The PDC's Pro Tour needs regular competition for places from its tier tours and Swiss slinger Stefan Bellmont sealed top spot on the 2025 Winmau Challenge Tour Order of Merit, pipping Darius Labanauskas to the post on a dramatic final weekend in Wigan last weekend.
Heading into the home straight, Lithuanian Labanauskas led the way, but Bellmont timed his surge to perfection, leaping into first place and scooping the spoils that come with it. The Swiss arrow-smith now books his ticket to the Grand Slam of Darts, earns himself a coveted PDC Tour Card, and secures a spot at the World Championship. Not a bad few days’ work.
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Labanauskas, meanwhile, can take plenty of comfort. He still walks away with a two-year Pro Tour card and his own guaranteed seat at Ally Pally – rewards he’d have gladly snapped up at the start of the season.
It was a thrilling finale to the Challenge Tour campaign, with enough twists to keep everyone checking the tables after every leg. With Labanauskas already sitting in a World Championship qualifying position via the Pro Tour, it meant the likes of Ted Evetts and Mervyn King were the next cabs off the rank for Palace qualification.
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The first event of the weekend went to Michael Unterbuchner – a result that immediately piled pressure on King’s hopes. The veteran, though, showed exactly why he’s been around so long. A run to the semi-finals in the final event, combined with Unterbuchner’s quarter-final exit, proved just enough to cling onto that all-important spot.
At first, it looked like King wasn’t completely out of the woods, with Labanauskas still holding a £5,000 cushion on the Pro Tour Order of Merit when it comes to World Championship qualification. The Lithuanian would have his Challenge Tour placing to fall back on if necessary, meaning either way, he’s Palace-bound. However, the maths boffins have already run the algorithms, and while Lucky D can slide a little down the ladder, it’s not enough to knock him out of the Worlds spots.
Therefore, whatever happens, the King will be dusting off his throne for a return to the Palace, while SuperTed can already start packing for North London in early December.
A brilliant and fiercely competitive Challenge Tour season ends with prizes galore handed out. For the rest, Q-School awaits in January – or one of many other fantastic opportunities to play high-level darts and make a few bob.
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