junior competition.

He became the youngest winner of a senior WDF ranking title when he won the Budapest Classic in 2025. He has also demonstrated that his game can translate to the MODUS Super Series, where he reached a weekly final in 2026.

Baysal won nine of his ten group matches during that MODUS appearance before eventually losing to Jack Aldridge in the weekly final.

That matters when attempting to assess young prospects. Junior success provides the foundation, but performing effectively against experienced senior opponents presents a different challenge.

Baysal has already shown that he can make that transition.

Archie Self

Archie Self is another player whose profile has grown enormously during 2026.

His overall average of 83.10 places him firmly among the leading group in the database, while a perfect 10–0 record across his most recently captured matches demonstrates the momentum he has built.

Self’s senior achievements make his story particularly significant.

He won Week Four of MODUS Super Series 14 after going through the entire week unbeaten. That alone would have made 2026 an important breakthrough year.

He then went considerably further by winning PDC Challenge Tour Event 18 in August.

Winning a Challenge Tour title against an experienced adult field is a major achievement for any young player. For Self, it provides strong evidence that his ability is already translating beyond the age-group environment.

Among all the players included here, he may have made the biggest senior breakthrough of 2026.

The Leading Challengers

Lewis Cook

Lewis Cook may be one of the most underrated young players currently competing on the circuit.

His figures are remarkably close to those of Johnson and Baysal. Cook has won 52 of his 70 recorded matches, giving him a win rate of 74.3%.

His Q4QS rating is also virtually identical to Johnson’s.

Despite receiving less attention than some of the headline names, the underlying performance data suggests that Cook belongs firmly within the leading group of UK prospects.

He has been consistently competitive in JDC Advanced Tour events and has already shown that he can push the best players in the age group.

Lawrie defeated him only 4–3 in the quarter-finals of Advanced Tour Event Three in Bristol, illustrating how close Cook can come to the player currently setting the standard.

The challenge now is to turn that consistency into more major titles and headline performances.

Jayden Walker

Few players in the chasing group possess stronger all-round figures than Jayden Walker.

Walker has the highest Q4QS average among Lawrie’s leading pursuers at 84.64. He has won 66 of his 85 recorded matches, giving him a success rate of 77.6%.

That combination of scoring and results makes him one of the most interesting players in the database.

He already has tournament victories to his name and repeatedly appears in the latter stages of significant youth events. He also reached the final of the 2025 JDC Super 16, losing to Johnson.

Walker’s position is particularly intriguing because his figures suggest that he is not relying on an isolated run or a handful of strong performances. He has maintained a high level across a substantial sample of matches.

If Lawrie has a serious challenger within the current generation, Walker may be among the strongest candidates.

Closer Than Many Realise

Arthur Allston

If there is one player whose wider reputation may currently lag behind his numbers, it is Arthur Allston.

Allston ranks sixth in my database, ahead of several players who may be more widely discussed.

He has won 55 of his 78 recorded matches, producing a success rate of 70.5%, while his overall average stands at 82.10. He has also won eight of his last ten matches in the database.

Allston has regularly appeared in the latter stages of JDC events, including a semi-final at Advanced Tour Event Four in Bristol, where his run was eventually ended by Lawrie.

He may not yet carry the profile of some of the names above him, but the statistics suggest that he should be considered part of the same wider group.

When discussing potential future breakthroughs, Allston deserves considerably more attention than he currently receives.

Owen Bryceland

Owen Bryceland may not attract as many headlines as some of his contemporaries, but his numbers tell a positive story.

An overall average of 81.55 and a win rate approaching 70% demonstrate a player who is performing consistently at a strong level.

At this stage of a young player’s development, progress is not always measured through major titles alone. Building experience, regularly competing with the best players in the age group and maintaining solid performance levels are all important.

Bryceland’s figures suggest that he is doing exactly that.

Ben Townley

Ben Townley is another player who can easily be overlooked when attention is concentrated on the most recognisable names.

However, an average above 80, 44 victories from 64 recorded matches and a solid recent record indicate a player capable of competing regularly with the country’s leading juniors.

Townley has also reached the latter stages of JDC Advanced Tour events, including a semi-final at Event Four in Bristol.

Like Bryceland, his next step will be converting repeated competitive performances into major victories. The underlying level, however, is already encouraging.

Two More to Watch

Not every young player develops at exactly the same rate.

Some collect major junior titles almost immediately, while others build their game more gradually before making a significant breakthrough.

Two more names from the database are therefore worth watching.

Christian Ennis

Christian Ennis has quietly put together an impressive body of work.

The Northern Irish prospect holds an overall average of 80.10 across 71 recorded matches and has won more than 70% of them.

