The darts world is buzzing with activity as three new players – Anton Östlund, Gary Mawson, and José Marques – have secured coveted spots at the PDC World Championship. This edition also celebrates Jamai van den Herik’s triumph at the ADC Global Championship, details important changes to the WDF World Championship lineup, and sees Jenson Walker reclaim the top spot in the WDF rankings. Beyond the oche, the German Darts Federation continues its impressive growth, solidifying darts’ rising popularity across the nation.
Three New Qualifiers Punch Tickets to the PDC World Championship
The road to Alexandra Palace is heating up, and three more players have earned their right to compete on darts’ biggest stage, showcasing thrilling performances and remarkable comebacks.
Swedish Sensation Anton Östlund Dominates Nordic & Baltic Championship
Swedish sensation Anton Östlund stormed through the **PDC Nordic & Baltic Championship**, securing his debut at the PDC World Championship. The tournament, featuring 24 players and a lively audience, saw Östlund deliver consistently superior statistics. His standout performance included an **8-1 victory over Oskar Lukasiak with an impressive 96-average and a 170 checkout**, following a 7-3 win against Petri Rasmus. In the final, Östlund seized the first four legs against Darius Labanauskas and maintained his lead for an **8-4 victory**, also earning a spot at the Grand Slam of Darts.
- Semi-finals:
- Anton Östlund 8-1 Oskar Lukasiak (Average: 95.60 – 86.73)
- Darius Labanauskas 8-5 Valters Melderis (Average: 89.10 – 83.00)
- Final:
- Anton Östlund 8-4 Darius Labanauskas (Average: 83.11 – 76.51)
Veteran Gary Mawson Secures Emotional Return at CDC Continental Cup
In a remarkable comeback story, veteran **Gary Mawson, 63**, punched his ticket to the PDC World Championship via the **CDC Continental Cup**. Mawson, who last competed at the Worlds in 2011 and famously defeated legends like Eric Bristow in the 1990s, fought through a field of 24 players. He began with a whitewash against Larry Butler and continued with solid wins against Brayden Hall (5-1) and Scott Estle (6-2). His semi-final clash against David Cameron went down to the wire, with Mawson emerging victorious in the deciding leg. The final against Kevin Luke was even more dramatic, with Luke missing a 96 checkout for the title. Mawson capitalized, hitting his 11th match dart in 20 darts to secure his emotional return to the sport’s pinnacle event.
- Semi-finals:
- Gary Mawson 7-6 David Cameron (Average: 82.96 – 82.73)
- Kevin Luke 7-0 Nick Linberg (Average: 91.49 – 68.76)
- Final:
- Gary Mawson 8-7 Kevin Luke (Average: 82.13 – 79.03)
José Marques Makes History with PDC Mediterranean Qualifier Win
Portugal’s **José Marques** will make his debut at Alexandra Palace after clinching the **PDC Mediterranean Qualifier in Segovia**, beating 51 other competitors. The former World Cup starter (2020, 2021) showed incredible form, overcoming Rodrigo Diaz Bautista (6-1), Damian Santos (6-2), Salvador Cabrera (6-1), Salvador Rodriguez Montero (7-5), and Alvaro Munoz Lopez (7-3). In a thrilling final, Marques defeated Ricardo Perez Ibarra **7-6 in a decider**, despite several favorites like Thibault Tricole, Michele Turetta, and José de Sousa exiting early.
