The 2026 Winmau Championship has exploded into action, delivering thrilling darts and crowning its first two champions in the revamped format. This year, the tour splits into Northern and Southern sections, offering players more opportunities to qualify for an expanded Grand Finals in October, featuring 16 players and increased prize money. The Southern section’s opening weekend in Aylesbury saw Welsh star Dai Davies clinch Event One with a dominant 5-0 final win, while 2025 champion Graham Hall continued his winning ways, securing Event Two with an equally impressive 5-0 victory.
The 2026 Winmau Championship has returned with a bang, bringing exciting changes and fierce competition. The opening weekend for the Southern section, held at Bradmoor Farm in Aylesbury, saw two exceptional players claim the first coveted titles: Dai Davies and Graham Hall.
A Revamped Championship: More Opportunities, Bigger Stakes
The Winmau Championship has undergone a significant transformation for 2026, designed to offer players greater flexibility and a more competitive pathway to glory. The tour is now strategically split into two distinct sections:
- The Northern Edition: Hosted over three weekends in Middlesbrough.
- The Southern Edition: Also held over three weekends in Aylesbury.
This new structure means that players can choose to participate in events from either region, regardless of their geographical location. This flexibility provides multiple avenues for hopefuls to qualify for the prestigious Grand Finals.
The stakes are higher than ever, as the field for the Grand Finals in Portsmouth this October has doubled from eight to an impressive 16 players. Accompanying this expansion is a significant increase in prize money, making the journey to the finals even more rewarding.
Event One: Dai Davies’ Unstoppable Charge
Over 300 players converged in Aylesbury for the first pair of events, eager to make their mark. It was Welsh sensation Dai Davies who emerged as the undisputed champion of Event One.
Davies, who notably qualified for the PDC World Championships at the close of 2025, showcased incredible form throughout the day. His path to the final was marked by a series of commanding performances:
- Dominant Early Rounds: Davies secured four consecutive 4-0 victories to effortlessly reach the last 16. A standout moment was his whitewash victory over former PDC Tour Card holder Keegan Brown in the last 32.
- Main Stage Debut: Davies stepped onto the main stage and calmly defeated Reece Colley 5-2.
- Gritty Quarter-Final: Returning to the floor, he edged past another former Tour Card holder, Brett Claydon, in a tense encounter that went down to the final leg.
- Semi-Final Victory: Davies then faced the surprise package of the tournament, Jamie Rollinson, proving too strong with a decisive 5-2 win.
In the final, Davies met ‘Seaside’ Sam Spivey, who had battled through three consecutive deciding legs from the last 16 onwards to reach the climax, overcoming Kevin Lane, Jake Hobbs, and Ash Ling.
However, Davies was simply unstoppable in the final, delivering a flawless performance to win 5-0 without dropping a single leg. This dominant display earned him the £1,000 first prize and marked a phenomenal start to his Winmau Championship campaign.
Event Two: Graham Hall Continues His Reign
Following his exhaustive run in Event One, Sam Spivey’s challenge in Event Two was short-lived, as he exited in his opening match. This paved the way for another champion to rise, and it was none other than the 2025 Championship Tour Champion, Graham Hall.
Hall showcased why he’s a reigning champion, delivering a masterful performance to defeat Thomas Banks 5-0 in the final and claim the top prize.
Hall’s journey to the title was equally impressive:
- Solid Start: ‘G-Man’ dropped just two legs en route to the last 64, where he secured a tight 4-3 victory over Mark Stafford.
- Advancing Through the Rounds: Wins against Jamie Chaplin and Martin Tonks propelled him into the last eight.
- Quarter-Final Control: Hall dismissed Joshua Burksfield with a convincing 5-1 win.
- Semi-Final Thriller: He had to dig deep in the semi-final against Mike Huntley, famously dodging match darts in a deciding leg to secure his spot in the final.
His opponent in the final, young talent Thomas ‘Bulldog’ Banks, had also enjoyed a strong run, navigating two deciding legs in his initial matches before finding smoother progress. Banks secured quarter-final and semi-final wins against Connor Levett (5-3), Mason Teese (5-2 on the big stage), and Lee Williams (5-2) respectively.
However, Banks was no match for a rampant Graham Hall in the final. Hall set the tone early with a spectacular 147 finish and concluded the match with an outstanding 98.88 average, winning to nil. This victory signals that Hall is picking up right where he left off in Portsmouth at the end of 2025.
The excitement continues as Events Three and Four are set to conclude the weekend’s action on Sunday, promising more thrilling darts from the Winmau Championship.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