Those figures compare favourably with several better-known players. They also come across a sufficiently large number of matches to suggest genuine consistency rather than a brief spell of good form.

Ennis may not yet have generated the same attention as Lawrie, Baysal or Self, but his statistical record makes him an interesting prospect.

Charlie Greensmith

Charlie Greensmith enters the discussion largely because of his recent form.

His overall average of 79.28 may not immediately stand out alongside the leading names, but he has won eight of his ten most recently recorded matches.

That does not necessarily mean he is ready to challenge the very best immediately. It does, however, suggest a player moving in the right direction.

Youth development can happen quickly. A player who appears just outside the leading group at the beginning of a season can close the gap substantially within a matter of months.

Greensmith’s recent results make him one to monitor.

More Than One Outstanding Prospect

Mitchell Lawrie currently stands apart statistically, but he certainly does not stand alone.

Behind him is an extremely competitive group featuring Jack Johnson, Kaya Baysal, Archie Self, Lewis Cook and Jayden Walker.

Johnson is already a two-time JDC Super 16 champion. Baysal has reached a MODUS Super Series weekly final. Self has gone one better by winning a MODUS week and has now added a PDC Challenge Tour title.

Cook’s numbers place him much closer to the headline names than his current profile might suggest, while Walker combines one of the strongest averages with an excellent win rate across a considerable number of matches.

Beyond that group, Arthur Allston, Owen Bryceland and Ben Townley continue to build increasingly strong records. Christian Ennis and Charlie Greensmith could yet emerge as two of the next names to make a significant move.

Not every one of these players will reach the highest level. Development in darts is rarely predictable, and plenty can change as young players move into senior competition.

Some will progress quickly. Others may require more time. A few players currently receiving less attention may ultimately develop further than those already collecting the biggest titles.

That uncertainty is part of what makes following youth darts so interesting.

Luke Littler showed just how quickly an exceptional junior can become one of the biggest names in the sport. It would be unfair to expect every talented youngster to follow the same extraordinary path.

Lawrie is already building his own remarkable story, but the wider picture may be just as encouraging.

UK youth darts does not appear to be waiting for one new star to arrive.

It already has an entire generation coming through.

Future Stars of Darts: 9 Young Players Set to Shine

 With Gian van Veen retaining the World Youth Championship and the JDC holding it's World Championship currently,  it’s a great time to reflect on how important this tournament has become for shaping future stars. 

Since its current format began in 2011, winners like Michael Smith, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Josh Rock, Gian van Veen, and Luke Littler have all gone on to claim major TV titles and some big names have made finals including Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen This platform being used as a springboard to success.

Clearly, the youth system,alongside the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) and Development Tour and provides a solid grounding for players aiming for the top. So, who might we be talking about in the next few years? Here are nine names to watch:

Archie Self (England)

Currently the JDC World No.1, Archie has dominated the Advanced Tour with multiple titles and finals appearances. He also won the WDF Boys’ World Championship and reached the senior England Open semi-finals at just 15. His scoring power and composure under pressure make him a standout prospect.

Jack Nankervis (England)

Jack burst onto the scene by winning six Foundation Tour events at age 12 and three Advanced Tour titles at 13. He’s already challenged Luke Littler in the MVG Masters final and posted a 101 average in the Winmau Junior Open. Expect him to be a Development Tour force very soon.

Tergel Khurelkhuu (Mongolia)

A trailblazer for Asian darts, Tergel topped the JDC Advanced Tour rankings and has produced mid-90 averages on big stages. His rapid rise and fearless approach suggest he could become a global ambassador for the sport.

Lex Paeshuyse (Belgium)

Lex made history as the youngest JDC World Champion at 13, averaging over 90 in the final. Belgium has produced stars like Dimitri Van den Bergh, and Lex looks ready to follow in those footsteps.

Owen Bryceland (Scotland)

At just 10 years old, Owen won the JDC Scotland Masters and is already drawing comparisons to Luke Littler. His natural talent and early success make him one to watch for the long term.

Jack Johnson (England)

Jack claimed the JDC Super 16 title in 2025, defeating Jayden Walker in a high-quality final. His ability to handle pressure and produce big finishes is impressive for his age.

Jayden Walker (England)

Runner-up in the Super 16, Jayden hit a 101 average and a 14-darter during the event. His scoring power and temperament suggest he’ll be a regular name on youth leaderboards.

Colton Dunn (CAN)

North America’s brightest youth talent, Colton topped the CDC Junior Evolution Tour and earned a spot at the JDC World Cup. His progress could help ignite darts in the U.S. market.

Rebecca Allen (England)

Female talent is also emerging strongly, and Rebecca Allen is leading the charge. She’s been making waves in JDC events and is tipped as a future star who could inspire more women and girls to take up the sport.