Jurjen van der Velde claimed his second title of the weekend to strengthen his grip on the Winmau Development Tour rankings, while Jack Drayton celebrated a maiden crown in Leicester.
Over 420 players competed in Saturday’s double-header at the Mattioli Arena, with Van der Velde producing another superb run in Event Three. After three straight whitewash wins, the Dutchman survived five match darts to defeat Matthew Gallivan-Piles from 3-1 down.
The 23-year-old followed up with 4-1 victories over Tyler Thorpe and Yorick Hofkens, then battled past Finn Behrens despite further missed match darts. He swept aside Charlie Stocks before overcoming rising star Charlie Manby 5-3 in the final, averaging 97.54.
Manby had beaten Beau Greaves en route to the showpiece, while Friday’s finalist James Beeton also impressed.
Event Four belonged to Drayton, who reeled off nine consecutive victories. The 19-year-old edged Ben Townley from 3-2 down and later converted a crucial 127 finish to defeat Greaves in a deciding leg.
Drayton maintained his clinical finishing against David Fidler, landing 105 and 113 checkouts in a 5-3 semi-final win, before dominating Angelo Balsamo 5-1 to seal the £3,000 prize.
Balsamo had earlier eliminated Sebastian Bialecki in the quarter-finals, despite the Pole posting consecutive ton-plus averages.
Greaves delivered the standout display of the weekend, averaging 111.33 in a four-leg demolition of Nigel Coudeville, adding to her near-118 average in Friday’s Eve
Source: PDC.TV
