Yesterday's Results Round-Up – Monday 20 July 2026

 

Monday saw another busy evening on the grassroots darts circuit, with 39 tournaments added to the Q4QS database. As always, this roundup focuses primarily on the South West, where several familiar names continued their excellent recent form and another handful of standout performances caught the eye.

Andy Steed Keeps the Winning Run Going

One player who simply refuses to slow down is Andy Steed.

Andy claimed another Vault 18.0 title at 8 Ball Bar & Sports, Paignton, adding yet another trophy to what has become a remarkable spell of form. He also produced a superb 91.09 average during the evening, once again showing why he remains one of the hottest players on the South West circuit.

With titles continuing to arrive week after week, Andy is enjoying one of the strongest runs of the summer.

Mitch McCarthy Wins Strong North Star Field

The North Star Club, Calne once again attracted a competitive field, and it was Mitch McCarthy who came away with the title.

While Mitch lifted the trophy, the event also produced some exceptional darts. Gary Hiscock fired a magnificent 104.86 average, while Josh McCarthy added performances of 100.20, 99.21 and 94.02, underlining the quality throughout the night.

It was another reminder that Calne continues to produce some of the strongest Monday night darts in the region.

Ben Collins Triumphs in Salisbury

At Stratford Social Club, Ben Collins enjoyed an excellent evening to take the latest Monday Vault title.

Billy Kelly pushed him all the way during the competition, while Zachary Petty recorded the highest average of the night at 88.29. It was another closely contested event that showcased the depth of talent in Salisbury.

Craig Britten Tops the Under-65 Event

The Clandown Darts Promotions Under-65 Average Round Robin produced another entertaining evening.

Craig Britten lifted the title after a consistent day's work and also recorded the highest average of the tournament at 81.24, rounding off an excellent performance from start to finish.

George Humphreys Continues His Excellent Form

Another player to impress was George Humphreys, who claimed victory in the JDC VOLTS Series 7 at Stratford Social Club, Salisbury.

George once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the brightest junior talents, adding another title to his growing collection after another confident display.

Codi Wagstaff Wins in Weston-super-Mare

The 49 Club Under-55 Round Robin produced another competitive local event.

Codi Wagstaff emerged victorious after a strong evening, while Bart Mansfield recorded the highest average of the competition with 69.91. It was another well-supported event with plenty of competitive matches throughout.

Performance of the Day

Although Andy Steed continued his superb winning run, the individual performance of the evening arguably belonged to Gary Hiscock, whose outstanding 104.86 average at North Star Club was one of the highest recorded anywhere in the Q4QS database on Monday.

The standard continues to rise across the South West, and if Monday night's action is anything to go by, there will be plenty more storylines to follow over the coming week.

Congratulations to all of Monday's winners, and good luck to everyone back on the oche over the next few days.

Just How Difficult Is It To Break Into The PDC Top 20?

 

One of the biggest debates in professional darts centres around the PDC Order of Merit. Are the world's top players simply the best players, or does the structure of the professional game make it harder than ever for new names to break into the elite?

It's a question I've heard discussed countless times, particularly around the European Tour. The Top 16 receive automatic entry and seeded positions, while those further down the rankings often have to battle through qualifiers before they've even thrown a dart on the main stage.

Rather than simply offering an opinion, I wanted to look at the numbers.

A remarkably exclusive club

Looking at the year-end PDC Top 20 between 2010 and 2025 reveals just how difficult it is to join the sport's elite.

Across those sixteen seasons there were 321 Top 20 positions available (2019 included a tie for 20th), yet they were occupied by just 63 different players.

That immediately tells us one thing.

Breaking into the Top 20 is far harder than many people probably realise.

Even more striking is the annual turnover. On average, over 82% of the previous year's Top 20 remained there the following season. In a typical year, only three or four places became available.

Think about that for a moment.

A player isn't realistically competing for one of twenty places. They're competing for one of perhaps three opportunities, while the remaining positions are occupied by players who have already established themselves.

Staying there is just as impressive

Once players reach the elite, many stay there for years.

James Wade appeared in every year-end Top 20 from 2010 through to 2025.

Michael van Gerwen has spent fourteen consecutive years inside the Top 20.

Dave Chisnall has managed thirteen consecutive appearances, while Peter Wright and Simon Whitlock both enjoyed runs of twelve straight seasons.

This isn't simply a list of talented players. It demonstrates remarkable consistency over long periods.

