The 2026 PDC Asian Championship delivered thrilling darts action, culminating in Paolo Nebrida clinching the prestigious title and a coveted spot at the Grand Slam of Darts. Alongside Nebrida, Kam Weng Cheng made history for Macau, becoming the nation’s first-ever player to qualify for the World Darts Championship. Both finalists secured their places at the iconic Ally Pally, ensuring a dramatic conclusion to the Asian darts season.
The Road to Ally Pally: Tournament Overview
The 2026 PDC Asian Championship, held immediately after the conclusion of the Asian Tour, offered high stakes: qualification spots for the prestigious World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace for both finalists, and an additional place at the Grand Slam of Darts for the champion.
Who Competed?
The field comprised 64 players, a mix of seasoned professionals and rising talents:
- The top 52 players from the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
- Twelve regional qualifiers, representing a diverse range of nations:
- China – Xiaochen Zong
- Macau – Cheng Kam Weng
- India – Nitin Kumar
- Thailand – Sorawis Rodman
- UAE – Hussein Mohamad
- Vietnam – Hoang Khang Nguyen
- Bahrain – Ared Abdulla Murad
- Singapore – Chee Poh Chng
- Mongolia – Bayarsaikhan Byambasugar
- South Korea – ChiYong An
- Cambodia – Lang Lim
- Indonesia – Luis Wandy
These qualifiers joined numerous players from Japan and the Philippines, along with representatives from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei.
Tournament Format
The championship began with a round-robin group stage, featuring 16 groups of four players. Each group included a seeded player from the top 16 of the Asian Tour Order of Merit. This initial stage was followed by a straight knockout format.
Early Exits and Shockwaves
The group stage quickly saw some unexpected departures:
- Second seed Motomu Sakai and sixth seed Lok Yin Lee were surprisingly eliminated.
- Japanese seeded players Yuya Fukuchi and Yuta Hayashi also failed to advance.
The knockout rounds continued to deliver upsets, with several prominent players falling earlier than anticipated:
- Man Lok Leung and Alexis Toylo were defeated in the Last 32.
- Heavyweights Ryuta Arihara, Lourence Ilagan, and Haruki Muramatsu exited in the Last 16.
Notably, this marked the first time since 2018 that the esteemed Lourence Ilagan would not feature in a World Championship, creating significant opportunities for other contenders.
Quarter-Final Drama: Who Advanced?
The quarter-finals brought the tension as players battled to reach the semi-finals, one step closer to Ally Pally.
Top Half Battles
- Filipino ace Noel Malicdem, known as “Gentle Giant,” secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Malaysia’s Jenn Ming Tan with an impressive 84.58 average. This win put him within touching distance of his first World Championship appearance since 2020.
- In an all-Filipino clash, Paolo Nebrida (the sixth seed) overcame third seed Christian Perez. Nebrida demonstrated his class with an 89.40 average, securing his spot in the semi-finals.
Underdogs Rise in the Bottom Half
The bottom half of the draw was wide open, with no top-ten seeded players remaining, setting the stage for potential underdog stories.
- Japan’s Ryusei Azemoto faced Rolly Gabiana, a recent title winner from the preceding weekend. This match went down to a thrilling deciding set where Gabiana agonizingly missed ten match darts! Azemoto capitalized, pinning double five to break Gabiana’s heart and advance, moving one win away from a third consecutive World Championship appearance.
- The biggest surprise came in the second quarter-final: Kam Weng Cheng of Macau, ranked 55th on the Asian Tour and having never reached a semi-final before, faced the heavily favored Sonny Balagat (ranked 25th). In a stunning display, Cheng defied expectations, winning the match with a spectacular 144 checkout, making an unprecedented run into the semi-finals.
Semi-Final Showdowns: World Championship Spots Secured
The semi-finals were the ultimate test, with the winners guaranteeing their places at the World Darts Championship.
Nebrida Dominates Malicdem
The first semi-final saw a Filipino derby between Paolo Nebrida and Noel Malicdem. Despite a “big fish” (170 checkout) from Malicdem and otherwise even statistics, Nebrida delivered a fairly one-sided performance, taking the win 2-0. This victory confirmed Nebrida’s qualification for his fifth consecutive World Championship. With a history of impressive wins, including against Jim Williams and Ross Smith in 2025, he’ll be aiming for further success in December.
Cheng’s Historic Triumph for Macau
The second semi-final was filled with drama. Ryusei Azemoto took the first set after surviving match darts, but Kam Weng Cheng responded powerfully, whitewashing Azemoto in the second set with impressive 11 and 13-dart legs. The deciding set went all the way to a nail-biting deciding leg, with immense pressure on both players.
In a moment that will forever be etched in darts history, Kam Weng Cheng composed himself to take out a 98 finish in 14 darts, securing his spot at his very first World Championship! This monumental achievement shattered barriers for darts in Macau, as Cheng became the first player from his nation to ever qualify for the sport’s pinnacle event.
The Final: Nebrida Claims the Crown
With both players having secured their World Championship spots, the final was a battle for the prestigious title and the coveted Grand Slam of Darts invitation.
Paolo Nebrida completed his brilliant day by defeating Kam Weng Cheng 3-0 in the final. This victory not only crowned him the PDC Asian Champion but also earned him his first-ever appearance at the Grand Slam of Darts.
Key Achievements and Future Implications
While Nebrida celebrated his championship, the undeniable story of the day was Kam Weng Cheng’s incredible journey. His historic qualification for the World Darts Championship as a significant underdog has put Macau firmly on the global darts map.
- World Championship Qualifiers: Both Paolo Nebrida and Kam Weng Cheng have secured their places at the 2027 World Darts Championship.
- Grand Slam of Darts: Paolo Nebrida will also compete in the Grand Slam of Darts in November.
- Asian Tour Spot: Man Lok Leung is now in a strong position to claim the final Asian Tour spot, especially if Motomu Sakai wins the Japan Tour next week, which appears highly probable.
The 2026 Asian Tour season has concluded with an unforgettable championship, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most exciting and beloved tours in the PDC circuit. Darts fans eagerly await its return in January/February 2027.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
