Simon Preston has won the first Challenge Tour event of the year. The 50-year-old from Chesire defeated youngster Jarred Cole 5-2 in the final.
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One round earlier, Preston ended a fine run from Berry van Peer. The Dutchman reached the semi final after beating Nick Fullwell, Adam Smith-Neale and Martyn Turner. Cole defeated former World Championship-participant Mark Frost to move in the final.
Last 16
Jarred Cole 5 | 4 Dave Ladley
John Bowles 5 | 3 Steven Kirkby
Mark Frost 5 | 4 Dan Read
Michael Barnard 5 | 3 Martin Lukeman
Simon Preston 5 | 2 Brett Claydon
Martin Bradbury 5 | 0 Jason Lovett
Martyn Turner 5 | 1 Jon Jukes
Berry van Peer 5 | 2 Ben Burton
Last Eight
Jarred Cole 5 | 4 John Bowles
Mark Frost 5 | 3 Michael Barnard
Simon Preston 5 | 0 Martin Bradbury
Berry van Peer 5 | 2 Martyn Turner
Last Four
Jarred Cole 5 | 3 Mark Frost
Simon Preston 5 | 3 Berry van Peer
Final
Simon Preston 5 | 2 Jarred Cole
Click here for full results of Challenge Tour 1.
Last 16
Jarred Cole 5 | 4 Dave Ladley
John Bowles 5 | 3 Steven Kirkby
Mark Frost 5 | 4 Dan Read
Michael Barnard 5 | 3 Martin Lukeman
Simon Preston 5 | 2 Brett Claydon
Martin Bradbury 5 | 0 Jason Lovett
Martyn Turner 5 | 1 Jon Jukes
Berry van Peer 5 | 2 Ben Burton
Last Eight
Jarred Cole 5 | 4 John Bowles
Mark Frost 5 | 3 Michael Barnard
Simon Preston 5 | 0 Martin Bradbury
Berry van Peer 5 | 2 Martyn Turner
Last Four
Jarred Cole 5 | 3 Mark Frost
Simon Preston 5 | 3 Berry van Peer
Final
Simon Preston 5 | 2 Jarred Cole
Click here for full results of Challenge Tour 1.
I stumbled into the world of darts quite by accident back in 2013. For a Journalism School assignment, I had to produce a live sports report and as it happened, the European Tour event in Veldhoven was the only available option. That weekend, I caught the darts bug. The post-match interviews especially appealed to me, as darts players tend to be much more open and approachable than what you usually see with footballers on television.
After a few detours, I joined Dartsnieuws.com in 2017 as editor-in-chief. I don’t have much competitive experience myself, although I once entered a PDC Development Tour weekend just to experience what it’s like from a player’s perspective. I even managed to win a leg against a Tour Card holder and, quite by accident, earned £50 in prize money.
In 2022, I was also involved in the founding of the TOTO Dart Kings, a commercial darts team, where I worked as media manager for three years. Unfortunately, due to new legislation in the Netherlands, that project came to an end in 2025.
Through my work in darts, I’ve been fortunate to travel to some incredible events, from Premier League nights at Ahoy Rotterdam, to several World Championships, and even the US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Beyond darts, I’m a passionate sports fan in general. You can always wake me up for a game of tennis or padel, and I love following football, tennis, padel, cycling, Formula 1, and ice skating.
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