Q4QS Weekly Spotlight: Three Players Who Caught My Eye This Week (weekending 23rd August 2026)

Another week of grassroots darts, and again the difficult part wasn't finding three players worth talking about — it was narrowing the list down.

This week's final three have arrived here in very different ways.

Mat Caste simply kept winning, collecting three titles during the week and producing one of the best averages anywhere in the results. Henry Cooper delivered when the stakes were considerably higher, winning the South West MODUS Super Series regional qualifier. And Logun Godbeer finished the week in outstanding fashion, winning two events on consecutive days and extending his latest run to ten straight victories.

As always, this feature isn't intended to be a simple list of the highest averages or biggest names. These are three performances and stories that caught my eye over the last seven days.

Mat Caste

Player Profile

Mat Caste has built an enormous body of work during 2026.

His Q4QS database now contains 712 matches, of which he has won 591, giving him an excellent 83% win rate across 112 recorded events. Those appearances have produced 32 tournament victories, along with 23 runner-up finishes and 21 semi-finals.

His overall match average of 77.34 perhaps doesn't immediately reveal how high his ceiling can be. Caste has a best recorded average of 120.24, while his top five also contain four separate performances of 103 or better.

He's also shown that level against strong opposition. His recorded victories include Dylan Dowling and Nunjo Dewaele on the Challenge Tour, while he has beaten Danny Lauby on several occasions, including a 3–0 victory accompanied by a 100.20 average.

This Week

This was a week when Caste seemed to be permanently around the business end of tournaments.

It began at The Carlton House Club in Olney, where he collected the title after eight victories. His best performances during the event included averages of 93.94, 88.41 and 86.94.

Two days later came the week's headline performance.

At Windmill Hill Golf Centre, Caste produced a huge 112.69 average, followed later by 100.63 in his semi-final against Mark Boardman. He then defeated Adam King 3–0 in the final to take another title.

Thursday brought another victory at Hotshots Sports Bar in Bletchley. Caste beat Bailey Martin and Charlie Collins before overcoming Addison Hefferon 3–1 in the final with an 85.85 average.

And even after three tournament victories, his week wasn't finished.

Caste reached the quarter-finals of the MODUS Super Series South East & London Regional Qualifier, beating Stuart Woodmore and Gary Stafford before narrowly losing 6–5 to eventual finalist Connor Levett.

Three titles plus a MODUS regional quarter-final would be an exceptional week by any measure. Add a 112.69 average into the equation and Caste was impossible to overlook.

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Henry Cooper

Player Profile

Henry Cooper's numbers are extraordinary.

Across 377 recorded matches, Cooper has won 341, producing a 90.5% career win rate within the Q4QS database. From 55 events he has already recorded 33 tournament victories, meaning he has won well over half of all the events in which he has appeared.

The scoring figures are equally impressive.

Cooper's overall match average stands at 84.49, while his last ten matches average a remarkable 94.25. His best recorded performance is 115.62, with further peaks of 111.33 and two separate 109.98 averages.

He also arrived at the end of this week's data with a perfect 10 wins from his last ten recorded matches.

This Week

Cooper only needed one tournament to earn his place in this week's feature.

And it was an important one.

At St Breward AFC & Social Club, Cooper won the ADC South West Series 18 MODUS Super Series Qualifier.

He produced a 92.02 average in a 6–0 victory over Jamie Kay, before defeating Ricky King 6–2 in the final with a 90.28 average. Cooper finished the event with four victories and the two highest averages recorded by any player in the tournament.

It also continued a remarkable period of form. Cooper's profile shows a last-five average of 97.53 and last-ten figure of 94.25, numbers which underline just how strongly he has been playing recently.

Some selections in this series come from winning several events in a week.

This one comes from winning the event that mattered.

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Logun Godbeer

Player Profile

Logun Godbeer's database tells a slightly different story from the other two.

He has already accumulated a remarkable 815 recorded matches, winning 573 of them for a 70.3% win rate across 132 events. Those tournaments have yielded 22 victories, 15 runner-up finishes and 36 semi-finals.

His overall average is 63.50, but there are plenty of indications of a significantly higher ceiling. Godbeer has produced three recorded 93.94 averages, while he also hit 91.09 earlier this week at Portishead.

Perhaps most interestingly, his record already includes wins over considerably higher-rated opposition, including Jimmy Bristow, Robbie Long, Luke Harding and Rich Griffee.

This Week

Godbeer saved his best results for the end of the week.

On Friday at Portishead Workmens Darts, he came through the open tournament with eight victories.

The knockout stages included a 3–0 win over Luke Adams with an 80.52 average, followed by a 3–1 semi-final victory over Steve Boundy. Godbeer then defeated Ellie Harwood 4–1 in the final to take the title.

Less than 24 hours later, he did it again.

This time it was the JDC Volts at Highbridge Social Club.

Godbeer defeated Alfie Coles, George Miller, Ben Miller and Woody Littlewood before another win over Miller in the semi-final. A 3–1 victory over Tai Anderson completed his second tournament triumph in two days.

Those results also mean his current recorded form reads a perfect 10 wins from his last ten matches.

Two different events. Two consecutive days. Two titles.

