ANALYSIS | Best performing new Tour Card holders in 2026 including brilliant Beau Greaves to resurgent Spartan Cristo Reyes to champagne Charlie Manby
PDCFriday, 29 May 2026 at 14:00
The top 128 Tour Card holders are a hard school to get into, and while some manage to seriously excel, others find it a bit more difficult to break through the mould. We take a look at those who have excelled so far in their near six-month stints as PDC Tour Card holders.
ADVERTISEMENT
Beau Greaves qualified for the ProTour through a secondary tour and was playing last season at times anyway, while some are returning, such as Cristo Reyes, and perhaps have a point to prove.
Others, such as Tom Sykes, have long been heralded but until this year haven't managed to break out onto the tour. But what are the underlying factors and numbers behind the rise of some of the best of the class of 2026?
Beau Greaves - the trailblazing female with immediate success
Greaves has been what the darts world expected of her and more in 2026, becoming the only 2026 tour card holder to win a Players Championship. Yet, the signs were always there for those paying attention.
The history-making Greaves has won 114 consecutive wins on the Women’s Tour, almost four times Sherrock’s record of 29 consecutive wins. A record 55 Women’s Series titles, 4-time Development Tour winner, and 2-time Challenge Tour title granted Greaves an impressive £58,775 without a PDC tour card in 2025.
Greaves was competing on the PDC tour as a result of her Development Tour rankings and put up impressive numbers, but no single result raised attention. Yet, 2025’s 85% win rate from 357 games shows she was primed for the tour.
ADVERTISEMENT
Beau Greaves has held a PDC Tour Card since this season
2026 has answered every question, with Greaves’ win percentage being 80% over 35 matches. An impressive 91.45 average in the last 12 months—lower than it might appear, as the Women’s Tour demands lower averages to comfortably win—proving dividends to her ability.
Greaves is fearless, with her maiden PDC title showing this, averaging 100+ twice, beating 3 former world champions in Rob Cross and Gary Anderson, beating Michael Smith in a nail-biting 8–7, hitting a breathtaking 142 checkout to win.
Greaves' composure despite her troubles with dartitis has put her 77th in the world with just 5 months of ranking money, £47,250, ensuring she will smash the current threshold of £114,500 over two years.
Data from Greaves' debut season
ADVERTISEMENT
| Metric | Figure |
| PDC Ranking | 77th |
| 2026 PDC Earnings | £47,250 |
| Two Year Threshold | £114,500 |
| 2025 Affiliate Earnings | £58,775 |
| 2025 Win % (PDC) | 85% |
| 2026 Win % | 80% |
| Average Last 12 Months | 91.45 |
| Women’s Consecutive Wins | 114 |
| Women’s Series Titles | 55 |
| Tour Card Won | 2026 |
| Best 2026 Result | PC11 Winner |
| PC11 Semi-Final Average | 105.56 |
Greaves’ 180 ability and impressive checkouts have caught the eye, especially hitting a record-breaking 9-darter against Mensur Suljović, becoming the first woman to achieve such a feat, summing up what a great first year she has experienced.
The Doncaster-raised woman will secure her card without a doubt, and the question is just how far she can go. There is no hiding the fact that the PDC will look for her to be in the Premier League at any opportunity, and the Grand Prix and Grand Slam could present these opportunities.
Not just this, her Players' Championships and World Championships could accelerate her career significantly, with her 105.56 average against Anderson showing she can match the best.
Challenges have come in the form of Euro Tour qualifying, which hasn’t been her strongest area. Plus, there are questions about whether her workload management is sustainable across multiple tours.
ADVERTISEMENT
Overall, this is like picking a fault in the Mona Lisa for Greaves, as her performances should serve as the blueprint for all future tour card holders.
Cristo Reyes - resurgent Spartan rises again
Cristo Reyes emerged from what seemed like the end of his career when he won his tour card at EU Q-School. Once a top 32 player and regular in the World Championship, his highlights include a Last 16 in the World Matchplay in 2017 and World Championship in 2015. He also produced a losing average of 106.07 against eventual winner Michael van Gerwen in the 2017 Worlds, showing his competitiveness at his peak.
However, his form never quite reached those heights again, slipping off the tour in 2021. Reyes went on to play just 16 competitive matches in 2022, and none in 2023 and 2024.
