Leicester witnessed a thrilling day of darts as two new champions emerged on the PDC Development Tour. Jurjen van der Velde secured his second title in 24 hours, overcoming Charlie Manby in a high-scoring final. Later, Jack Drayton clinched his maiden Development Tour victory against Angelo Balsamo. The events were marked by intense competition, remarkable high averages from players like Beau Greaves and Sebastian Bialecki, and the sheer endurance required from all participants in a grueling day of top-level youth darts.
Van der Velde’s Dominance Continues with Second Title
For Jurjen van der Velde, it was a case of déjà vu in Leicester. **He kicked off the afternoon by winning the first event, securing his second Development Tour title in just 24 hours.** From a vast field of around 500 hopefuls at the Mattioli Arena, the Dutchman triumphed over **Charlie Manby in a high-stakes final.** Both players consistently averaged over 90, but Van der Velde showed greater resilience. **He built a commanding 4-1 lead and, despite a strong comeback from Manby, held on to secure the victory.**
Earlier, the 23-year-old, who was the **2024 PDC World Youth Championship runner-up**, had a confident win against Tyler Thorpe. He then defeated two German opponents back-to-back before delivering a **dominant semi-final whitewash against Charlie Stock**, showcasing his clinical skill.
High Averages and Standout Performances
Beyond the main victors, several players hit impressive high averages, highlighting the tough competition:
- **Jamie McKinnon** (England) threw a brilliant **104.71 average** in his win over Tavis Dudeney.
- Germany’s **Leon Weber** also hit triple digits, achieving a **103.13 average** in his quarter-final victory against fellow countryman Florian Preis.
- **Jack Drayton** narrowly surpassed the century mark, showing commendable precision.
Drayton Claims Maiden Development Tour Title
As Saturday evening wore on and tiredness set in, **Jack Drayton rose to the occasion, claiming his first-ever PDC Development Tour title** with a convincing win in the final against Angelo Balsamo. The player from Lancashire, near Blackpool, had a challenging **last-leg decider in the quarter-finals against Beau Greaves** before overcoming Czech talent David Fidler. This set him up for the final against Angelo Balsamo, where he secured a surprisingly comfortable victory. This win marks a significant first step for Drayton, and with this tour success under his belt, his career trajectory looks promising.
Other Notable Achievements
Despite the gruelling, long schedule that likely caused fatigue for everyone, **Beau Greaves delivered the day’s most spectacular performance.** She achieved an **astonishing 111.33 average**, leaving Belgium’s Nigel Coudeville with little answer to her rapid scoring.
Only one other player managed to hit a century-plus average more than once: **Sebastian Bialecki.** The Pole produced two impressive triple-digit averages, including a **ruthless 4-0 whitewash against Ryan Branley** and another 4-0 dismissal of Daan Bastiaansen. However, the intense competition eventually took its toll, and Bialecki’s journey ended in the quarter-finals at the hands of eventual runner-up Balsamo.
This concluded another demanding, talent-filled chapter of the Development Tour. It was a day that showcased relentless competition, high standards, and the bright promise of emerging darting talent. Just one more event remains.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
