Week Seven of Series 15 at the MODUS Super Series Darts kicked off with a bang! While David Evans impressively took the early lead in Group A, winning four out of five matches, the real buzz was around the exciting return of two international fan favourites: Hong Kong’s Kai Fan Leung and the Netherlands’ Benito Van de Pas, also known as ‘Big Ben’. Both players, making their long-awaited comebacks, showed flashes of their former brilliance, setting the stage for a thrilling week of darts.
Day One Highlights: Evans Leads, Comebacks Shine
Monday’s play in Group A delivered plenty of drama and top-tier darts. David Evans, making his first Super Series appearance since June, quickly established himself as the man to beat. He dominated his matches, securing victories against Benito Van de Pas, Kai Fan Leung, Henry Cooper, and Panagiotis Chrysospathis. His only stumble came against the reigning World Senior Darts Champion of Champions, Richie Howson.
The Standings After Day One:
- 1st Place: David Evans – 8 points (4 wins, 1 loss)
- 2nd Place: Kai Fan Leung – 8 points (on leg difference)
- 3rd Place: Richie Howson – 6 points
- 4th Place: Benito Van de Pas (‘Big Ben’) – 4 points
- 5th Place: Henry Cooper – 2 points
- 6th Place: Panagiotis Chrysospathis – 2 points
The Return of the Darts Titans
The biggest talking points of the day revolved around the highly anticipated returns of two beloved international players:
Kai Fan Leung: The ‘Fat Beaty’ is Back!
Popular Hong Kong player, Kai Fan Leung, often known as ‘Fat Beaty’, showed he’s far from forgotten. After an absence of approximately eighteen months from the Super Series and a period where his efforts on the WDF tour seemed to lose momentum, Leung proved he still has what it takes. He ended the day with an impressive 8 points, matching Evans’ total, and sits in second place only due to leg difference. Fans are eager to see if he can continue this strong comeback.
Benito Van de Pas: ‘Big Ben’ Strikes Again!
The Dutch powerhouse, Benito Van de Pas, affectionately known as ‘Big Ben’, also made his return to the Super Series stage. While his day was a mix of highs and lows, his performance against Richie Howson was a clear highlight, where he delivered a dominant 4-0 victory. This emphatic win reminded everyone of the talent ‘Big Ben’ possesses. Despite a defeat to Panagiotis Chrysospathis, his return adds significant excitement and competition to the group.
Key Performances and Upsets
- Richie Howson, the current World Senior Darts Champion of Champions, had a mixed bag of results. He notably defeated group leader David Evans, proving he can challenge the best. However, he also suffered losses to both Kai Fan Leung and Benito Van de Pas, showing the fierce competition in Group A.
- Henry Cooper and Panagiotis Chrysospathis both secured 2 points, sitting in 5th and 6th place respectively. Chrysospathis’s victory over ‘Big Ben’ was a significant moment, demonstrating that any player can cause an upset in this highly competitive series.
What’s Next? The Race to the Finale
The MODUS Super Series continues on Tuesday, with all six players returning to the oche. They will be battling intensely, each hoping to improve their position and secure one of the coveted spots in Saturday’s grand Finale. With David Evans currently leading the charge, and the comeback players breathing down his neck, the action promises to be even more thrilling. Darts fans can expect more compelling matches as the race to the weekend heats up.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