At the other end of the scale, only eleven players appeared in the year-end Top 20 on just one occasion during the study period. Reaching the Top 20 is rarely a one-season fluke.

So is the system fair?

This is where opinions begin to differ.

One argument is simple.

The best players win the biggest tournaments, therefore they deserve to be seeded, receive automatic entries and benefit from those rewards.

It's difficult to argue against success being rewarded.

However, there is another side to the debate.

Once a player reaches the Top 16, they gain regular access to the biggest ranking events, avoid qualification for many tournaments and often receive more favourable draws through seeding.

Those advantages don't guarantee victories, but they do provide more opportunities to earn ranking money than players trying to break through from outside the elite.

The statistics alone don't prove that the system keeps players in the Top 20.

What they do show is that very few places become available each year, meaning the pathway into the elite is incredibly narrow.

Is there a changing of the guard?

Yes, but perhaps not as quickly as many people think.

The early part of the study was dominated by names such as Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, Raymond van Barneveld, Terry Jenkins and Simon Whitlock.

Gradually they were replaced by Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price.

Now we're seeing another generation emerge, led by Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, Gian van Veen, Josh Rock and Martin Schindler.

What's interesting is that this change rarely happens overnight.

Most players don't jump from outside the Top 100 into the Top 20 in a single season. Instead they tend to climb steadily over several years before finally making the breakthrough.

Luke Littler is the obvious exception. His rise has been extraordinary and almost certainly shouldn't be viewed as the normal route to the top.

Can we spot the next breakthrough?

This is where I think statistics become really interesting.

The PDC Order of Merit measures prize money won over a two-year period.

My own Q4QS rankings are designed to measure current playing strength using a different methodology.

That means they don't always agree.

Sometimes a player appears high in the Q4QS rankings long before they reach the very top of the PDC Order of Merit.

That doesn't mean they'll definitely become a Top 20 player.

But history suggests that players who consistently produce high averages, win regularly and continue to climb the rankings often follow a similar pathway to those who have broken through before them.

Over the coming months, I'll be comparing today's Q4QS leaders with previous generations of players to see whether we can identify the next stars before they establish themselves on the biggest stages.

The verdict

The figures leave little doubt that breaking into the PDC Top 20 is one of the hardest achievements in professional darts.

With only a handful of places changing hands each year, new players need sustained excellence rather than one outstanding season.

Whether the current structure simply rewards the very best players or also makes it harder for newcomers to force their way through is a debate that will continue.

What the numbers do prove is that reaching the Top 20 is only half the battle.

Staying there is an achievement in itself.

This is only the first part of the research. Over the coming weeks I'll be looking more closely at the journeys of previous breakthrough players, comparing them with today's emerging talent and asking one simple question:

Who will be the next player to force their way into the PDC's elite?

Yesterday's Results Round-Up – Sunday 19 July 2026

 

Sunday saw another huge day of grassroots darts, with 49 tournaments added to the Q4QS database. As always, there was plenty of quality across the country, but this roundup focuses mainly on the South West, where several familiar names continued their excellent seasons.

Andy Hammond Backs Up Friday's Success

One of the biggest stories of the day came at Vault 18.0 @ Matson Rugby Club, Gloucester.

Just two days after lifting the Saintbridge Sports Club title, Andy Hammond made it back-to-back Vault victories by defeating Mitch McCarthy in another high-quality final.

Josh McCarthy produced two 90+ averages during the afternoon before falling in the latter stages, highlighting just how strong the Gloucester field was once again. Andy's latest success further underlines the superb form he has shown over recent weeks.

Andy Steed Keeps the Momentum Going

Another player continuing a remarkable run is Andy Steed.

He claimed the Vault 18.0 @ The Queens Arms title after overcoming Dave Fisher in the final, adding yet another trophy to what is becoming an outstanding summer.

With title after title arriving over recent weeks, Andy remains one of the most consistent performers anywhere in the South West.

Archie Self Hits Three Ton Averages

Over at The Phoenix Club, Waterlooville, Archie Self produced one of the individual performances of the day.

Archie defeated former PDC Tour Card holder Steve West in the final, but it was the manner of the victory that caught the eye. His run included averages of 100.20, 97.87 and 97.38, demonstrating the sort of scoring power capable of winning any tournament.

Plymouth Success for Scott Lawrey

At Vault 18.0 @ Legends Lounge, Plymouth, Scott Lawrey enjoyed an excellent afternoon.

He defeated Nick Miller in the final after recording four successive 80+ averages during the event, continuing his impressive recent form on the Devon circuit.

