May 2026 was an electrifying month for the Modus Super Series, featuring five weeks of intense darts action, dramatic finishes, and even a shocking match-fixing allegation. We saw Michael Huntley finally claim his first title after a long wait, while rising star Henry Coates and young sensation Archie Self delivered dominant performances. Neil Duff extended his record with a seventh weekly win, and Ashley Coleman secured his maiden victory in a thrilling finale. However, the month was also marked by controversy, as Dany Baggish was suspended following match-fixing claims, casting a shadow over the opening week.
Week 1: Huntley’s Breakthrough and the Baggish Controversy
The first week kicked off with fierce competition. In Group A, Dany Baggish and Dawson Murchell battled intensely, both finishing with 11 wins. Baggish advanced to Finals Night thanks to a superior leg difference.
Murchell then moved to Group B, where he surprisingly finished fourth. Martyn Turner topped this group with six wins, closely followed by Dudbridge and Whitehead. Group C saw a stellar performance from Llew Bevan, who won 9 out of 10 matches, with Michael Huntley just one win behind.
The Match-Fixing Scandal
Finals Night was overshadowed by an unexpected turn of events. Modus announced that Dany Baggish would not compete due to reasons outside their control. This was later revealed to be a serious match-fixing allegation, for which Baggish is now under suspension from the Darts Regulatory Authority (DRA). This unfortunate situation meant a direct playoff between Dudbridge and Huntley for a semi-final spot, with Huntley triumphing 4-2. Meanwhile, Whitehead and Bevan narrowly advanced from the other group based on leg difference.
Michael Huntley’s Long-Awaited Victory
Michael Huntley continued his strong form, producing a dominant 4-1 win over Whitehead to reach the final. He then faced Dudbridge, who had defeated Bevan 4-3. Their final was a grueling contest, marked by 32 missed darts at a double across seven legs. However, it was Michael Huntley who finally prevailed with his fifth match dart, securing his first Modus Super Series weekly title on his eighteenth attempt! A truly memorable moment for “Babyface” Huntley.
Week 2: Neil Duff Dominates for a Record Seventh Title
Week 2 began with a commanding performance from Steve West, who won 13 of 15 matches to comfortably top Group A.
Group B was far more competitive, with Paul Hogan narrowly securing the top spot with 5 wins. In a dramatic finish, Neil Duff’s 4-1 victory in the very last match of the group secured his passage to Finals Night, emerging from a three-way tie on four wins due to his superior leg difference.
Reece Colley was the standout in Group C, winning 9 of 10 matches ahead of Kevin Edwards, with both players advancing to Finals Night.
Clash of Titans in the Final
On Finals Night, Edwards was eliminated despite winning a match, as West and Duff advanced to the semi-finals. Benito van de Pas went undefeated in his group but suffered a sudden 4-1 loss to Duff in the semi-finals. Colley narrowly reached the semi-finals but was defeated 4-0 by West, setting up a highly anticipated finale.
The final was a showdown between two of the most successful players in Modus Super Series history: Neil Duff and Steve West. In a compelling match, Neil Duff secured his seventh weekly Modus title with a 4-2 win, extending his lead to two clear of West in the all-time standings.
Week 3: Henry Coates, The Rising Star, Claims His First Title
Week 3 saw the return of “Modus Rising Stars” winner Henry Coates to the Live Lounge. The talented 19-year-old had competed in Finals Night before but had yet to win a weekly title. He made the best possible start, winning 12 of 15 matches to triumph in Group A and book his spot in Saturday’s Finals Night.
Group B became a stage for veterans, with Simon Whitlock and Graham Usher finishing tied at the top with six wins each, the iconic Australian taking the group on leg difference. Aden Kirk dominated Group C with 9 wins from 10 matches, setting the stage for a fascinating Finals Night.
Coates’ Unstoppable Run
On Finals Night, Whitlock was the first player eliminated, losing out on leg difference despite a win over Kirk, who advanced to the semi-finals alongside Pete Hughes. Meanwhile, Coates made a perfect start to Finals Night, defeating Richard McKee 4-0 and Usher 4-2, sweeping into the semi-finals with significant momentum.
Coates then beat Hughes 4-1 in the semi-finals, while McKee defeated Kirk by the same scoreline. However, Henry Coates simply could not be stopped, comfortably defeating McKee 4-1 in an exhibition final where he hit 50% of his doubles and a superb 136 checkout. This marked Henry Coates’s first weekly Modus title, a significant milestone in his young career.
Week 4: Archie Self’s Unbeaten Brilliance
Week 4 featured a host of former PDC stars, including Jelle Klaasen, Willie Borland, and Richie Howson. Klaasen shone throughout Group A, finishing with a high of a 103.66 average in a 4-0 win to secure top spot.
Both Borland and Howson advanced to Group B but struggled, finishing at the bottom. In stark contrast, Archie Self looked phenomenal, completing a perfect 100% record with 8 wins from 8 matches. Josh McCarthy won 8 of 10 matches to prevail in Group C.
A Flawless Week for the Young Sensation
Finals Night presented a tale of two group winners. Klaasen was eliminated early, losing 4-2 and 4-1. However, Archie Self completed an entirely unbeaten week in the Live Lounge. He dropped only a single leg in his two group matches, before a 4-2 win over Killington in the semi-finals.
In a truly exceptional performance, Self secured a perfect 4-0 win over James Buckby in the final, completing a flawless, unbeaten week. This victory further highlights the incredible trajectory of the 16-year-old, who has already won the 2024 WDF World Boys Championship and the 2024 JDC Advanced Tour Championship, and is currently making waves on the PDC Development Tour.
Week 5: Ashley Coleman’s Deciding Leg Drama
Week 5 saw John Henderson return to the Modus stage, but it was Tommy Morris who made the biggest impression in Group A, winning 14 of 15 matches with a stunning 96.5 average to advance to Finals Night.
For the second week in a row, Group B was won with a perfect 100% record, as Scott Campbell triumphed ahead of a three-way tie for second place. Ashley Coleman was the star of the show in Group C, winning 8 of 10 matches, with Ciaran Forde and Adam Mould also securing their spots in Finals Night.
Coleman’s First Modus Title
On Finals Night, no one emerged undefeated from the group stage. Coleman prevailed 4-1 in one match but faltered in a deciding leg loss. Henderson’s 4-0 loss sent him home on leg difference despite a win.
Morris and Coleman both secured convincing 4-1 semi-final victories. The final then went all the way to a deciding leg, where Ashley Coleman emerged victorious, securing his first-ever Modus weekly title and a £5,000 prize, booking his place in Champions Week.
Series 14 will continue at pace throughout June, building towards the Series 14 finale in late July, promising more thrilling darts action.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
