The darts world is buzzing with exciting developments! Hong Kong is reportedly a strong contender to host a prestigious World Series of Darts event in 2027, potentially bringing top-tier darts to Asia. Meanwhile, Japanese sensation Motomu Sakai is in sensational form, dominating the Steel Darts Tour Japan and looking set for a return to the PDC World Championship. This edition also covers Jermaine Wattimena’s victory at the CDC Classic, key results from the Modus Darts Super Series and PDC Europe Start, youth tournaments like the JDC Nations Cup and WDF International Youth Challenge, and the latest from the DPFL Live Event, alongside new dates for the German DDV season.
World Series of Darts Eyes Hong Kong for 2027
Exciting news for darts fans in Asia! The World Series of Darts could be making a significant stop in Hong Kong in August 2027. Reports from the South Morning China Post indicate that PDC officials have already inspected the impressive 10,000-seat Kai Tak Arena in Kowloon as a potential venue. This move would mark a major expansion for the World Series into new territories. Norway is also being considered as another potential host location for 2027, highlighting the PDC’s global ambitions.
Motomu Sakai Dominates Japanese Tour, Poised for World Championship Return
Japanese darts star Motomu Sakai, known as “The Creature,” is on an incredible run, putting him firmly on track for a return to the PDC World Championship. At the Steel Darts Tour Japan events 5-8 held in Osaka, Sakai was almost unstoppable.
- While Ryuta Arihara claimed Event 5 with a 5-2 victory over Ryusei Azemoto, Sakai swept the next three tournaments.
- He defeated Joji Kanuma 5-2 twice (in Event 6 and Event 8 finals).
- Sakai also overcame Tatsuya Uekusa 5-2 in the Event 7 final.
With 562 points after eight of twelve events, Sakai holds a commanding lead in the rankings, far ahead of Keita Ono (278) and Joji Kanuma (272). It would take a monumental upset to prevent his return to the sport’s biggest stage.
Jermaine Wattimena Claims CDC Classic Title
The CDC Classic, held last Thursday in Kissimmee, saw a strong field of competitors. Dutch star Jermaine Wattimena, “The Machine Gun,” emerged victorious after a series of impressive performances. Playing in a set-play format, Wattimena navigated a tough draw, defeating:
- Johnny Kuczysnki (2-0)
- David Fatum (2-0)
- Joey Lynaugh (2-1)
- Fred Krueger (2-0)
- Stuart Dutton (3-1 in the semi-final)
In a thrilling final, Wattimena triumphed 3-2 over Cam Crabtree, showcasing his skill and composure under pressure.
Modus Darts Super Series and PDC Europe Start Updates
The second week of both the Modus Darts Super Series and the PDC Europe Start delivered plenty of action.
Modus Darts Super Series – Week 2 Highlights
Scott Campbell secured his second qualification for the Champions Week of the 15th Modus Darts Super Series season. In the Week 2 final, Campbell delivered a 4-2 victory over David Evans. His path to the final included a close 4-3 semi-final win against Jack Drayton. Other notable players reaching the final evening included Reece Colley, Zvonimir Lesic, and Berry van Peer. This week, German player Paul Krohne is among the participants.
- Semi-finals:
- Scott Campbell 4-3 Jack Drayton
- David Evans 4-1 Reece Colley
- Final:
- Scott Campbell 4-2 David Evans
PDC Europe Start – Week 2 Winners
The PDC Europe Start also completed its second week, with several players achieving success across its various tournaments. Specific winners for these events were not detailed in the original report, but the competition showcased emerging talent.
WDF International Youth Challenge in Borken: German Successes
Borken hosted the International WDF Youth Challenge, drawing a large field of over 110 boys and 20 girls, leading to both tournaments being classified as Platinum category events. German players notably shone throughout the weekend.
- IYC Open (Friday):
- Boys’ Winner: Kylian Drijbooms (Belgium), defeating Germany’s Manuel Stolz in the final. Bruno Willi Sauer and Eeylas van Bruyssel reached the semi-finals.
- Girls’ Winner: Silke Vanhee, who beat Germany’s Leonie Treisch. Merve Hummel and Celina Glaser took third place.
- IYC Saturday:
- Boys’ Winner: Germany’s own Elias Jahn, who was unstoppable and defeated Kai Burger in the final. Benjamin Dopfer finished third.
- Girls’ Winner: Silke Vanhee repeated her Friday success, once again beating Leonie Treisch in the final.
- U23 Competitions: Lukas Nußbaum secured two titles, while Kira Mertens impressively won three times in her respective U23 events.
DPFL Live Event 2026 in Florida
The WDF-Silver category DPFL Live Event 2026 took place in Florida, featuring strong performances in both the open and women’s categories.
- Open Tournament:
- Leonard Gates clinched the title with a 5-3 victory over David Cameron in the final.
- Ashton Brown and Jayden Walker reached the semi-finals.
- Women’s Tournament:
- Maria Carli dominated, securing the title with a commanding 5-0 win against Jessica Melton in the final.
- Paula Murphy and Cali West were the losing semi-finalists.
JDC Nations Cup and DDV Season Dates
The JDC Nations Cup was contested, exclusively featuring players from the United Kingdom and Ireland:
- Boys’ Winner: Mitchell Lawrie, who defeated Jack Nankervis 5-3.
- Girls’ Winner: Rebecca Allen, successful with a 5-3 win against Abbi Ettridge.
- Doubles Titles: Went to Lawrie/Bryceland and Ettridge/Hannaford.
- Team Competition: Scotland emerged as the champions.
Finally, the DDV (German Darts Association) has released the dates for its 2026/27 season. While team competition dates (Bundesliga and cups) were already known, the ranking tournament dates are now also public, providing a full calendar for German darts.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