Mark Wellington Wins in Cinderford

Another Gloucestershire title went the way of Mark Wellington, who lifted the trophy at The Nags Head Inn, Cinderford.

While Graham Jenkins recorded the highest average of the event, Mark consistently found a way through the draw to collect another Vault title.

Strong Performances Across the Region

Elsewhere, Ricky King claimed victory at Swanage RBL, while Joseph Lauridsen won the latest JDC VOLTS event in Exeter. Charlie Mossman also impressed by taking the Minehead JDC VOLTS title after another excellent day's darts.

Performance of the Day

There were plenty of outstanding displays on Sunday, but Archie Self's scoring at Waterlooville deserves special recognition. Three averages approaching the ton, followed by victory over Steve West in the final, made it one of the standout performances of the weekend.

Meanwhile, Andy Hammond and Andy Steed continued their exceptional recent form with yet more Vault titles, reinforcing their status as two of the hottest players on the South West circuit.

Congratulations to everyone who lifted a trophy on Sunday, and good luck to those back on the oche this week.

Modus Super Series Champions Week Preview

 

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

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

Derek Coulson – The Man Everyone Has to Beat?

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

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

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

Robertson Arrives in Red-Hot Form

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

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

Neil Duff Looking to Add Another Big Title

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

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

Young Talent Ready to Shine

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

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

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

Dark Horses

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

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

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

None of them will fear the occasion.

Six To Follow

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

Storylines to Watch

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

Prediction

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

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

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

Yesterday's Results Round-Up – Saturday 18 July 2026 (South and South West)

Saturday delivered another busy day of grassroots darts, with more than 30 tournaments added to the Q4QS database. Across the South West there were plenty of familiar faces collecting silverware, while several players continued the excellent form they've shown throughout the summer.

Warren Ryan Wins Birthday Bash Thriller

One of the standout events came at DartAsylum HQ, where the Browns Bar Birthday Bash lived up to its name with a dramatic final.

Warren Ryan edged past Colin Clarke 5-4 to lift the title after one of the closest finals of the weekend. Colin may have fallen just short, but his three 80+ averages showed just how high the standard was throughout the evening.

Steve Boundy and Liam Moore also enjoyed excellent runs, underlining the strength of the field.

Dorchester Pairs Produce Quality

The DTC July Pairs Open at Dorchester Trinity Club produced some outstanding darts.

Matt Yarrow & Robbie Martin lifted the title after defeating Matt Read & Dan Perry 6-2 in the final. Their best average of 97.13 was among the highest recorded anywhere in the South West on Saturday, while Andy Steed & Paul Millford also impressed with a superb 92.02 average during their run.

James Chudleigh Comes Through in Indian Queens

A huge field assembled for the Indian Queens Non County Competition, making James Chudleigh's victory all the more impressive.

James came through a demanding day of darts to defeat Andrew Daniell in the final, while Kev Dunstan caught the eye with the highest average of the tournament at 93.94. It was another reminder of the strength in depth on the Cornish circuit.

Robbie Long Adds Another Title

After reaching Friday night's Hangar 61 final, Robbie Long wasted little time getting back to winning ways.

He claimed the Saturday Night Money In Money Out Knockout title after overcoming Bobby Vickors in the final. Another deep run, followed by another trophy, continues an excellent spell of form for one of the region's most consistent performers.

Ross Godfrey Impresses in Devon

The Galaxy July Open saw Ross Godfrey produce one of the standout individual displays of the day.

His 98.56 average was comfortably the highest of the tournament as he defeated David Dodds in the final, finishing an excellent day's work in style.

Street Delivers Another Busy Evening

Street Darts Organisation hosted another double-header.

Jack Western claimed the Week 5 Open title, while Kevin Marlow came through to win the Week 5 Under-50 competition, ensuring another successful evening for one of the South West's busiest local venues.

Performance of the Day

Saturday produced plenty of quality darts, but the story of the day was perhaps Robbie Long. After finishing runner-up on Friday evening, he bounced back immediately to collect Saturday night's title.

Elsewhere, Matt Yarrow & Robbie Martin impressed in the pairs, James Chudleigh negotiated one of the largest fields of the day in Indian Queens, and Ross Godfrey's near-ton average was one of the standout performances across the South West.

Congratulations to all of Saturday's winners, and good luck to everyone taking to the oche on Sunday. 

Q4QS Bristol Area Rankings – Last 90 Days

 

One of the things I want Q4QS to become known for is providing meaningful local rankings that players can genuinely follow throughout the season.

