Alexander Merkx won a tournament on the PDC Challenge Tour for the first time in his career on Friday. He managed to win the 16th PDC Challenge Tour tournament of the season in Milton Keynes.
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Merkx qualified for the final by defeating Gabriel Rollo (5-4), Lewis Pride (5-2), Coni Singh Nagi (5-1), Sebastian Bialecki (5-0), Martin Grearson (5-2) and Carl Wilson (5-4). In the final, compatriot Wesley Plaisier awaited after winning over Franz Roetzsch (5-3) and Stefaan Henderyck (5-2), among others.
The first three legs of the final between Merkx and Plaisier all went against the darts. In the fourth leg it was Merkx who was the first player to keep his own leg and take a 3-1 lead with a 19-darter. Merkx held on to that margin, taking the win 5-3 to the 30-year-old Dutchman.
The Challenge Tour circuit is open to players who participated in the Q-School but did not win a Tour Card. On this tour, starting tickets for the 2024 Pro Tour and Tour Cards for 2025 and 2026 can be earned.
The highest-ranked players on the PDC Challenge Tour Order of Merit qualify for the reserve spots at the Players Championship tournaments.
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MERKX MAKES HIS MARK! 🇳🇱🏆
Alexander Merkx wins his maiden Winmau Challenge Tour title in Milton Keynes, closing out a 5-3 victory over fellow Dutchman Wesley Plaisier in the Event 16 final!