The world of darts is buzzing with action! This week, Jack Drayton and Gemma Hayter punched their tickets to the prestigious WDF World Championship at Lakeside after dominating the Isle of Man Open. Germany will be well-represented by Paul Krohne and Daniel Klose in the Modus Super Series International Pairs, where Neil Duff also cemented his place as a record-breaker. Elsewhere, the Hungarian Super League kicked off its new season, new WDF Gold and PDC Asian Tour events were announced for the Philippines, and the sport mourns the passing of German darts pioneer Peter Seidl.
Lakeside Dreams Come True: Isle of Man Darts Festival
The Isle of Man Darts Festival delivered high drama across three WDF-ranked tournaments, with the coveted **WDF World Championship (Lakeside) qualification spots** on the line at the Gold-categorized Isle of Man Open.
Isle of Man Open (WDF Gold Event)
This was the main event, offering direct qualification to the WDF World Championship for its champions:
- Men’s Champion: Jack Drayton
Drayton secured his spot by defeating Ben Townley 6-2 in a thrilling final. - Women’s Champion: Gemma Hayter
Hayter dominated the women’s field, beating Steph Clarke 5-1 in her final match.
Notable players like former PDC Tour Card holders Darren Johnson, Ross Montgomery, and William Borland were eliminated in the Last 16, while reigning World Champion Deta Hedman fell in the quarter-finals of the women’s event.
Isle of Man Classic (WDF Silver Event)
The second-tier event saw more top-level darts:
- Men’s Champion: Moreno Blom
Blom triumphed with a 5-1 victory over Daniel Zapata. - Women’s Champion: Leanne Topper
Topper won a tense deciding leg against World Championship participant Eve Watson.
Youth events were won by Ben Townley and Macy Gibbons.
Isle of Man Masters (WDF Bronze Event)
The festival concluded with the Bronze-ranked Masters:
- Men’s Champion: Reece Colley
Colley took the title, defeating Jim McEwan 5-3 in the final. - Women’s Champion: Rhian O’Sullivan
O’Sullivan secured her victory with a 5-2 win against Aileen de Graaf.
Modus Super Series: Neil Duff Makes History, Germany Gears Up
The Modus Darts Super Series continues to be a hotbed of talent, with **Neil Duff achieving a remarkable milestone**.
- Record Breaker: Neil Duff
The Northern Irishman secured his **sixth weekly win**, making him the sole record holder in the series’ history. He clinched Week 7 of Season 13 with a 4-2 victory over James Buckby in the final. - German Representation: Paul Krohne & Daniel Klose
Germany will be proudly represented in the upcoming International Pairs Week, starting April 20. This unique event sees pairs from different nations competing. Other confirmed pairs include **England’s Fallon Sherrock & Steve Beaton** and **Kenya’s Peter Wachiuri & David Munyua**.
Hungarian Super League Kicks Off with High Stakes
The new season of the Hungarian Super League has begun with its first four events, promising an exciting path to the future for its players. The ultimate prize is a qualification spot for the PDC World Championship.
- Event Winners:
- Event 1: Zsolt Csajbók
- Event 2: András Borbély
- Event 3: Mihály Vida
- Event 4: István Ifj. Málik
- Current Standings:
After four of 24 events, **András Borbély leads with 64 points**, followed by Csajbók (54) and Szász (48). - The Big Prize:
The top 8 players at the end of the season will qualify for the playoffs, where a coveted spot at the **PDC World Championship 2027** will be awarded.
Global Expansion: WDF and PDC Head to the Philippines
Darts continues its global reach with significant events announced for the Philippines.
- WDF Philippines Open (Gold Event)
For the first time in 15 years, a WDF Gold event will be held in the Philippines. The tournament takes place on **Friday, July 31, in Manila**. The winners in both the Open and Women’s categories will directly qualify for the WDF World Championship. - PDC Asian Tour
Following closely, the PDC Asian Tour will host Events 21-24 in Manila on **August 1 and 2**.
St. Patrick’s Day Open: American Winners Shine
The St. Patrick’s Day Open, a WDF Bronze event held in Osage Beach, saw two American players claim victory.
- Men’s Champion: Leonard Gates
Gates secured the title, defeating Jake Simpson 6-3 in the final. - Women’s Champion: Nancy King
King emerged victorious in a deciding leg against Liz Tynan, winning 4-3.
Dutch Team Announced for 4-Nations Cup
The Dutch team for the upcoming 4-Nations Cup has been announced. Further details regarding the selected players were not provided in the original report.
A Sad Farewell: Remembering Peter Seidl
The German darts community is mourning the loss of **Peter Seidl**, a significant figure who profoundly shaped the darts scene in Munich. Seidl was a **World Champion with the German E-Dart national team in 2005**.
Beyond his playing career, he was deeply committed to youth development and organizational efforts, founding the DC Harlekin and inspiring many to take up darts. The Bavarian Darts Association shared heartfelt words: “We lose not only a great athlete but, above all, a person who touched many lives with heart, passion, and humor. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who knew and appreciated him. Peter, you will always remain a part of our darts family. Good Darts – and rest in peace.” The entire dartn.de team joins in this sentiment.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
