Former conqueror of Phil Taylor at UK Open in Aden Kirk rolls back the years with high Challenge Tour averages amid double final loss

The eighth event of the PDC Challenge Tour 2026 was snapped up by Ted Evetts. The Englishman edged his compatriot Aden Kirk 5-4 in the final.

Not Evetts or Kirk, but Oliver Mitchell delivered the highest average at the eighth tournament of the Challenge Tour 2026.

The Englishman was dominant in the last 256, whitewashing former PDC Tour Card holder Nathan Rafferty 5-0. Mitchell bowed out a round later after a 5-1 defeat to Switzerland’s Bruno Stoeckli. The second-highest average went to the aforementioned Kirk. The Englishman overpowered Dutchman Maikel Verberk 5-1 in the last sixteen. Kirk posted a 104.18 average in that match.

The top three is completed by Patrick Geeraets. The Dutch former PDC Tour Card holder beat England’s Danny Goddard 5-1 in the last 64 and recorded a 103.88 average in that match. Geeraets eventually reached the last sixteen, where he lost 5-3 to Englishman Matthew Dennant.

Evetts himself in winning a title registered 102.89 while Jack Aldridge hit 101.92. Aldridge was one of the true stars of Q-School and many thought he would win a Tour Card given his high averages but again it seems to be high averages and not results as he posted 101.92 and 99.19 all in the higher echelons without winning much in terms of the Order of Merit. Others though on the list included Graham Usher with 99.45 and Matthew Dennant with 98.43 showing their class as ex PDC Tour Card holders.

The Challenge Tour resumes today, with the tenth event of the season on the schedule in Leicester.