Away from the desert heat of Bahrain, the bright lights of Alexandra Palace or the upcoming Premier League, the 2026 elite dart season began in earnest yesterday. The PDC's tier tours kicked off with the first Challenge Tour weekend getting under way in Milton Keynes in the UK. Some legendary names and major event winners were to be found are making their first entry into a level they have perhaps not seen for decades.
Tommy Lishman and Joe Hunt were victorious on Friday in winning the opening two PDC Winmau Challenge Tour Events of the year, as the second-tier tour season commenced at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes.
Last week saw the First & Final Stage of the PDC’s Annual Qualifying School take place, with 29 two-year Tour Cards dished out across two separate fields in the UK and Europe, with winners including the likes of Charlie Manby, Mervyn King and Jimmy Van Schie.
The PDC Winmau Challenge Tour is eligible for players who competed at Qualifying School, but were unsuccessful in winning a Tour Card. It also gives players at the top of the Order of Merit the opportunity to compete at Players Championship Events throughout the year, should Tour Card Holders choose not to enter.
Event One saw Englishman Tommy Lishman clinch a maiden PDC title as he reached the final firstly by recording victories against Rob Channing, Jozsef Szlanyina, John Brown, Callum Francis, Jamie Hughes, Luke Smith and Lewis Pride, to set up a clash with compatriot Tommy Morris.
The final began with four straight breaks of throw between the pair before the first hold came from Lishman in Leg Five with a 14 darter to move 3-2 ahead in a race to five. The 30-year-old then won back-to-back legs and sealed the victory in Leg Seven with a 13 darter to pick up a first Challenge Tour title as well as the £3,000 top prize.
In Event Two, Joe Hunt was victorious as he reached the final firstly by recording victories against Andy Courtney, Bradley Van der Velden, Shaun Griffiths, Andy Hamilton, Ellis Hadfield, Matthew Dennant, Jenson Walker and Dylan Dowling, to set up a clash with Spain’s Jose Justicia.
The final began with three straight breaks of throw before the first hold came from Hunt in Leg Four with a 13 darter to move 3-1 ahead. Justicia then halved the deficit in the following leg before Hunt won back-to-back legs in 17 and 12 darts to seal a 5-2 victory to clinch a maiden PDC title.
The most famous names to join the tour, inclusing Jose de Sousa have yet to make a mark although the legendary Steve Beaton showed signs of settling in and added a Challenge Tour 9-dart leg to his remarkable forty plus year darting CV.
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The PDC Winmau Challenge Tour weekend continues on Saturday, with Events Three & Four taking place in Milton Keynes, as play commences at 10:30 GMT. All live scores and results can be viewed at tv.dartconnect.com.
PDC Winmau Challenge Tour 2026
Event One
Quarter Finals
Derek Coulsen 5-3 Nathan Potter
Tommy Morris 5-0 Jenson Walker
Lewis Pride 5-1 Jack Aldridge
Tommy Lishman 5-3 Luke Smith
Semi Finals
Tommy Morris 5-4 Derek Coulsen
Tommy Lishman 5-4 Lewis Pride
Final
Tommy Lishman 5-2 Tommy Morris
Event Two
Quarter Finals
Dylan Dowling 5-4 Christopher Wickenden
Joe Hunt 5-2 Jenson Walker
Jose Justicia 5-2 Jamie Kay
Martijn Dragt 5-2 Scott Campbell
Semi Finals
Joe Hunt 5-1 Dylan Dowling
Jose Justicia 5-2 Martijn Dragt
Final
Joe Hunt 5-2 Jose Justicia
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