- Semi-finals:
- José Marques 7-3 Alvaro Munoz Lopez (Average: 89.37 – 77.87)
- Ricardo Perez Ibarra 7-2 Jorge Garcia Del Pozo (Average: 97.49 – 83.05)
- Final:
- José Marques 7-6 Ricardo Perez Ibarra (Average: 90.23 – 88.55)
Jamai van den Herik Crowned ADC Global Champion
Dutch talent **Jamai van den Herik** emerged victorious at the third edition of the **ADC Global Championship**. Van den Herik navigated a challenging field of 128 participants, defeating Sean Stessens (5-2), Carl Wilson (5-4), Rudie van Staden (6-1), Maxim Lemahieu (6-4), Kevin Lankhuizen (7-5), and Lewis Cook (8-2). In the grand final, he overcame Neil Duff **9-5**, securing the title and a **winner’s prize of £25,000**. The total prize fund for the event was £126,000. Van den Herik now joins the esteemed list of past champions, Devon Petersen and Jack Tweddell.
- Semi-finals:
- Neil Duff 8-6 Callum Francis (Average: 92.55 – 91.43)
- Jamai van den Herik 8-2 Lewis Cook (Average: 98.11 – 90.44)
- Final:
- Jamai van den Herik 9-5 Neil Duff (Average: 90.21 – 86.22)
WDF World Championship Lineup Changes and Malta Tournaments
The **WDF World Championship at Lakeside** has seen a couple of last-minute changes to its participant list, while recent tournaments in Malta have impacted the WDF rankings.
Participant Changes for Lakeside
Due to recent successes, two players will no longer compete at Lakeside:
- Men’s Draw: **Jack Drayton**, having qualified for the PDC World Championship via the Development Tour, has withdrawn from Lakeside. He will be replaced by **Aaron Turner**, who will face Daniel Zapata in Round 1.
- Women’s Draw: **Lovely Mae Orbeta** is unable to travel due to visa issues. Her spot will be filled by **Desi Mercer**, who will now play Cali West in her opening match.
WDF Malta Tournaments: Walker Rises, Ratajska Dominates
The WDF circuit recently saw two Silver-ranked tournaments held in Malta, with significant implications for the 2027 Lakeside Race and current rankings:
- Malta Masters (Men): **Jenson Walker** claimed the Malta Masters title with a **5-2 victory over Nick Fullwell** in the final, averaging 85. This win propelled “The Interceptor” back to the **World No. 1 spot in the WDF rankings**.
- Malta Masters (Women): **Karolina Ratajska** secured a dominant **5-0 whitewash win** against Irina Armstrong in the final.
- Malta Open (Men): Former Tour Card holder **David Evans** took home the Malta Open title, delivering a flawless performance with a **5-0 whitewash against Cliff Prior** in the final.
- Malta Open (Women): **Karolina Ratajska** once again triumphed, defeating Anca Zijlstra **5-4** in a closely contested final, completing a double win in Malta.
Key Malta Results:
- Malta Masters (Men) Final: Jenson Walker 5-2 Nick Fullwell (Average: 84.85 – 83.63)
- Malta Masters (Women) Final: Karolina Ratajska 5-0 Irina Armstrong (Average: 77.47 – 53.81)
- Malta Open (Men) Final: David Evans 5-0 Cliff Prior (Average: 91.65 – 83.96)
- Malta Open (Women) Final: Karolina Ratajska 5-4 Anca Zijlstra (Average: 72.14 – 71.79)
Darts Boom in Germany: DDV Among Fastest Growing Sports Federations
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) has released its latest membership figures, showing that for the first time, Germany has surpassed 30 million sports club memberships as of January 1, 2026. The **German Darts Federation (DDV)** now boasts **37,908 members**, ranking 40th out of 70 federations.
While the total number of darts players in Germany is likely much higher due to informal play and the focus on steel-tip darts, the DDV’s growth is particularly noteworthy. The federation experienced a **remarkable 20.1% increase in membership compared to the previous year**, making it the **third fastest-growing sports association in Germany**. Only smaller federations, such as speed skating and strength athletics, reported a higher percentage increase.
However, the DDV also highlights a significant gender imbalance, with **nearly 93% of its members being male**, a statistic that remains unchanged and places darts prominently in its size category for this disparity.
In related news, several youth tournaments were held across four DDV regional associations over the weekend, fostering the next generation of German darts talent.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
