The final block of the China ProTour in Harbin witnessed an extraordinary display of darts, with Xiaochen Zong achieving a historic clean sweep by winning all four events over the weekend. This remarkable performance not only solidified his position at the top of the Order of Merit but also secured his spot in the prestigious Asian Championship. The weekend was also crucial for many other players, as the battle intensified for qualification into the China Premier League and the China Championship, with a coveted World Championship spot awaiting the Championship winner.
The Grand Finale in Harbin: Stakes Were High
The city of Harbin hosted the climactic fourth and final block of this year’s China ProTour darts circuit. With high stakes on the line, players battled fiercely for crucial qualification spots:
- The top six players from the Order of Merit would advance to the elite China Premier League.
- The top 16 would qualify for the prestigious China Championship, where the ultimate winner earns a golden ticket to the World Championships.
- The winner of the overall Order of Merit would also secure a place in the upcoming Asian Championship.
Event 1: Zong’s Dominance Begins
Saturday morning kicked off with the first of the weekend’s events. Familiar names like Lihao Wen and Lizhou Li reached the Semi-Finals, but it was Xiaochen Zong who truly shone. He clinched his fifth title of the season, further extending his lead over Lihao Wen in the Order of Merit and moving closer to an Asian Championship berth. Zong’s exceptional form was highlighted by his performance in the final, where he averaged an impressive 88.67 to defeat Xicheng Han.
Event 2: A Repeat Performance, Top Spot Secured
The second event followed a similar pattern, with Xiaochen Zong once again emerging victorious. He secured his second title of the weekend against Junlong Yin, a player who consistently performs well as an underdog. This victory was pivotal, as it officially secured Zong’s top spot on the Order of Merit, guaranteeing his participation in the Asian Championship. While Zong continued his winning streak, Qingyu Zhan also delivered a standout performance, recording the highest average of the event with a remarkable 93.08 in his Quarter-Final win against Zhijun Cui.
Sunday’s Showdown: Zong’s Hat-Trick and Premier League Dreams
As the action moved into Sunday, the focus intensified on securing spots in the China Premier League and China Championship. The drama unfolded as several players made significant pushes:
- Tong Xu made a deep run to the Semi-Finals, propelling him into fifth place on the Order of Merit and securing a coveted Premier League spot.
- Yuyi Shao reached the Final, successfully moving himself into the top 16 for the China Championship.
Amidst these battles, Xiaochen Zong continued his unstoppable march, claiming his third consecutive title of the weekend and his seventh of the season. His dominant form was further showcased by an outstanding 90.64 average against Bin Zheng in the Last 16, marking the event’s top performance.
The Clean Sweep: Zong’s Unbeatable Run Concludes the ProTour
The final event of the weekend brought even more nail-biting finishes and crucial qualifications:
- Texi Fan achieved a Semi-Final run, just managing to sneak into the final spot for the China Championship.
- Tianxiao Cao secured a vital run to the Final, moving him back into contention for a China Premier League spot.
- A Quarter-Final appearance also saw Tong Xu confirm his place, picking up the final spot for the Premier League.
However, once again, all roads led to Xiaochen Zong. He completed an astonishing clean sweep, winning his fourth successive title of the weekend and extending his incredible winning streak to 20 consecutive matches. He also delivered the event’s best performance with a stellar 91.24 average in his Last 32 victory over Chenhui Pan. Zong’s unparalleled dominance throughout the Harbin ProTour block truly cemented his status as a leading force in Chinese darts.
Who Made the Cut? The Qualifiers Revealed
Following an exhilarating weekend of darts, the final lineups for the upcoming leagues and championships were confirmed:
China Premier League Qualifiers:
- Xiaochen Zong
- Qingyu Zhan
- Lihao Wen
- Jizhou Li
- Tianxiao Cao
- Tong Xu
- Plus two additional Qualifier Winners
China Championship Qualifiers:
- Xiaochen Zong
- Qingyu Zhan
- Lihao Wen
- Jizhou Li
- Tianxiao Cao
- Tong Xu
- Xicheng Han
- Junlong Yin
- Wenqing Liu
- Zhuolun Luo
- Bin Zheng
- Yuyi Shao
- Zhiwei Lin
- Yuanjun Liu
- Chao Geng
- Texi Fan
- Plus four Online League Qualifiers
- Plus four China City League Qualifiers
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