That's a pretty good way to finish a week — and a very good reason for Logun Godbeer to make his first appearance in the Weekly Spotlight.

Yesterday’s Darts Results: Cooper Retains Vault Crown as Martin, Court and Crook Impress

 

Saturday produced another fascinating day across the grassroots game, with 20 tournaments added to the Q4QS database from 22 August.

There were strong fields, big performances and plenty of different levels of the game represented, but one result that certainly deserves highlighting was Henry Cooper successfully retaining his ADC South West crown.

Elsewhere, Robbie Martin produced a superb display at Dorchester, Gary Court came through a competitive Wiltshire Darts House Open, Roger Crook booked his MODUS opportunity and Logun Godbeer continued to impress on the junior circuit.

Cooper retains his South West crown

Henry Cooper may not have made the six featured winners on today's graphic, but his victory at the ADC South West Series 18.0 MODUS Super Series Qualifier was undoubtedly one of Saturday's major stories.

Cooper came through the event at St Breward AFC & Social Club, beating Ricky King 6-2 in the final to retain his Vault crown.

The numbers backed up the result too. Cooper produced the tournament's highest recorded average, 92.02, in a 6-0 victory over Jamie Kay before averaging 90.28 in the final against King. Jamie Kay reached 90.99, Neil Meneer 89.29 and Gareth Griffiths 88.14 in what was clearly a competitive South West field.

For Cooper, though, it is another significant regional title and further evidence of the consistency he continues to show in South West competition.

Martin dominates at Dorchester

One of the performances of the day came from Robbie Martin at the DTC August 2026 Open.

There were 118 matches recorded at Dorchester Trinity Club and Martin eventually emerged as champion with a 5-2 final victory over Alfie Yarrow.

Martin's scoring throughout the tournament was particularly impressive. He recorded a 100.20 average alongside two separate 95.94 performances and collected ten wins across the event.

Yarrow also enjoyed an excellent tournament, winning nine matches and reaching the final, with a best recorded average of 92.02.

That makes Martin's victory one of the standout achievements from Saturday's results.

Court takes Wiltshire Open

There was another excellent tournament at Wiltshire Darts House, where Gary Court came through a 75-match competition to take the title.

Court defeated Josh McCarthy 5-3 in the final, finishing the tournament with nine victories. McCarthy collected eight on his way to the runner-up spot.

Court also joined the century club with a 100.20 average, while McCarthy reached 93.94.

With Will Jackson, Dave Geale and Mitch McCarthy among those also accumulating plenty of wins, it looks to have been another strong local field.

Crook books MODUS opportunity

Another significant result came in the MODUS Super Series South East & London Regional Qualifier.

Roger Crook emerged victorious, edging Connor Levett in the deciding match after producing the tournament's best recorded average of 95.39 during his run.

Crook collected five victories, with Levett winning four, while John Power, Jack Seymour and Jack Roddis were among the other players making progress.

The regional qualifying route continues to provide opportunities for players outside the traditional professional circuits, and Crook has now made the most of his.

Godbeer wins again

There was another success for Logun Godbeer, this time in the JDC VOLTS Series 7 event at Highbridge Social Club.

Godbeer beat Tai Anderson 3-1 in the final and collected six wins during the competition. He also recorded the event's three highest averages at 75.87, 71.25 and 69.63.

Saturday was a busy day for the VOLTS circuit generally. Tyler Shuck won at Bostin Darts 180 Bar, Callum Williams took the Llandysul event and Joel Walton won at the Bullseye Bar in Lichfield.

Tauringana takes South West Under-55 regional title

The South West also staged its Vault 18.0 Level Up Core Regional Finals, with Panashe Tauringana coming through to take the title.

Tauringana defeated Fraser Pearce in the final, while Pearce accumulated seven victories across the competition. The biggest recorded average belonged to Zayn Paterson at 93.94.

It's another example of why the restricted-average competitions are becoming such an interesting part of the grassroots calendar, providing meaningful competition and progression opportunities at different levels of the game.

Plenty more winners

The depth of Saturday's schedule stretched well beyond the headline events.

Rich Hosey won a huge 301 DIDO round robin at Bostin Darts 180 Bar, with 113 matches recorded and ten victories for the eventual champion.

Harley Glycos won the 120-match Its 4LIAM. BiG 30 tournament in Newport, collecting nine victories, while Dave Fisher won ten matches on his way to success in the Princess Royal round robin.

There was also an impressive ten-win title run from Aaron Beeney, while Wayne Halliwell won the Shaftesbury Monthly and Ben Spencer came through the SSNAP Charity Event.

Another strong Saturday

Twenty more tournaments have now been added to Q4QS, and once again the results demonstrate just how much competitive darts is taking place away from the biggest televised stages.

For me, Cooper retaining his South West crown deserves to be right among the headline stories, alongside Martin's excellent Dorchester performance, Court's Wiltshire success and Crook earning his MODUS opportunity.

And with Godbeer winning again at Highbridge, there was plenty happening among the next generation as well.

