A monumental shift is coming to the world of darts! The Grand Slam of Darts is undergoing a radical format change, expanding to 48 players and introducing a unique 3-player group stage. This week also saw four familiar names secure their spots in the prestigious UK Open, while the DPNZ Tour in New Zealand kicked off with thrilling action. Elsewhere, Derek Coulson continued his dominance on the Modus Darts Super Series, WDF tournaments crowned champions in Scotland and Australia, and darts power couple Mikuru Suzuki and Haruki Muramatsu tied the knot. Plus, a significant new alcohol policy has been announced by the Austrian Darts Federation, aiming to elevate the sport’s elite image.
Grand Slam of Darts Undergoes Radical Format Overhaul
The PDC has unveiled surprising and significant changes to the qualification criteria and format for the **2026 Grand Slam of Darts**, much earlier than anticipated. This year, the tournament will expand dramatically to feature **48 players**, up from the previous 32. The initial stage will now consist of **16 groups of three players**, a novel approach for this major event.
New Qualification Pathways Explained:
- **Major Tournament Winners & Finalists:** Up to 24 spots will be allocated to the champions and runners-up of major PDC events, including the World Championship, Grand Slam, Premier League, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Winmau World Masters, UK Open, European Championship, Players Championship Finals, World Series of Darts Finals, and World Cup of Darts.
- **Secondary Tour & Affiliate Event Winners:** This category includes winners from the Challenge Tour, PDC Asian Championship, North American Championship, and, new for 2026, the **PDC Nordic & Baltic Championship** and the **ANZ Premier League**.
- **World Youth Championship:** Uniquely for this year, both the winner and finalist from the **2025 and 2026 World Youth Championships** will qualify. In subsequent years, it will revert to just the two finalists from the current year.
After these slots are filled (up to a maximum of 40 players), any remaining places will be awarded to winners of **European Tour events** and then **Players Championship tournaments**. Priority will be given to players with multiple wins in a series, followed by their standing in the PDC Order of Merit.
Finally, **eight additional spots** will be determined through a dedicated Grand Slam Qualifier event.
Seeding and Draw:
The **top 16 qualified players from the PDC Order of Merit** will be seeded. The remaining 32 players (ranked 17-32 and 33-48) will be divided into two pots and drawn alongside the seeded players for the group stage.
(Note: The following players are examples based on hypothetical 2026 results and 2025 youth events, illustrating how the system works):
- **2026 PDC World Champion:** Luke Littler
- **2026 PDC World Championship Runner-Up:** Gian van Veen
- **2025 Grand Slam of Darts Runner-Up:** Luke Humphries
- **2025 Players Championship Finals Runner-Up:** Nathan Aspinall
- **2025 World Youth Champion:** Gian van Veen
- **2025 World Youth Championship Runner-Up:** Beau Greaves
- **Example Players Championship Qualifiers:** James Wade, Wessel Nijman
Four More Qualify for the UK Open 2026
The Amateur Qualifiers for the 2026 UK Open are nearing completion, with four more players securing their coveted spots. All four are former Tour Card holders, bringing a wealth of experience to the “FA Cup of Darts”:
- **Callum Goffin** (Chorlton)
- **Graham Usher** (Worksop)
- **Simon Stevenson** (Plymouth)
- **Ron Meulenkamp** (Liverpool)
The final five qualifiers will be decided this coming weekend, completing the amateur contingent for the tournament.
DPNZ Tour Kicks Off in New Zealand with Double-Header
The DPNZ Tour in New Zealand has begun its 2026 season with two exciting events. The competition was fierce, setting the stage for a thrilling year.
Event 1 Highlights:
- **Winner:** **Kayden Milne** defeated Haupai Puha 7-2 in the final. Milne averaged 77.26.
- **Semi-finalists:** Jonny Tata and Caleb Hope.
- Final Score: Kayden Milne 7-2 Haupai Puha (77.26 – 72.29)
Event 2 Highlights:
- **Winner:** **Ben Robb** triumphed over Jonny Tata 7-2 in the final, with Robb averaging 86.26.