ADVERTISEMENT
Reyes arrived at the Mediterranean Qualifier in November 2025, beating Ricardo Perez 7–4 to secure his place back at Alexandra Palace. Despite losing in the first round to eventual runner-up Gian van Veen, he averaged 96.16.
Cristo Reyes rises again
2026 suggests he has picked up exactly where 2017 left off. Reyes boasts an impressive 68% win percentage across 28 matches so far, averaging 93.51. This places him 28th in the world for averages.
Key wins include a Euro Tour quarter-final run, losing to eventual champion Josh Rock 6–4 in Graz. He also has multiple wins over James Wade, including a 105.74 average performance, and a 106.95 average win over Rob Cross in Euro Tour qualifying.
ADVERTISEMENT
He has also beaten 2023 world champion Michael Smith, turning scalps into routine victories. Sitting 80th in the Order of Merit with £42,500 so far, his pace suggests the £114,500 two-year threshold is within reach.
However, questions remain. His lack of competitive darts over recent years and inconsistency at his peak still linger. Emotion and missed doubles remain visible issues. Still, his 93.51 average shows he can operate above players like Smith, Gurney, Cullen, and Menzies.
The rise again of Reyes in numbers
| Metric | Figure |
| PDC Ranking | 80th |
| 2026 PDC Earnings | £42,500 |
| Two Year Threshold | £114,500 |
| 2025 Affiliate Earnings | £0 |
| 2026 Win % | 68% |
| Average Last 12 Months | 93.51 |
| World Average Ranking | 28th |
| Peak Earnings | £97,000 (2017) |
| Tour Card Won | 2026 (EU Q-School) |
| Best 2026 Result | ET6 Quarter Final |
| PDC Absence | 2022–2025 |
| Career Best World Championship | Last 16 (2015) |
Tom Sykes - from MODUS Super Series success to quitting job for PDC dream
ADVERTISEMENT
Winning a tour card is a foot in the door, not a salary, where only the top 64 can truly call themselves professionals.
Tom Sykes decided the door was worth walking through and quit his job. He secured his tour card on Day 3, beating Stephen Burton 6–4. A two-time MODUS Super Series week winner and multiple finalist in Champions Week, he had already established himself as a threat.
Sykes has had a great first year.
His 2025 win percentage was 68%, winning 149 games on the Challenge Tour while earning £7,875. High averages like 115.62 in MODUS Super Series show elite scoring, alongside 358 180s—higher than Gary Anderson and James Wade in that metric.
The Castleford Tiger on the rise
ADVERTISEMENT
| Metric | Figure |
| PDC Ranking | 89th |
| 2026 PDC Earnings | £28,000 |
| Two Year Threshold | £114,500 |
| 2025 Affiliate Earnings | £7,875 |
| 2025 Win % | 68% |
| 2026 Win % | 59% |
| Average Last 12 Months | 91.22 |
| World Average Ranking | 59th |
| Tour Card Won | 2026 (UK Q-School) |
| Best 2026 Result | PC9 Quarter Final |
| 180s Ranking | Above Anderson and Wade |
| Total 180s | 358 |
In 2026, his win percentage dropped slightly to 59%, but prize money rose to £28,000, including a Players Championship quarter-final. He produced standout wins such as a 102.73 average over Ross Smith and a 101.38 win over Raymond van Barneveld.
His ability to break throw late in matches is a key strength, with a 46.26% success rate when throwing second, higher than Luke Humphries. However, consistency remains an issue. A Euro Tour breakthrough is still missing, and heavy defeats like a 6–0 loss to Justin Hood highlight his C-game limitations in the 80s. He sits at £150,000 combined, above the key threshold, but long-term consistency will define him.
Darius Labanauskas - returning Lucky D makes unnoticed strides
Darius Labanauskas has gone largely unnoticed in 2026 despite being ranked above Sykes and Manby in the Order of Merit. His peak includes a 2020 World Championship quarter-final and regular major appearances, including Last 16 at the World Grand Prix (2021) and World Series Finals (2020).
He lost his tour card in 2023 but rebuilt through the Nordic & Baltic Tour, winning consistently and earning £51,750 in 2025 through Challenge Tour success. Sitting 88th in the Order of Merit, he has shown steady consistency on the Pro Tour, with first-round exits avoided in over half of events.