Yesterday’s Darts Results: Mould Wins Strong Bradmoor Field as Godbeer Takes Portishead Title (22nd August 2026)

 

Friday produced another busy night of grassroots darts, with 22 tournaments added to the Q4QS database from 21 August and plenty of quality scattered across the country.

The headline performance came at Bradmoor Farm, where Adam Mould came through a substantial Friday Vault Break field. There were 155 matches recorded, with Mould eventually taking the title ahead of Ritchie Edhouse.

It was a particularly strong event statistically. Edhouse produced the highest recorded average of the day anywhere in the results collected by Q4QS, firing in a superb 111.33, while Andy Smith also reached 96.97 and Mould recorded a 93.94 during his title-winning run.

Mould's victory is perhaps even more impressive when looking at the amount of darts he had to play. He registered nine wins, the most of anyone at the event, before finishing the job against Edhouse in the final.

Godbeer gets the job done at Portishead

Closer to the Q4QS heartland, there was another competitive night at Portishead Workmens Darts, where 75 matches were recorded in the Friday Open.

Logun Godbeer emerged with the title, overcoming Ellie Harwood in the final after an eight-win campaign. Harwood herself had enjoyed an excellent night with seven victories, while Steve Boundy and Max Maggs both collected six.

Interestingly, it was Boundy rather than the eventual champion who produced the night's best recorded average at Portishead, hitting 89.88. Ryan Greenslade reached 85.89 and John Maggs 83.50, showing the strength running through the tournament.

Davies warms up in style

With the Red Dragon Champion of Champions looming, Dai Davies could hardly have asked for a better preparation.

Davies won the Champion of Champions warm-up tournament at Whitchurch Rugby Club, with 38 matches recorded. He produced averages of 98.33, 95.66 and 93.94 during the event, while Dean Reynolds recorded an excellent 103.66.

Given what lies ahead, that is a timely bit of form from Davies.

Eichen impresses at Woodbridge Hill

There was also an excellent performance from Jake Eichen at the Woodbridge Hill Working Men's Club Vault Break.

Eichen collected eight victories on his way to the title and produced the tournament's three biggest recorded averages — 98.11, 92.02 and 88.41. Jack Harvey also had a strong evening, picking up six wins.

That's one of the performances from Friday that perhaps deserves a little more attention than it gets from simply looking at the winners.

Crowther comes through strong SDO Open

The SDO Summer Series 5.6 Open also produced some excellent numbers.

Gary Crowther eventually took the title in a field which included an impressive Paul Rowley. Crowther recorded a 95.55, while Rowley produced three separate performances of 97.93, 97.50 and 94.81. Eddie Price topped the tournament averages with 98.02.

Crowther's six victories were enough to secure the title despite some serious competition around him.

More winners around the circuit

There was plenty more happening across Friday's results.

John Power won at Epsom Town Social Club, Arun Grewal took the IDL Super GP in Ruislip, Robert Lewis won the Sub-50 round robin in Newport and Cameron Edwards came through the Trial Run Number 2 tournament at Wattsville National Club.

At junior level, Reggie Woodmore won the JDC VOLTS Series 7 event at the Simeon Arms in Ryde, while Kirsten Casley took JDC Wales Girls Series Event 5.

There was also a title for Archie Bourne at the NDC World Championship, while David Hitchman won the Premier League Division 1 Week 3 event at the Bullseye Bar in Lichfield.

Friday's numbers

The biggest individual average collected by Q4QS was Edhouse's 111.33, followed by Grant Jackson at 107.36 and Dean Reynolds at 103.66. Dai Davies (98.33), Jake Eichen (98.11), Eddie Price (98.02) and Paul Rowley (97.93) were among several others pushing towards or beyond the high-90s.

Another 22 tournaments are therefore in the database, but what stands out again is the variety. From a 155-match Vault Break to local opens, junior events and restricted competitions, there was quality at several different levels.

Adam Mould's Bradmoor victory probably takes top billing, while the performances of Edhouse, Davies, Eichen and Godbeer give Friday's results plenty of depth.

One Place on the MODUS Stage – South West Vault 18 Regional Final Preview

 

The road through Vault 18 reaches its conclusion in the South West on Saturday 22 August, when 20 of the region’s leading players battle it out for one of the biggest prizes available on the grassroots circuit.

A place on the MODUS Super Series stage awaits the winner.

For the last seven weeks, players across the South West have been competing in Vault events, collecting points and trying to position themselves high enough in the regional standings to reach this final day.

Now, the points race is over.

There are no more calculations to make and no more weeks to recover from a bad result.

For these 20 players, it comes down to one tournament.

Win it, and the reward is a televised MODUS Super Series opportunity.

That pathway has already shown just how significant these regional qualifiers can be. In Vault 17, Henry Cooper won the South West MODUS qualifier at Shaftesbury Football Club, defeating Andy Steed 6-4 in the final and averaging 85.51 across the event.

Now Cooper is back trying to do it all again.

Cooper Bids for Back-to-Back Qualification

There could hardly be a better starting point.

Henry Cooper enters the Vault 18 Regional Final as the defending South West qualifier champion — and his current form suggests another run is entirely possible.

Cooper is 10-0 across his last ten recorded matches in the Q4QS database and comes into Saturday after winning at The Kings Arms in Wallisdown with an exceptional 93.95 tournament average.