- **Semi-finalists:** Mark Cleaver and Darren Herewini.
- Final Score: Ben Robb 7-2 Jonny Tata (86.26 – 81.16)
Based on current standings, **Ben Robb** and **Jonny Tata** would be in line to qualify for the World Cup of Darts. After two of twelve events, the overall standings see **Jonny Tata** ($1,150) leading, followed by **Ben Robb** ($1,050) and **Kayden Milne** ($1,000).
Derek Coulson Extends Dominance on Modus Darts Super Series
Veteran Welshman **Derek Coulson**, 57, continued his impressive run on the Modus Darts Super Series, making his **fifth consecutive Champions Week** appearance. Coulson secured his spot by winning the Saturday evening weekly final, defeating **Robbie Martin** 4-1. Earlier in the day, he faced a tough challenge from multiple World Championship participant **Colin Osborne**, pushing him to a deciding leg in the semi-final. **Jamie Owens** also reached the semi-finals, while former Tour Card holders Darren Webster and Jamie Hughes, along with Jim Widmayer, did not make it to the final evening.
Weekly Final Results:
- **Semi-final 1:** Derek Coulson 4-3 Colin Osborne (87.58 – 87.91)
- **Semi-final 2:** Robbie Martin 4-2 Jamie Owens (86.38 – 83.81)
- **Final:** Derek Coulson 4-1 Robbie Martin (85.92 – 83.12)
WDF Tournaments Crown Champions in Scotland and Australia
The WDF circuit saw action across the globe, with Silver-ranked tournaments taking place in Renfrew, Scotland, and Down Under.
Scottish Open & Classic (Renfrew, Scotland):
The **Scottish Open** featured 438 participants. The men’s title went to **James Beeton**, who overcame Dylan Slevin 5-3 in the final. In the women’s event, youth player **Rebecca Allen** defeated local favourite Lorraine Hyde 5-2.
At the **Scottish Classic**, **Mitchell Lawrie** prevented James Beeton from securing a double victory, beating him 5-1 in the men’s final. The women’s Classic title was claimed by **Sophie McKinlay**, who edged out Macy Gibbons 5-4.
South Australian Classic (Australia):
In Australia, the **South Australian Classic** saw **Raymond Smith** successfully defend his title among 125 competitors, defeating Karl Schaefer 6-3 in the final. Former World Trophy champion Peter Machin reached the semi-finals. The women’s tournament, with 27 participants, was won by **Monica Ribeiro**, who beat Sharon Sin 5-1 in the final.
Darts World Personal & Policy Updates
Mikuru Suzuki and Haruki Muramatsu Announce Marriage
In heartwarming news from Japanese darts, two prominent figures, **Mikuru Suzuki** and **Haruki Muramatsu**, were married on December 12th of last year in Hiroshima. Mikuru Suzuki will now take her husband’s surname.
Austrian Darts Federation (ÖDV) Implements Strict Alcohol Ban
The Austrian Darts Federation (ÖDV), in collaboration with its regional associations and board, has introduced a **strict alcohol ban for all players across all categories and classes** at elite sports events. This significant policy will apply to the upcoming **Austrian Championships** and **Austrian Masters**, and will extend to the **ÖDV Bundesliga** starting from the 2027/28 season.
The ban specifically prohibits players from consuming alcohol both **before and during their participation** in these events. Enforcement will involve **alcohol controls**, and any measurable value above 0.0 permille will result in immediate disqualification from the ongoing competition, along with further disciplinary consequences.
ÖDV President Dietmar Schuhmann commented on this decision: “We are delighted to take this long-overdue step in elite sports in Austria. This was a courageous decision, but essential to transition from grassroots to elite sport. This also makes the ÖDV exemplary internationally. We particularly want to emphasize the excellent cooperation with our regional associations, which made this possible.”
German State Darts: Hamburg Winners
In regional German darts action, the Landesdartverband Hamburg held its tournaments, with victories going to **Jan-Christoph Fiermann** and **Merve Hummel**.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