Today are the Q4QS Bristol Area Rankings, covering English venues within a 20-mile radius of Bristol over the last 90 days.

Unlike the overall Q4QS Rankings, these tables focus purely on recent local form. I think a 90-day period provides a good balance, rewarding players who continue to perform week after week while still allowing new players to climb the rankings relatively quickly.

For these area rankings I've also introduced a minimum requirement of two qualifying events. That means players don't need a huge number of appearances to feature, but they do need to demonstrate their ability over more than a single night.

The rankings are compiled from 4,205 matches involving 422 different players, making them a great snapshot of one of the strongest local darts scenes in the country.

Top 10

1. Josh McCarthy

2. John Brown

3. Ashton Brown

4. Geoff James

5. Shaun Vernall

6. Steve Boundy

7. Darren Davies

8. Robbie Long

9. Zach Quinn

10. Lee Andrews

The full Top 50 can be found below.

My aim is to build similar rankings for other areas including Bath, Gloucester, Taunton, Exeter, Salisbury, Yeovil and beyond, before eventually bringing everything together into a Q4QS South West Top 100.

These rankings aren't designed to replace national rankings—they're designed to give players something local to follow, debate and, hopefully, climb.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, and good luck to everyone trying to move up the table over the coming weeks.

Q4QS Bristol Area Top 50

English venues within a 20-mile radius of Bristol

Last 90 days · Minimum two qualifying events

Rank	Player	Q4QS Rating	Average	Events	W	L	Win %
1	Josh McCarthy	115.59	82.11	9	48	8	85.7%
2	John Brown	115.37	81.15	6	30	8	78.9%
3	Ashton Brown	114.06	78.69	7	32	13	71.1%
4	Geoff James	113.97	80.59	7	38	8	82.6%
5	Shaun Vernall	113.19	76.22	6	30	7	81.1%
6	Chris Hartrey	112.36	81.75	2	16	0	100.0%
7	Steve Boundy	110.73	71.98	14	83	20	80.6%
8	Darren Davies	108.88	68.43	6	27	10	73.0%
9	Robbie Long	108.64	73.89	9	38	12	76.0%
10	Zach Quinn	108.46	71.84	12	56	22	71.8%
11	Lee Andrews	107.78	71.70	20	77	34	69.4%
12	Matty Rogers	107.43	69.76	13	69	17	80.2%
13	Rich Griffee	106.04	76.63	15	65	21	75.6%
14	Jacob Godber	105.83	67.07	9	33	13	71.7%
15	Ellis Radford	105.64	72.15	15	59	28	67.8%
16	Mitch McCarthy	105.44	73.58	11	46	18	71.9%
17	Gary Hiscock	105.42	80.94	6	21	9	70.0%
18	Woody Jewell	104.23	68.94	14	63	28	69.2%
19	Johnny Haines	103.79	86.47	2	12	2	85.7%
20	Codi Wagstaff	103.78	55.33	6	35	8	81.4%
21	Chris Allen	102.52	69.32	3	19	5	79.2%
22	Mervyn Adams	102.48	67.54	12	49	26	65.3%
23	Owen Smith	102.08	67.50	8	30	17	63.8%
24	SKITZ 007	101.96	64.24	6	25	15	62.5%
25	Logun Godbeer	101.68	65.32	10	48	16	75.0%
26	John Maggs	100.85	61.32	14	58	22	72.5%
27	Declan Cox	99.87	74.78	3	15	4	78.9%
28	Lewis Kendall	99.85	64.37	4	22	6	78.6%
29	Samuel King	99.44	66.93	10	30	18	62.5%
30	Ryan Palmer	99.17	81.06	4	16	6	72.7%
31	Craig Britten	99.05	62.43	12	51	21	70.8%
32	Jason Batman Tunnicliff	99.03	58.94	8	31	13	70.5%
33	Joe Sellick	98.99	70.92	6	22	10	68.8%
34	Matthew Reddy	98.80	58.76	8	26	16	61.9%
35	Mac Docherty	98.61	60.12	10	32	23	58.2%
36	Jimmy Bristow	98.34	78.58	4	17	5	77.3%
37	The Knightmare Ryan Knight	98.31	68.01	4	21	9	70.0%
38	Cori Wiltshire	98.02	66.24	19	56	40	58.3%
39	Adrian Wood	97.80	72.84	7	23	14	62.2%
40	Shay Goff	97.49	65.29	13	42	30	58.3%
41	Alfie Barney	97.32	61.60	6	25	13	65.8%
42	Charlie Grabham	96.95	63.56	6	22	10	68.8%
43	Christopher Staples	96.69	57.50	8	27	21	56.2%
44	Alfie Palmer	96.47	65.47	13	35	30	53.8%
45	Luke Harding	96.08	68.72	3	17	6	73.9%
46	Richie Hunt	95.25	67.51	9	26	17	60.5%
47	Keith Norris	95.13	67.16	2	14	3	82.4%
48	Garry Harding	94.40	75.64	2	12	3	80.0%
49	Neil Raikes	94.37	70.01	2	13	2	86.7%
50	Brogan Bayford	94.35	62.95	11	33	23	58.9%