His recent sequence is formidable.

Three wins from his last five recorded events, another final, and tournament averages of 83.91, 84.02, 92.33 and 93.95 underline just how consistently well he has been playing.

He also has individual recorded performances of 109.98 and 104.86 among his recent results.

Repeating a regional qualifier victory is a difficult ask, but Cooper appears to be arriving at exactly the right level.

Gareth Griffiths Might Be the Man to Beat

If Cooper has the previous regional title, Gareth Griffiths may have the strongest current case.

Griffiths is ranked 83rd in the Q4QS database, with an overall average of 87.07, and he is also 10-0 across his last ten matches.

His latest appearance was spectacular.

Griffiths went 8-0 to win at Indian Queens WMC with a 93.35 tournament average, having already recorded victories over Kevin Mitchell, Neil Meneer and Logan Symons Jr during his recent run.

There is also unfinished business here.

Griffiths reached the semi-finals of the previous South West MODUS qualifier, averaging 90.08, before his run was ended by Andy Steed.

This time, he'll be looking to go two rounds further.

Spurdle Has Been Consistently in Contention

Kieran Spurdle is another player whose recent record makes a strong case.

He comes into Saturday 8-2 across his last ten, having won Vault 18 events at both The Choughs in Chard and Pegasus 68 in Taunton.

His recent five-event sequence contains two wins, two finals and a semi-final, making him one of the most consistently successful players in this field.

Spurdle's best recent winning average was 77.44, while individual performances have climbed as high as 88.41.

He might not carry the same headline scoring numbers as Griffiths or Cooper, but tournament darts is about repeatedly getting through matches — and Spurdle has been doing exactly that.

Cleave Comes in With Winning Form

Finlay Cleave is another who has been accumulating deep runs.

Cleave is also 8-2 in his last ten, and his recent results include victory at 8 Ball Bar & Sports in Paignton, where he went a perfect 8-0 with a 76.78 tournament average.

He followed that with semi-finals in Taunton and at Galaxy Sports Bar, while his recent wins include an 89.24 performance against Andy Steed and an 88.41 against Charlie Wiles.

Again, that gives him precisely the sort of profile that can work well in a one-day knockout.

Andrews Has Already Been Winning Around Bristol

Lee Andrews comes into Saturday with slightly less impressive immediate win-loss numbers than some of the favourites, but his recent record contains plenty of evidence that he belongs in the conversation.

Andrews recently won a Vault at Bessellscotts in Bristol, while his other recent results include semi-finals at North Star Club and Saintbridge Sports Club.

He has also shown a ceiling well above his overall 70.86 database average, with the preview data recording a best performance of 100.20.

In a shorter field where only a handful of wins separate somebody from the MODUS stage, that makes him a genuine threat.

Guilfoyle Provides the Unknown Element

My sixth player to follow is rather different.

Dan Guilfoyle doesn't have anywhere near the amount of Q4QS data behind him that the other leading names do.

He has only one qualifying event in the current database sample, but that appearance produced a 5-2 record and a quarter-final at St Breward, including several wins in the mid-to-high 50s.

So rather than presenting him as one of the statistical favourites, I'd see Guilfoyle as the intriguing unknown among my six.

Sometimes these regional finals throw up players whose broader level hasn't yet been fully captured by the database.

Saturday gives us a chance to find out more.

⭐ Q4QS Six to Follow

🎯 Gareth Griffiths
The highest-ranked player among my six, 10-0 recently and coming off an 8-0 title-winning performance with a 93.35 average.

🎯 Henry Cooper
The defending South West MODUS qualifier champion, also 10-0 recently and producing some outstanding 90+ tournament numbers.

🎯 Kieran Spurdle
Two wins, two finals and a semi-final among his latest five events make him one of the most consistent players in the field.

🎯 Finlay Cleave
Another 8-2 player who has already shown he can put together an unbeaten Vault-winning run.

🎯 Lee Andrews
A recent Bristol Vault winner with several other deep runs and enough scoring power to threaten anyone in the draw.

🎯 Dan Guilfoyle
The least exposed of the six in the Q4QS database, but his 5-2 Vault appearance makes him an interesting player to keep an eye on.

Plenty of Threats Beyond the Six

As with the South East & London qualifier, selecting six does not mean the rest can be ignored.

Danny Humphries comes into Saturday 9-1 across his last ten, has recently won a Vault at Matson Rugby Club with an 81.34 tournament average and has been gaining valuable Challenge Tour experience as well.

Callum Harrison is 7-3 and recently reached a Sturminster final, while Trevor Pengelly has the same 7-3 recent record and has reached semi-finals during both Vault 17 and Vault 18.

Then there are several significant names for whom the uploaded preview pack doesn't contain enough current detail to analyse in the same way — including Jamie Kay, Ricky King, Neil Meneer, C-Jay Pipe, Robbie Roy, Andy Steed, Sean Taylor, Martin Walker and Barry Wylds.

And Andy Steed in particular hardly needs explaining as a danger: he reached the final of the Vault 17 South West MODUS qualifier before losing to Cooper.

