The 2026 Darts Development Tour kicked off with an electrifying opening weekend in Leicester, where young talents battled for supremacy. Dutch sensation Jurjen van der Velde emerged as the standout performer, clinching two of the five titles up for grabs. Not to be outdone, England’s Jack Drayton also secured two impressive victories, marking himself as a serious contender. Other notable players included Sebastian Bialecki, who added another title to his name, and rising stars Beau Greaves and James Beeton, who showcased incredible scoring power. This weekend set the stage for an exciting season, highlighting a blend of emerging prodigies and seasoned youth players.
A Marathon of Darts Talent
The Development Tour is a crucial proving ground for aspiring professional darts players aged 16 to 24. The opening weekend of the 2026 season in Leicester, England, saw over 400 players descend upon the oche, transforming Friday and Saturday into a grueling test of endurance and skill. This series of tournaments is always eagerly anticipated, offering a first look at whether a new generation of stars is ready to break through or if the established youth players will continue to dominate.
Jurjen van der Velde: A Rocket Start
Dutch talent Jurjen van der Velde wasted no time in making his mark, living up to his reputation as a tour card holder. His performance was nothing short of spectacular:
- In Development Tour 1, Van der Velde powered through the competition, ultimately defeating Ireland’s Dylan Slevin in a thrilling final to claim his first title of the weekend.
- He continued his dominant run into Development Tour 3, where he once again stood victorious, overcoming Charlie Manby, one of the surprising quarter-finalists from the recent World Championship, in the final.
Van der Velde’s two titles firmly established him as the player to beat in the early stages of the tour.
Jack Drayton’s Double Triumph
While Van der Velde stole some headlines, England’s Jack Drayton also had an unforgettable weekend, securing two titles himself and demonstrating immense potential:
- Drayton’s first victory came late on Saturday in Development Tour 4. On his path to glory, he notably defeated the highly-regarded Beau Greaves before dominating Angelo Balsamo in the final, who appeared exhausted after a strong run.
- He then capped off his dream weekend by winning Development Tour 5 on Sunday. Despite strong competition, including a semi-final against Archie Self and a final against Cam Crabtree, the 19-year-old emerged triumphant.
With two titles under his belt, Drayton is already being hailed as a strong contender for a World Championship spot.
Other Standout Performances
The weekend was also filled with other remarkable displays of darts:
- Sebastian Bialecki (Poland): The Polish prodigy continued his excellent start to the year, securing his seventh career Development Tour title in Development Tour 2. He proved too strong for James Beeton in the final, building on his recent quarter-final appearance among the professionals.
- Beau Greaves (England): Known for her incredible talent, Greaves showcased her scoring prowess with an astonishing 117.88 average on Friday, a highlight of the weekend.
- James Beeton (England): Also impressed with a high average on Saturday and reached the final of Development Tour 2, demonstrating consistent form.
- Dylan Slevin (Ireland): A finalist in Development Tour 1 and a consistent performer, Slevin finished the weekend ranked among the top five players, underlining his strong start.
- Dutch Contingent: Beyond Van der Velde, Keanu van Velzen and Shane de Jong both reached quarter-finals. Jamai van den Herik showed consistent results, placing him in the top 32 after five tournaments and reaching the last 16 on Sunday.
Tournament Breakdown: Who Reached the Finals?
Here’s a quick look at the top performers in each of the five tournaments:
Development Tour 1
- Winner: Jurjen van der Velde (Netherlands)
- Runner-up: Dylan Slevin (Ireland)
- Semi-finalists: Jenson Walker (England), Peter Kelemen (Hungary)
Development Tour 2
- Winner: Sebastian Bialecki (Poland)
- Runner-up: James Beeton (England)
- Semi-finalists: Nathan Potter (England), Dominik Grüllich (Germany)
Development Tour 3
- Winner: Jurjen van der Velde (Netherlands)
- Runner-up: Charlie Manby (England)
- Semi-finalists: Charlie Stocks (England), Leon Weber (Germany)
Development Tour 4
- Winner: Jack Drayton (England)
- Runner-up: Angelo Balsamo (Netherlands)
- Semi-finalists: David Fidler (England), Connor Hopkins (England)
Development Tour 5
- Winner: Jack Drayton (England)
- Runner-up: Cam Crabtree (England)
- Semi-finalists: Tyler Thorpe (England), Archie Self (England)
The opening Development Tour weekend was a thrilling showcase of emerging darts talent, setting a high bar for the rest of the season. With players like Van der Velde and Drayton already making a significant impact, the race for tour cards and World Championship spots promises to be fiercely contested.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
