The 2025/26 ADC Global Championship delivered an unforgettable spectacle, culminating in a stunning victory for Jack Tweddell. Despite a shaky start that saw him barely scrape through the initial stages, Tweddell defied the odds, defeating darts giants and ultimately triumphing over Johnny Haines in a thrilling final. With a massive £150,000 amateur prize fund, the tournament showcased exceptional talent and reinforced the ADC’s ambition to become a leading force in amateur darts, powered by its collaboration with Modus Super Series.
The Road to Glory: A Tournament Overview
The Modus Super Series took a brief hiatus as its Live Lounge transformed into the battleground for the second ADC Global Championship in December. This prestigious event boasted the largest amateur prize fund ever, a staggering £150,000, attracting top amateur talent who qualified through various UK, European, and International ADC competitions.
The Opening Salvo: Group Stage One (Last 56)
The championship kicked off with 56 players divided into 8 groups of 7. Each group engaged in a round-robin format over a dedicated day, with the top 4 players from each group advancing to the Last 32.
- Dominant Performances: Johnny Haines, Tom Sykes, and Ricardo Ham each swept their respective groups, remaining unbeaten.
- Notable Exits: Surprisingly, players like Xanti van den Bergh, John O’Shea, Brandon Weening, and Adam Mould faced early elimination.
- Tight Contests: Group 4 was particularly fierce, with Stuart Dutton and Carl Wilson tying at the top. Adam Leek also narrowly secured his spot.
- Tough Choices: Of the players who had to choose between the ADC Global Championship and the WDF World Darts Championship, only Jeff Smith opted for the ADC. However, he found himself in a challenging Group 5 and was eliminated, unable to progress past the first day.
- Defending Champion Falls: Last year’s winner, Devon Petersen, couldn’t replicate his success, finishing sixth in Group 6 and failing to advance.
The Gauntlet Continues: Group Stage Two (Last 32)
The intensity ratcheted up as the remaining 32 players were redrawn into 8 groups of 4. This ‘knockout group stage’ was unforgiving, with only the group winner progressing to the quarter-finals.
- Haines and Sykes Unstoppable: Johnny Haines continued his strong form, securing his quarter-final spot. Tom Sykes extended his remarkable unbeaten run to 12 matches, dominating his group.
- Surprise Upsets: Gary Stone advanced from Group C, while the previously unbeaten Ricardo Ham was eliminated. Shane Turner also impressed, winning 5 of his 6 matches to move forward.
- Fierce Battles: Robbie Martin topped a highly competitive Group E. Jonny Barnes narrowly won Group F.
- Tweddell’s Resilience: Jack Tweddell once again advanced on leg difference, showcasing his clutch ability.
- Sibling Rivalry: Group H featured an exciting clash between twin brothers Danny and Wesley van Trijp. While Danny won both their encounters, it was Niall Culleton who ultimately won the group, continuing his impressive charge.
The Grand Finals: Champions Crowned
Sunday, January 4th, brought the championship to its thrilling conclusion in the Live Lounge, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.
Quarter-Final Highlights:
- Johnny Haines vs. Niall Culleton: Haines secured a 6-3 victory after Culleton agonizingly ‘busted’ his score twice while attempting to level the match.
- Robbie Martin vs. Shane Turner: Martin delivered a routine 6-2 win.
- Jack Tweddell vs. Tom Sykes: In a monumental upset, Tweddell ended Sykes’s undefeated streak. Tweddell raced to a 3-1 lead, survived Sykes’s comeback to 5-4, and after missing several match darts, finally triumphed, defeating ‘The Castleford Tiger’ in a nail-biting finish.
- Gary Stone vs. Jonny Barnes: Stone put on a convincing performance, winning 6-1.
Semi-Final Showdowns:
- Johnny Haines vs. Robbie Martin: Haines displayed incredible finishing prowess, hitting back-to-back-to-back checkouts of 101, 101, and a 95 on the bullseye to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead, ultimately winning 7-4.
- Jack Tweddell vs. Gary Stone: This was a tense, deciding-leg battle. Stone was hampered by an unfortunate bounce-out early on. Despite fighting back to lead 6-5, Tweddell delivered multiple crucial 108 checkouts to stun Stone and secure his place in the final.
The Ultimate Showdown: Haines vs. Tweddell
The stage was set for a truly epic final between Johnny Haines and Jack Tweddell. The match ignited when Haines hit a huge 130 checkout to take a 3-2 lead and then accelerated to a 5-2 advantage. However, Tweddell was not to be denied. He mounted an incredible comeback, winning five unanswered legs to snatch a 7-5 lead.
The tension was palpable in the deciding stages, with multiple holds of throw. With the match finely balanced at 8-7, it was Jack Tweddell who held his nerve, finishing Double 10 to secure a remarkable 9-7 victory. This stunning win earned him the ADC Global Championship title and the grand prize of £60,000.
A Promising Future for Amateur Darts
Jack Tweddell’s journey to the title was truly a Cinderella story, having barely made it out of the first group stage, advancing to the Last 32 by just a +2 leg difference. While the tournament had minor imperfections, such as the two Women’s ADC qualifiers finishing without a win, the overall standard at the top was consistently excellent, signaling a bright future for this championship.
The collaboration with Modus has clearly been a significant benefit for the ADC, providing a professional stage and TV-quality production throughout the event. With ambitions to rival the WDF and become the premier organization for amateur players, the ADC’s future looks more promising than ever.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