A Smaller Field – But Not an Easier One

The South West qualifier has an interesting difference to the South East & London event.

There are 20 players rather than 32 after the final field was confirmed, with Zach Quinn, Brooklyn Anthony and Josh McCarthy no longer taking part.

On the surface, that means fewer matches and fewer players standing between somebody and MODUS.

But it doesn't necessarily make the tournament easier.

With Cooper and Griffiths both arriving 10-0, Spurdle and Cleave at 8-2, Humphries at 9-1 and several proven regional performers elsewhere in the field, there is quality throughout the entry list.

And with only one prize that really matters, eventually somebody has to beat those players.

One More Opportunity

This is what seven weeks of Vault 18 have been building towards.

The weekly wins, ranking points and long evenings at venues across Bristol, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Gloucestershire have created the field.

On Saturday, all of that disappears.

Whether somebody qualified first or twentieth doesn't matter once the darts begin.

Twenty players.

One South West Regional Final.

One MODUS Super Series place.

Henry Cooper has already travelled this road successfully once.

On Saturday we'll discover whether he can do it again — or whether somebody else takes the South West's latest opportunity to step out of the Vault and onto the televised MODUS stage.

One Win From the MODUS Stage – South East & London Vault 18 Regional Final Preview

 

Seven weeks of Vault competition. Hundreds of matches. Dozens of venues and countless legs of darts.

On Saturday, it all comes down to one day.

The ADC Vault 18 South East & London Regional Final takes place on Saturday 22 August, bringing together 32 of the leading performers from one of the strongest and deepest regions in the Vault system.

And this time the prize is about considerably more than winning another darts tournament.

The winner earns a place on the MODUS Super Series, taking them from the grassroots Vault circuit onto the televised MODUS stage and giving them an opportunity to take another significant step in their darting career.

That pathway is precisely what makes the Vault concept so fascinating.

For seven weeks, players have competed in regular round-robin tournaments across the region, accumulating points towards the regional standings. The leading players then earn their shot at the Regional Final, where everything effectively resets.

Thirty-two players.

One knockout tournament.

One MODUS opportunity.

The Vault regulations describe the prize as a live MODUS Super Series place, guaranteeing either a five-day appearance or two separate two-day appearances.

For players accustomed to competing in clubs, pubs and social venues around the country, that is an enormous opportunity.

And the South East & London field looks particularly difficult to predict.

Cressey Looking to Do It Again

There is an obvious place to begin.

George Cressey knows exactly what it takes to win one of these.

Cressey won the Vault 17 South East & London Regional Final, earning his previous MODUS opportunity, and returns for Vault 18 attempting the difficult feat of qualifying again.

His wider form suggests that previous success was certainly no one-off.

The Q4QS database has Cressey averaging 85.17, while his recent results include victory at the Once Twitten Early Bird tournament where he averaged an outstanding 93.58 across the event. He has also produced a recorded match average of 120.40.

There is another interesting element to Cressey's story.

He has already shown that when the prize becomes bigger, his game can rise with it. That previous experience of navigating a regional final could prove extremely valuable on Saturday.

But this is far from a one-man tournament.

Dutton Brings Serious Form

If we're looking for one of the strongest statistical cases in the field, Stuart Dutton is difficult to ignore.

Dutton comes into the Regional Final with an 83.03 database average and an 8-2 record across his last ten matches.

His recent tournament record is even more impressive.

There are wins at Riverside Club and Sports Bar & Lounge in Milton Keynes, semi-finals at Bradmoor Farm and Charville Community Centre, and a semi-final at the Winmau CDC Classic where he averaged 84.50.

That's exactly the sort of consistency required in a 32-player knockout.

There won't be much room for a slow start on Saturday.

Crook Has Already Shown His Quality

Roger Crook is another player arriving with winning form behind him.

Crook won ADC Winmau Championship South Event 12, going through that tournament 8-0 and averaging 82.60. More recently, he reached another final at the GWRSA Club while averaging 88.19 across the event.

His last-ten record stands at 8-2.

Perhaps more importantly, those performances have come in substantial fields and against strong opposition. There should be very little about the pressure of Saturday's Regional Final that intimidates him.

Levett's Consistency Makes Him Dangerous

Connor Levett may be one of the most interesting players in the draw.

An 81.15 database average is backed up by an 8-2 recent record, while Levett has already won Vault 18 tournaments at TMG Social Club and Southwick Sports & Social Club.

He followed those victories by reaching another final at The Bear Free House, averaging 81.06.

That is a very solid body of Vault form.

And in an event made up predominantly of players who have earned their place through this exact competition, being consistently successful within the Vault format itself could be particularly significant.

Holley Knows How to Win

Then there's Sean Holley.

Holley has multiple recent Vault successes in the database, including an unbeaten 8-0 victory at Chinnor Community Pavilion and another tournament win at Bradmoor Farm where he averaged 85.80.

His best individual performances suggest there is another gear available as well, with the preview data recording a best average of 117.72.

If that higher level appears at the right moment, Holley becomes extremely dangerous.

Caste Might Be the Form Player

If recent wins are the deciding factor, however, Mat Caste demands attention.

Caste is 9-1 across his last ten recorded matches.