Darius Labanuaskas has endured a successful return to the tour in 2026.
Key wins include beating Wessel Nijman and a 103.29 average against Ryan Searle. His season average is 89.74, ranking 86th in the world. His doubles remain a strength, ranking 29th best on tour at 39.48%.
Labanauskas continues to rely on consistency rather than explosive scoring. His experience across majors and tours gives him an edge in pressure situations, but questions remain over whether a low average can sustain long-term success.
Labanauskas return in numbers
| Metric | Figure |
| PDC Ranking | 88th |
| 2026 PDC Earnings | £25,500 |
| Two Year Threshold | £114,500 |
| 2025 Affiliate Earnings | £51,750 |
| 2026 Win % | 61% |
| Average Last 12 Months | 89.66 |
| Doubles % | 39.48% |
| Doubles World Ranking | 29th |
| Tour Card Won | 2026 |
| Peak Earnings | £93,250 (2020) |
| Best 2026 Result | PC16 Last 16 |
| Career Best World Championship | QF (2020) |
Charlie Manby - Champagne brings Ally Pally breakout to ProTour
Charlie Manby edges onto this list by just £1,250, highlighting how tight the margins are. A breakout 2026 World Championship run to the Last 16, losing 1–4 to Gian van Veen, raised his profile significantly.
Champagne Charlie Manby in action.
He secured his tour card on Day 4, beating Mervyn King 6–2. His 2025 season included a MODUS Super Series Champions Week title worth £25,000 and a Development Tour title. A 72% win rate brought his earnings to £41,725. Most notably, he recorded a 130.7 Development Tour average, the second-highest PDC average in history.
Manby's season in numbers as Champagne celebrates great success
| Metric | Figure |
| PDC Ranking | 90th |
| 2026 PDC Earnings | £26,250 |
| Two Year Threshold | £114,500 |
| 2025 Affiliate Earnings | £41,725 |
| 2025 Win % | 72% |
| 2026 Win % | 70% |
| Average Last 12 Months | 90.92 |
| World Average Ranking | 66th |
| Tour Card Won | 2026 (UK Q-School) |
| Best 2026 Result | PC7 & PC8 Quarter Finals |
| Development Tour Record Average | 130.7 |
| Champions Week Win | £25,000 (2025) |
His 2026 average sits at 90.92, just outside the top 64. He has reached consecutive Players Championship quarter-finals, including strong wins over Ross Smith (99.27 average) and Raymond van Barneveld (101.38).
However, inconsistency remains a concern, with results fluctuating between high 90s wins and 70–80 average losses. At 20 years old, his development trajectory remains steep, and he is widely expected to rise above others in this group over a two-year cycle.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- He's just a daft sod. But I'm glad he's looking uprick6726-05-2026
- Doesn't matter what they do,it's all rubbish. Just scrap the whole thing,and get some more tournaments,open to everyone,with the same prize money. I haven't watched it this year,I know what they all look like!! It's an unjust,unfair 'league', promoted for money and TV and beer sales. Get rid of it now!rick6719-05-2026
- Phenomenal dartsmedinabello14-05-2026
- Good ladrick6712-05-2026
- The euro tour thrived before the names played them and will thrive without them. The one change the PDC need is to not protect the OOM top 16. If the form or world rankings drop, they need to qualify. While this would reward the players who regularly make the trip. Also add more prize money to the earlier rounds so you can't be out of pocket by attending but losing 1st round.BandB11-05-2026
- Another week, another suggestion to make Euro Tour qualification fairer. This one is: No substitutes if a pre-qualifier declines to play. Add an extra place in the Tour Card Holder qualifiers instead, so everyone is there on merit. Currently the races come with a safety net, with little consequence for sliding out of the ProTour Top 16 and extra chances for easy money to get back in.Scoobedybop11-05-2026
- Manby acts like a balanoposthitis. Hopes he quickly dissapears from the darting scene.TinyShrimp07-05-2026
- Probably a new Gurney ... hanging around 24_32 spot for the remainder of his darting career.TinyShrimp07-05-2026
- Sinner doesnt play ATP250 tournaments... It might be even better with less top players..TinyShrimp06-05-2026
- There's enough money and events, it's not really a problem. Gives mid card players a chance to perform and makes the overall field stronger.BandB06-05-2026
Loading