The third weekend of the PDC Nordic & Baltic Pro Tour delivered high drama and unexpected champions. On Saturday, seasoned veteran Darius Labanauskas clinched his first title of 2026 in a thrilling final. But the biggest surprise came on Sunday, when 21-year-old Finnish talent Mio Varila stunned the field to secure his maiden professional title on home soil. These results have significantly shaken up the tour standings, highlighting both emerging stars and enduring prowess.
Labanauskas Claims First Title in Vääksy Thriller (Saturday)
The fifth tournament of the year kicked off in Vääksy, Finland, with 65 players vying for glory. Favorites like Cor Dekker and Jani Haavisto, who were leading the rankings after four events, faced an uphill battle.
A Day of Upsets and Resilience
- Early Exit for a Favorite: Dutch-Norwegian star Cor Dekker, a pre-tournament favorite, suffered an early and surprising defeat. He lost 6-5 to Denmark’s Andreas Toft Jørgensen in his opening match, despite having multiple darts to win.
- Jørgensen’s Impressive Run: Jørgensen, fresh off his victory against Dekker, continued his strong form. He overcame Teemu Harju (6-5), Kim Viljanen (6-4), and Daniel Larsson (6-5) to reach the final, notably surviving match darts against Larsson in the semi-finals.
Labanauskas Dominates His Half
On the other side of the draw, PDC Tour Card holder Darius Labanauskas showcased his class. “Lucky D” systematically defeated his opponents:
- He dispatched Valters Melderis with a dominant 6-0 victory.
- He then overcame the second-seeded Jani Haavisto 6-3.
- In the semi-final, he beat Swedish Tour Card holder Viktor Tingström 6-3.
Other notable players like Oskar Lukasiak and Andreas Harrysson had a day to forget, both exiting in the second round.
The Final Showdown: Labanauskas vs. Jørgensen
The final saw Labanauskas start strong, breaking Jørgensen in the very first leg with a 16-dart finish. He followed this with a 14-darter, quickly establishing a lead. Despite Jørgensen’s resilience, including a crucial 15-darter to break back and force a deciding eleventh leg when Labanauskas was throwing for the match, Labanauskas’s experience ultimately prevailed. Jørgensen struggled to find his triples in the decider, allowing the Lithuanian to close out the leg in 20 darts and claim his first title of the season with a 6-5 victory.
Mio Varila Stuns Home Crowd with Maiden Title (Sunday)
While Finnish players performed well on Saturday, Sunday brought an even bigger celebration for the home nation. 21-year-old Mio Varila, who had reached the quarter-finals on Saturday, delivered a sensational performance to reach and win his first-ever final in only his fourth appearance on the circuit.
Varila’s Path to Glory
The young Finn demonstrated incredible composure, taking down several prominent regional names:
- Valters Melderis (6-3)
- Petri Rasmus (6-3)
- Jani Haavisto (6-0)
- Johan Engström (6-4 in the semi-final)
Dekker’s Redemption Run
Varila’s opponent in the final was none other than Cor Dekker, a dominant force on the tour who was making his fourth final appearance in six tournaments. After his surprising early exit on Saturday, “The Sheriff” was clearly out for revenge.
- He started strong, defeating Pär Riihonen 6-2.
- He then overcame Jonas Graversen (6-2) and Andreas Toft Jørgensen (6-1).
- In a tense semi-final against Viktor Tingström, Dekker survived match darts before finding the decisive double himself to win 6-5.
The Final: Young Blood vs. Seasoned Challenger
Mio Varila showed no signs of nerves in the final, taking the first two legs. Dekker quickly responded with legs in 16, 16, and 14 darts to turn the match around. It seemed “The Sheriff” had repaired the damage, but surprisingly, he couldn’t find another double after those three legs. Varila capitalized ruthlessly, hitting crucial finishes of 76 and 88 to hurt the Tour Card holder. From 5-3 up, the young Finn remained ice-cool, sealing the biggest victory of his career with a 17-darter. Mio Varila is definitely a talent to watch in the coming years!
Tournament Results Overviews
PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour 5 – Saturday
Quarter-finals:
- Andreas Toft Jørgensen 6-4 Kim Viljanen
- Daniel Larsson 6-4 Johan Engström
- Darius Labanauskas 6-3 Jani Haavisto
- Viktor Tingström 6-1 Mio Varila
Semi-finals:
- Andreas Toft Jørgensen 6-5 Daniel Larsson
- Darius Labanauskas 6-3 Viktor Tingström
PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour 6 – Sunday
Quarter-finals:
- Cor Dekker 6-1 Andreas Toft Jørgensen
- Viktor Tingström 6-5 Dmitriy Zhukov
- Mio Varila 6-0 Jani Haavisto
- Johan Engström 6-2 Rickard Johansson
Semi-finals:
- Cor Dekker 6-5 Viktor Tingström
- Mio Varila 6-4 Johan Engström
Impact on Tour Standings
The exciting weekend had a significant impact on the PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour rankings:
- Cor Dekker, despite missing out on the Sunday title, extended his lead at the top thanks to another final appearance.
- Both Darius Labanauskas and Mio Varila surged into the top eight after their respective title wins, marking them as serious contenders.
- Daniel Larsson climbed to third place, which currently secures a virtual spot in the World Championship.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