His recent run contains a semi-final at Hotshots, another semi-final at Bradmoor Farm and then three tournament victories – at the Carlton House Club, Windmill Hill Golf Centre and Hotshots Sports Bar.

At Windmill Hill he averaged 85.66 across the tournament.

There may be players with higher long-term numbers in this field, but very few appear to be arriving with greater momentum.

Six to Follow

My six for Saturday are therefore:

George Cressey – the defending Vault regional qualifier winner and already proven in exactly this situation.

Roger Crook – recent ADC Winmau Championship winner with another final immediately among his recent results.

Connor Levett – consistently producing around the 80-plus level and already a multiple Vault winner.

Stuart Dutton – arguably the strongest all-round statistical profile among the leading contenders.

Sean Holley – plenty of winning experience and capable of producing significantly bigger numbers when everything clicks.

Mat Caste – 9-1 across his last ten and coming into the tournament on a superb sequence of deep runs and victories.

Those are also the six highlighted by the Q4QS preview data.

But Don't Ignore the Rest

Perhaps the biggest danger when assessing this tournament is concentrating too heavily on the obvious six.

There are some remarkable runs elsewhere in the field.

Nathan Beckett, for example, is listed at 10-0 across his last ten and has recently won at The Empire Club, Plough & Horse and The Earl of Abingdon.

George Whyte is also 10-0, his latest appearance producing victory at the IDL Super GP Ruislip.

Remarkably, James Smith is another player carrying a 10-0 record, with victories at Saintbridge Sports Club and South Croydon Conservative Club among his latest results.

And Clayton Ford makes it four players in the wider field whose database form reads 10-0, having most recently won the Chinnor Pavilion Vault Break.

That illustrates the quality of this Regional Final better than almost anything else.

There are players outside an obvious six-to-follow shortlist arriving having barely lost a match.

The Beauty of the Regional Final

What I particularly like about these events is what they represent.

The MODUS Super Series has become an important bridge between grassroots and professional darts. Players don't necessarily need a PDC Tour Card or a major management deal to suddenly find themselves playing televised darts.

They can earn the opportunity on the board.

For the Vault players, Saturday is the culmination of weeks of travelling, entering events, accumulating ranking points and trying to finish high enough in their region to reach this stage.

Now none of those points matter.

The objective becomes beautifully simple.

Win your matches and reach MODUS.

Cressey has already done it.

Dutton, Crook, Levett, Holley and Caste have compelling cases.

Several others arrive on extraordinary winning runs.

And somewhere among this 32-player field is someone who will finish Saturday having transformed a successful Vault campaign into an opportunity to showcase their darts on the MODUS Super Series stage.

That's quite a prize to play for.

Country Spotlight: Argentina – South America's New Darts Force?

 

After beginning my South American journey with Brazil last week, the Country Spotlight series stays on the continent — but this time heads south to Argentina.

Argentina is, of course, one of the great sporting nations. Football dominates the landscape, but the country has also produced world-class performers in rugby, hockey, basketball, tennis and motorsport.

Darts has never enjoyed anything approaching that profile.

But something interesting is happening.

Over the last two years, Argentina has achieved a series of firsts. It has made its debut at the PDC World Cup of Darts, produced its first PDC World Championship representative and, in Jesús Salate, currently possesses arguably the dominant player on the Latin American and Caribbean circuit.

Could Argentina be developing into South America's new darts force?

Where is Argentina?

Argentina occupies much of the southern part of South America, stretching from its borders with Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay in the north all the way towards Patagonia in the south.

With a population of around 46 million, it is the second-largest country in South America by both area and population behind Brazil.

Like Brazil, that immediately presents an interesting opportunity for darts.

The sport doesn't need to challenge football for popularity. Developing even a relatively small competitive darts community within a country of Argentina's size could create a significant pool of players.

And there is evidence that a domestic community already exists.

Dardos Argentina describes itself as a nationwide family of players, organising online tournaments, two leagues each year and in-person competitions across different Argentine provinces. Its stated aim is to make darts better known and attract more people to the sport nationally.

That's a useful foundation.

But Argentina's international breakthrough has arrived much more recently.

2025 – The Year Argentina Made History

For years Argentina had remained largely invisible to followers of mainstream professional darts.

That changed dramatically in 2025.

Jesús Salate and Víctor Guillín won the Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean World Cup qualifier in Panama City, earning Argentina its first appearance at the PDC World Cup of Darts.

It wasn't a fortunate qualification either.

The Argentine pair went unbeaten through their group before progressing through the knockout stage and defeating Costa Rica 7–2 in the final. Across their four knockout matches, Salate and Guillín averaged 81.16 as a partnership.

And when they reached Frankfurt, they did far more than simply make up the numbers.

A Remarkable World Cup Debut

Argentina were drawn alongside Finland and New Zealand in their group.

Salate and Guillín defeated Finland 4–1 and then edged New Zealand 4–3, winning the group and progressing to the last 16 on their very first appearance.

Their run eventually ended against Australia, but Argentina had already made its point.

They hadn't just qualified for the World Cup.

They had been competitive when they got there.

