The PDC Development Tour kicked off its 2024 season in Leicester with a thrilling weekend of darts, seeing two players emerge as double champions. Dutch sensation Jurjen van der Velde claimed victory in two events, showcasing his formidable talent. Not to be outdone, England’s Jack Drayton also secured two titles, marking a significant breakthrough in his young career. Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki added another title to his name, while promising German talents Dominik Grüllich and Leon Weber made strong runs to the semi-finals. This opening block of five events has set an exciting tone for the season, highlighting a new generation of darts stars.
A Darts Extravaganza: Five Titles, Two Double Winners
The first five events of the 2024 PDC Development Tour took place in Leicester, bringing together a large field of aspiring young darts players. The weekend was a testament to the depth of talent, with intense battles and remarkable performances culminating in two players each securing a pair of titles.
Event 1: Jurjen van der Velde Sets the Pace
The season began with a bang as Jurjen van der Velde clinched his sixth Development Tour title. The Dutchman navigated a field of 412 competitors, displaying a mix of dominant wins and clutch performances. After sweeping aside early opponents, he faced a tough challenge from Shane de Jong, winning 4-3. This narrow escape seemed to ignite his game, as he then impressively defeated Beau Greaves (4-2) and Owen Bates (4-0). A 100+ average in his 5-2 semi-final victory against Jenson Walker propelled him into the final, where he overcame former Tour Card holder Dylan Slevin 5-1, sealing the win with a superb 110 checkout.
Event 2: Sebastian Bialecki’s Clinical Victory
Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki, who narrowly missed out on the Poland Darts Open, made the most of his Development Tour opportunity, securing his seventh career title. Bialecki was in relentless form, dispatching opponents with ease. He conceded just one leg against Julian Mols and Damien Decla, and whitewashed Morris Wittwer and Nando Engelen. Even strong players like Jenson Walker, Dylan Dowling, and Owen Bates could only manage two legs against him. In the semi-final, he beat Nathan Porter 5-1 before facing James Beeton in the final. After a cautious start, Bialecki broke Beeton’s throw in 13 darts and extended his lead to 4-1, eventually closing out the match 5-2 with a 15-darter. German player Dominik Grüllich had a fantastic run, reaching the semi-finals after a decider victory against Jack Drayton in the quarter-finals.
Event 3: Van der Velde Does It Again
Just one day after his first triumph, Jurjen van der Velde proved his consistency by claiming his second title of the weekend, matching his total wins from the previous year. His journey included three whitewash victories against Ibteshamul Chowdhury, Jack Lilley, and Anthony Murray. A crucial moment came against Matthew Gallivan-Piles, where van der Velde fought back from a 1-3 deficit, surviving five match darts to win 4-3. He continued his strong form, defeating Yorick Hofkens 4-1 in an all-Tour Card holder clash, and then blanked Charlie Stocks 5-0 in the semi-finals. The final saw him beat Charlie Manby 5-3, securing a 4-1 lead with legs in 12, 13, and 14 darts, and despite a re-break from Manby, he quickly sealed the deal. This event was also the most successful for German players, with Leon Weber reaching the semi-finals after an impressive 103 average against Florian Preis in the quarter-finals.
Event 4: Jack Drayton’s Breakthrough Moment
The Saturday evening brought a fresh face to the winner’s circle as 19-year-old Jack Drayton secured his maiden Development Tour title. Despite only seriously playing darts for about two years, Drayton showed incredible composure. His path to victory included surviving two match darts against Ben Townley early on. He maintained over a 90 average in wins against Dylan Quinn, Ieuan Halsall, and Lleyton Molyneux. A notable performance was his 5-4 quarter-final victory over Beau Greaves, where he held his nerve in a deciding leg. He then defeated David Fidler 5-3 in the semi-final and dominated Angelo Balsamo 5-1 in the final, narrowly missing a whitewash. German player Niclas Wierling was the strongest German performer, reaching the quarter-finals.
Event 5: Drayton Completes a Double Header
Less than 24 hours after his first win, Jack Drayton continued his remarkable run, securing his second consecutive title and extending his unbeaten streak to 18 matches. He once again faced Ben Townley in a tight 4-3 encounter, mirroring their earlier match. Drayton then delivered clear wins against Mason Teese, Thomas Banks, and Mylo Michiels. In the quarter-finals, he dispatched Dylan Slevin 5-3, and in the semi-finals, he mounted a comeback against Archie Self, winning in 12 and 15 darts. The final against Cam Crabtree saw Drayton recover from an early break, hit a stunning 155 checkout to lead 4-3, and then secured the decisive break for a 5-3 victory. German player Dominik Grüllich had another strong showing, reaching the quarter-finals after notably defeating both Sebastian Bialecki and Jurjen van der Velde.
Key Takeaways and German Performance Highlights
The opening weekend showcased both established talents and rising stars. While the main titles were shared, several players consistently impressed:
- Beau Greaves: Despite not winning a title, Greaves consistently posted exceptional averages, including a remarkable 117.88 in Event 1 and 111 in Event 4, proving her scoring power among the best.
- German Players’ Strong Start: Several German players made deep runs, highlighting their potential:
- Dominik Grüllich: Reached two semi-finals and one quarter-final, impressively defeating top players like Bialecki and van der Velde.
- Leon Weber: Secured a semi-final spot in Event 3 with a standout 103 average.
- Finn Behrens: Reached the Last 16 twice and the quarter-finals once.
- Florian Preis: Made the Last 16 twice and the quarter-finals once.
- Niclas Wierling: Reached the quarter-finals in Event 4.
The Road Ahead: Standings and Future Events
After five of the 25 scheduled events, the leaderboard reflects the dominance of the double winners:
- 1st: Jurjen van der Velde – £7,350
- 2nd: Jack Drayton – £6,750
- 3rd: Sebastian Bialecki – £4,350 (approx. £2,400 behind Drayton)
- 4th: Charlie Manby
Among the German contingent, Dominik Grüllich leads the way, rounding out the top 10 with £1,850. Finn Behrens is close behind in 13th, Florian Preis in 15th, and Leon Weber in 21st.
The Development Tour continues with another block of five tournaments from April 24th to 26th in Milton Keynes. Players will continue to battle for prize money and crucial ranking points, which determine qualification for the PDC World Youth Championship and potential Tour Cards.
Tournament Format and Prize Money Structure
- Matches up to and including the Last 16 are played as Best of 7 legs.
- Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and Finals are played as Best of 9 legs.
The prize money distribution per event is as follows:
- Winner: £3,000
- Runner-Up: £2,000
- Semi-finalists: £1,000
- Quarter-finalists: £750
- Last 16: £350
- Last 32: £250
- Last 64: £100
The total prize fund for the Development Tour season is £480,000, with an additional £100,000 for the PDC World Youth Championship, bringing the grand total to £580,000.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
