The picturesque Isle of Man once again transformed into the ultimate battleground for the World Darts Federation’s (WDF) finest, as hundreds of aspiring champions journeyed across the Irish Sea for the island’s much-anticipated annual tungsten festival.
The Isle of Man Darts Festival 2026 delivered an electrifying weekend of high-stakes competition, crowning new champions and showcasing incredible talent. Dutchman Moreno Blom claimed the Men’s Classic Open, while Leanne Topper triumphed in the Women’s Classic Open. Reece Colley secured the Men’s Masters, and Rhiann O’Sullivan dominated the Women’s Masters. Jack Drayton and Gemma Hayter took the Men’s and Women’s Open titles respectively, with Hayter also part of the winning Mixed Triples team. Youth stars Ben Townley and Macy Gibbons impressed, alongside pairs champions Jenson Walker & James Beeton and the legendary Deta Hedman with Anca Zijlstra, ensuring a memorable festival for all darts enthusiasts.
Classic Open: New Stars Emerge
One of the festival’s most anticipated events, the Isle of Man Classic Open, saw Dutchman Moreno Blom etch his name into history. Blom became only the second player from the Netherlands to claim this prestigious title, joining compatriot Richard Veenstra on the honour roll.
- The 24-year-old showcased remarkable composure and authority throughout the tournament’s crucial stages.
- In the semi-finals, he expertly dispatched Scotland’s Jim McEwan, who had arrived with high hopes of achieving an extraordinary hat-trick of consecutive victories.
- The grand final saw Blom deliver a commanding performance, sweeping past Catalonian thrower Daniel Zapata 5-1 to secure the silverware with emphatic conviction.
The Women’s Classic Open crown was decided in a thrilling all-Welsh showdown. Leanne Topper narrowly edged out reigning champion Eve Watson in a fiercely competitive affair that required a dramatic last-leg decider before Topper could finally celebrate her hard-fought victory.
Masters Tournament: Close Calls and Welsh Dominance
The Isle of Man Masters brought more drama and intense competition.
Men’s Masters: Colley Claims Glory
For Scotland’s Jim McEwan, the weekend included another agonizing near-miss in the Masters event. After his semi-final exit in the Classic Open, McEwan found himself tantalizingly close to the title once more, only to be denied in the final by England’s Reece Colley. The Dudley thrower ultimately prevailed, carrying the trophy back to the West Midlands.
An honourable mention also goes to Daniel Zapata, whose fortunes mirrored McEwan’s in reverse, completing a strong weekend by reaching the semi-finals of the Masters after his runner-up finish in the Classic Open.
Women’s Masters: Welsh Double Delight
Welsh celebrations continued as Rhiann O’Sullivan ensured Cymru enjoyed a memorable double success in the Women’s Masters. O’Sullivan produced a pristine and authoritative display, overcoming the vastly experienced Dutch player Aileen de Graaf to secure her title.
Isle of Man Open: Rising Talents Shine
The Isle of Man Open showcased emerging talents making their mark.
Men’s Open: Drayton’s Dominance Continues
The Men’s Open final became an all-English affair, with two formidable competitors battling for the silverware. Jack Drayton emerged as the deserved victor, continuing an impressive run of form following his recent double success on the PDC Development Tour – a professional circuit for young and emerging darts players aiming for the elite level.
The Lancashire youngster comfortably defeated Ben Townley 6-2, adding another prestigious title to his rapidly growing darting résumé.
Women’s Open: Hayter’s Impressive Haul
In the Ladies’ Open event, Gemma Hayter produced an equally commanding performance, defeating fellow English thrower Steph Clarke 5-1.
The Hampshire-born player’s success didn’t stop there. Hayter also collected additional silverware as part of the victorious Mixed Triples team. Alongside Steve West and Michael Huntley, the trio overcame the strong combination of Moreno Blom, Jarno Bottenberg, and Vicky Pruim to secure that title.
Youth and Pairs Events: Future Stars and Seasoned Pros
The festival also shone a spotlight on the future of darts and celebrated teamwork.
Youth Events: English Youngsters Triumph
Both youth trophies were claimed by talented English youngsters:
- Ben Townley emerged victorious in a high-quality Boys’ final against Kaya Baysal.
- On the girls’ side, Macy Gibbons continued her impressive rise by whitewashing Natalie Baxter to secure her title.
Pairs Events: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Two further tournaments rounded off what proved to be a thoroughly action-packed weekend:
- In the Open Pairs event, the partnership of Jenson Walker and James Beeton delivered a composed display to defeat Joe Croft and Geoffrey Heath with a decisive 2-0 victory.
- And finally, a WDF darts festival would scarcely feel complete without the presence of Deta Hedman in the winner’s circle. The legendary “Caribbean Queen” once again secured silverware, this time alongside Anca Zijlstra. The pair edged a competitive Ladies Pairs final against Paige Pauling and Vicky Pruim to round off the weekend’s festivities.
With thrilling finishes, new champions, and memorable performances, the curtain falls on another frenetic and unforgettable weekend of tungsten drama on the Isle of Man.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