For a developing darts country, moments like that can be hugely important. Suddenly there are players representing the flag on television and demonstrating that the pathway exists.

And one half of that partnership was about to take things considerably further.

Jesús Salate – Argentina's Breakthrough Star

If Diogo Portela was the pioneer who put Brazil onto the modern PDC map, Jesús Salate is rapidly becoming Argentina's equivalent.

Salate topped the CDLC rankings in 2025 and consequently became the first Argentine player to qualify for the PDC World Darts Championship.

He made his Alexandra Palace debut at the 2025/26 championship against Ryan Meikle.

But what has happened since is perhaps even more significant.

Rather than his qualification proving to be a one-off breakthrough, Salate has become even more dominant within his region.

And the Q4QS numbers illustrate that very clearly.

Salate by the Numbers

The Q4QS database currently contains 54 matches for Salate during 2026.

He has won 42.

That's a remarkable 77.8% win rate, with four tournament victories already recorded alongside two semi-finals and a quarter-final.

His scoring numbers are equally encouraging.

Salate has an overall match average of 82.61, a Q4QS Average of 83.56 and a best recorded performance of 98.22.

That 98.22 came at European Q-School, where he defeated Nandor Major 6–1.

He has also recorded a 97.56 average against fellow Argentine Víctor Guillín and a 94.83 on the PDC Challenge Tour.

Those latter results are particularly important.

Salate isn't producing good numbers solely against players from developing darts nations.

He is travelling to Europe and testing himself against considerably deeper fields.

Four Titles From Six

Salate's dominance of the 2026 CDLC Tour has been extraordinary.

He won four of the six ranking events, finishing comfortably at the top of the standings and securing another place at the World Darts Championship.

His success also earned him direct passage to the second stage of PDC Q-School as well as a place in the qualifying rounds of the World Masters.

That means Argentina will have a representative at Alexandra Palace for a second successive year.

Perhaps more importantly, Salate is beginning to look like more than simply the best player in his own country.

He is establishing himself as one of the leading players across the entire Latin American and Caribbean darts scene.

Víctor Guillín – Strength Behind the Number One

One outstanding player doesn't necessarily create a strong darts nation.

That's why Víctor Guillín is an important part of Argentina's story.

His Q4QS sample is considerably smaller than Salate's, but the results are impressive.

Across 14 recorded matches, Guillín has won 11, giving him a 78.6% win rate.

He has reached one final and two quarter-finals, with an overall average of 71.76 and a best recorded average of 84.65.

That 84.65 came in a 6–3 semi-final victory over Guillermo Soto during CDLC Event Two.

Guillín subsequently lost the final to Salate — one of two defeats to his compatriot among his three losses in the current Q4QS data.

He also finished inside the top eight of the 2026 CDLC rankings, earning entry to PDC Q-School and World Masters qualifying.

That matters.

Argentina doesn't just have the strongest player on the circuit. It has another player capable of reaching the latter stages alongside him.

The Next Challenge: Depth

This is where some perspective is needed.

Argentina currently has two very credible headline players.

That isn't the same as having a deep international-standard darts system.

When I looked through my Q4QS database for this feature, Salate and Guillín were the two Argentine players who really stood out.

Compare that with Sweden, Denmark or Finland from earlier Country Spotlight features and the difference in depth is obvious.

Argentina therefore appears to be at a fascinating stage of its development.

It has achieved the breakthrough.

Now it needs more players to follow.

Why Salate's European Experience Matters

One of the most encouraging parts of Salate's development is his willingness to compete outside the CDLC.

His 2026 Q4QS record includes European Q-School, the World Masters, Gibraltar events and the PDC Challenge Tour.

And he isn't simply entering.

He's winning matches.

His Q4QS record includes victories over Jack Johnson, Lennert Faes, Kevin Lane, Darren Johnson and Nandor Major.

As recently as August, he averaged 94.83 in a Challenge Tour victory over James Ralph before winning again in the next round.

That exposure could prove invaluable.

The CDLC provides the pathway. European competition provides an opportunity to discover exactly how high the ceiling might be.

Brazil and Argentina – Two Different Stories

It's also interesting to compare the first two countries from this South American Country Spotlight run.

Brazil had the earlier pioneer.

Diogo Portela reached six consecutive World Championships and demonstrated that a South American player could establish himself within the PDC system.

Argentina has arrived later.

But right now, its momentum arguably looks stronger.

Salate is dominating the regional circuit, Guillín is providing credible support, and together they reached the knockout stage of the World Cup at their first attempt.

The challenge for both nations is ultimately similar:

Can individual success create wider participation?

Why Argentina Matters

Darts' continued international expansion depends upon stories like this.

The sport is already enormous in Britain, the Netherlands and parts of continental Europe.

The next frontier is creating meaningful pathways elsewhere.

Argentina shows what can happen when that pathway exists.

The CDLC gave Salate and Guillín opportunities.

Those opportunities led to the World Cup.

Salate's performances led to Alexandra Palace.

Now his regional success is creating opportunities at Q-School and the World Masters.

That is precisely how a darts nation can begin to grow.

Looking Ahead

Argentina isn't a darts powerhouse yet.

It would be premature to describe it as one.

