PDC Winmau Challenge Tour 2026: Hunt doubles up and Tweddell does it again

Joe Hunt picked up his second title in as many days on Saturday at the PDC Winmau Challenge Tour, whilst Martijn Dragt was also victorious, with the pair winning Events Three & Four respectively, as the opening weekend of the second-tier tour season continued in Milton Keynes. But, it was newly crowned ADC Global Champion Jack Tweddell who ended the weekend with another title to his name.

Friday saw the 2025 PDC Challenge Tour season commence, with English duo Tommy Lishman and Joe Hunt achieving success in winning Events One & Two respectively. 

Event Three saw Joe Hunt go back-to-back as he reached the final firstly by recording victories against Joseph Heywood, Andy Courtney, Frankie Ansell, Matty Washbrooke, Andy Hamilton, Chas Barstow, Steve Beaton and Alan Norris, to set up a clash with compatriot Arron Monk.  

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 in a race to five. Monk then halved the deficit in the following leg before Hunt sealed the victory by winning back-to-back legs in 20 and 14 darts respectively to pick up a second title of the weekend as well as another £3,000 in prize money.  

In Event Four, Martijn Dragt was victorious as he reached the final firstly by recording victories against Levy Frauenfelder, Daniel Klose, Patrick Geeraets, Charlie Symons, Paul Rowley, Gary Jackson and Steve Lennon, to set up a clash with Former Grand Slam Champion Scott Waites.  

The final began with four straight holds of throw between the pair, before the first break came from Dragt in Leg Five with a 15 darter before following it up with a 19 dart hold of throw to move 4-2 ahead and within one of victory. Waites did one leg back before Dragt sealed the victory in Leg Eight with an 18 dart hold of throw to pick up a maiden PDC title as well as the £3,000 first prize.  

Event Five featured Jack Tweddell walking out with the biggest grin. This time, it was Steve Lennon on the wrong end of the deal, brushed aside 5-1 in a final.

And this didn’t come from nowhere. 2026 has barely begun and Tweddell has already struck gold, lifting the ADC Global Championship at the MODUS Live Lounge, a win worth a hefty £60,000 and even heavier confidence.

SIGN UP FOR A DARTS WORLD MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

Three last-leg deciders had to be navigated, including a semi-final scrap against compatriot Jimmy Bristow that pushed every nerve to its limit. Along the way, he dismantled a very in-form Joe Hunt, knocked out Ally Pally nine-dart folklore in Willie Borland, handled Steve Hine, and survived a stern test from Poland’s ever-dangerous Radek Szagański.

In the final, Lennon will feel he left something out there. The averages told a tight story, but darts isn’t won on spreadsheets. Tweddell was sharper when it mattered, cleaner on the doubles, and that’s where titles are decided.

That victory rockets Tweddell up to third on the early PDC Challenge Tour Order of Merit, tucked just behind Hunt and Martijn Dragt, with fellow winner Tommy Lishman lurking in seventh.

For that cluster of names, the next few weeks will be spent staring at the phone. The ProTour starts in Germany next month – and a call-up is very much in the air.

PDC Winmau Challenge Tour 2026 

Arena MK, Milton Keynes

Event Three 

Quarter Finals 

Derek Coulsen 5-4 Daniel Ayres 

Arron Monk 5-1 Ryan Branley  

Alan Norris 5-3 Cayden Smith  

Joe Hunt 5-2 Steve Beaton 

Semi Finals 

Arron Monk 5-3 Derek Coulsen  

Joe Hunt 5-2 Alan Norris 

Final  

Joe Hunt 5-2 Arron Monk  

Event Four 

Quarter Finals 

Steve Lennon 5-0 Daniel James Smith  

Martijn Dragt 5-2 Gary Jackson 

Scott Waites 5-1 Danny Trueman  

Simon Stevenson 5-2 Keenan Thomas 

Semi Finals 

Martijn Dragt 5-2 Steve Lennon 

Scott Waites 5-3 Simon Stevenson  

Final 

Martijn Dragt 5-3 Scott Waites 

Event Five

For the full stories and more in depth coverage of everything darts, together with the latest issues of their legendary publications, head on over to dartsworld.com

Darts World subscriptions options include Print, Digital and All Access packages, as well as exclusive products and competitions