Rankings are based on matches played at English venues within 20 miles of Bristol during the last 90 days. Players must have competed in at least two qualifying events.

My aim is to build similar rankings for other areas including Bath, Gloucester, Taunton, Exeter, Salisbury, Yeovil and beyond, before eventually bringing everything together into a Q4QS South West Top 100.

These rankings aren't designed to replace national rankings—they're designed to give players something local to follow, debate and, hopefully, climb.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, and good luck to everyone trying to move up the table over the coming weeks.

Country Spotlight: Denmark

 

I've decided to start a new weekly feature on Quest For Q School called Country Spotlight.

Each week I take a closer look at a different darts nation from around the world. Some are emerging nations beginning their journey, while others have already established themselves on the international stage.

This week the spotlight falls on one of the true powerhouses of Nordic darts – Denmark.

Where is Denmark?

Denmark is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, connecting mainland Europe with Scandinavia. Home to around six million people, it has a rich sporting heritage and is recognised globally for success in football, handball, cycling and badminton.

Over the last two decades, darts has also flourished, with Denmark producing world-class players and becoming one of the strongest nations in the Nordic region.

A Strong Darts Tradition

Unlike many countries featured in this series, Denmark is no longer an emerging darts nation.

The Danish Darts Organisation has helped create one of Europe's strongest domestic structures, with ranking events, youth competitions and major international tournaments attracting players from across the continent.

Denmark also hosts the annual Denmark Open & Masters, one of the longest-running and most respected tournaments on the WDF calendar.

Denmark on the International Stage

Denmark has been a regular presence in both WDF and PDC competitions for many years.

Its players have represented the nation at World Cups, Nordic championships and on the professional circuit, while Danish tournaments continue to attract international competitors looking to test themselves against strong opposition.

The country's success has come through consistency rather than one outstanding generation, with experienced internationals regularly joined by talented young players.

Players to Watch

One of the brightest prospects in European darts is Benjamin Drue Reus. Although still early in his Q4QS journey, he has already won 6 of his first 9 recorded matches, producing a best average of 91.54. His performances have marked him out as one of Denmark's most exciting young talents.

Another player enjoying an excellent season is Andreas Toft Jørgensen. Across 53 recorded matches, he has won 33, reaching a Q4QS Average of 76.56 and recording a best average of 87.48. His consistency across the PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour highlights the depth of Danish darts.

Brian Løkken has also impressed with a 79.45 Q4QS Average across 17 recorded matches, while Simon Bak has matched that same Q4QS Average and produced a best average of 88.07, demonstrating the strength of competition within Denmark itself.

Another name worth following is Ivan Springborg Poulsen, who has won 10 of his 17 recorded Q4QS matches and continues to gain valuable experience on both the Danish and Nordic circuits.

Why Denmark Matters

Denmark has become the benchmark for darts development in the Nordic region.

A strong domestic circuit, regular international competition and an emphasis on youth development have created a conveyor belt of talented players capable of competing at WDF and PDC level.

Looking Ahead

The future looks exceptionally bright.

With experienced internationals continuing to compete and exciting youngsters such as Benjamin Drue Reus emerging, Denmark appears well placed to remain one of Northern Europe's strongest darts nations for many years to come.

Q4QS Darts Nation Rating

Current Strength: 9/10

Participation: 8/10

International Success: 9/10

Future Potential: 9/10

Overall Q4QS Nation Rating: 8.75/10

Denmark has earned its place among Europe's most respected darts nations. Strong foundations, excellent player development and a thriving domestic circuit make it one of the continent's leading countries outside the traditional powerhouses.

Useful Links

Danish Darts Organisation
https://dart.dk

World Darts Federation
https://dartswdf.com