But its trajectory is extremely encouraging.

In a remarkably short period, Argentina has:

Made its PDC World Cup debut.

Reached the World Cup knockout stages.

Produced its first PDC World Championship player.

Produced the dominant player on the 2026 CDLC Tour.

Secured another World Championship appearance for 2026/27.

The next step is perhaps the hardest one.

Finding the next Salate and Guillín.

If increased visibility encourages more Argentinians to pick up a set of darts, the country's breakthrough years of 2025 and 2026 could eventually be remembered as the beginning of something much bigger.

Q4QS Darts Nation Rating

Current Strength: 7/10

Participation & Depth: 5/10

International Achievement: 7/10

Future Potential: 8/10

Overall Q4QS Nation Rating: 6.75/10

Argentina's biggest weakness remains depth.

But its top-end strength is considerably better than might be expected from a nation that only made its PDC World Cup debut last year.

In Jesús Salate it has a genuine regional star.

In Víctor Guillín it has a strong second player.

And after two extraordinary years of firsts, Argentina might just be becoming South America's new darts force.

Useful Links

Dardos Argentina — the domestic organisation working to grow darts and organise competition across Argentina.

Championship Darts Corporation / CDLC — useful for following Argentina's leading players on the Latin America and Caribbean circuit.

Robbie Long Leads the Way on a Busy Thursday Night of Grassroots Darts - Results SOuth and SOuth West 20th August 2026

 

Robbie Long was among the headline winners on another busy night of grassroots darts on Thursday, producing a strong performance to take the honours at Hangar 61.

Results from across the country again demonstrated the depth of the grassroots game, with Keith Selby, Bryan Flew, Stewart Wilde and others producing some of the night's strongest recorded averages.

For Q4QS, though, the standout story from the South West came at Hangar 61.

Long takes the title at Hangar 61

Robbie Long continued his impressive recent form by winning the Thursday night round robin at Hangar 61.

Long defeated Martyn Freeman 3–1 in the final, having also produced the tournament's highest recorded average with an 88.41 during his run. He added an 85.79 later in the competition, while Simon Lloyd recorded an 83.70.

It was another notable result for a player who has been putting together an increasingly impressive run on the local circuit.

Selby breaks the ton at the Local Lock Up

The biggest genuine individual average I'm highlighting from Thursday came from Keith Selby, who produced an excellent 100.20 during Local Lock Up Series 13 Week 7 at Darts In Watford.

Selby ultimately reached the final, where John Ayris claimed the title with a 3–1 victory.

Ayris enjoyed an excellent night himself, recording two 91.09 averages on his way through the competition.

Bull takes MiMo 2008

At Locks Heath Working Men's Club, Nathan Bull emerged victorious in MiMo 2008.

Bull completed an eight-win evening by defeating Carl Houston 3–0 in the final, while Joey Cole produced the highest recorded average from the event with 91.09.

Bull himself reached 83.50 during the competition as he put together an impressive run to the title.

Strong numbers at Brynmawr

There was plenty of quality at Brynmawr Social Club, where Craig Dobbins eventually took the money-in-money-out title.

Dobbins defeated David Watkins 3–2 in the final, but it was Bryan Flew who produced the standout statistical performance.

Flew registered an excellent 93.94, while Cameron Edwards, Dean Rossiter and Watkins all reached 91.09.

That made Brynmawr one of the strongest events of the night in terms of the leading recorded averages.

Bailey survives a marathon in Devizes

There were 75 matches recorded at the Devizes Town Round Robin U70 Average before Christopher Bailey emerged with the title.

Bailey edged Ian Runnacles 4–3 in the final, while Darren Braine recorded the tournament's highest average at 81.24. Mike Barton was next with 78.05.

Hemming wins Inbetween Vault

Wesley Hemming was another of Thursday's winners, taking the Inbetween Vault 1 title after defeating Elliot Smith 3–1 in the final.

The highest recorded average came from Stewart Wilde, who hit an impressive 92.02.

Hemming also produced 84.18 during his title-winning run.

Caste claims Hotshots victory

At Hotshots Sports Bar in Bletchley, Mat Caste took the Vault Break 1 title.

Caste defeated Addison Hefferon 3–1 in the final, with Hefferon having earlier produced the competition's highest recorded average of 90.18.

Charlie Collins also impressed with performances of 88.41 and 86.51.

More winners across the grassroots game

There were plenty more players celebrating tournament victories.

Daniel Killick won the Champagne Shot Darts RR Series U65.9, beating Steve Hylands 4–2 in the final. Hylands' 85.89 was the highest recorded average from the competition.

At The Junction Inn, Finley Bennett defeated Stephen Cake 3–1 to take the title, with George Humphreys producing an 88.41.

Ryan Fuller won Thursday Night MIMO at Legends Darts Lounge, while Aaron Boucher took the Thursday Night Under 60 Average competition at Highridge United Football Club.

And at Samba Darts Academy, Nick Whitehouse came through a close final against Mark Zambra to take the Vault Style Round Robin title.

Alongside Selby's 100.20, Flew's 93.94 and Wilde's 92.02, there was once again plenty of evidence of the quality being produced throughout the grassroots game.