Haruki Muramatsu wins PDC Asian Championship and qualifies for Grand Slam of Darts and World Darts Championship

Haruki Muramatsu emerged as the big winner in the second edition of the PDC Asian Championship. This allows the Japanese player to compete in the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship.

The tournament began on Saturday with sixteen groups of three players each. The sixteen group winners advanced to the final sixteen. Familiar names like Paolo Nebrida, Man Lok Leung, Kai Fan Leung, Yuki Yamada, Seigo Asada, and Royden Lam did not make it through the pool phase. Players like Paul Lim, Haruki Muramatsu, and Christian Perez also managed to advance to the quarterfinals after that.

On Sunday, the eight remaining players went to battle for the title and the spots for the World Darts Championship. Motomu Sakai dashed Paul Lim's chances of a 27th World Darts Championship. The Japanese triumphed 6-0, while compatriot Muramatsu won 6-1 over Raymond Copano. Sandro Eric Sosing outlasted Sonny Millo Balagat 6-1, and Ryusei Azemoto eliminated defending champion Christian Perez 6-4.

In the semifinals, the two finalists would qualify for Ally Pally. It was Muramatsu who prevailed 6-1. Filipino darter Sandro Eric Sosing then knocked Ryusei Azemoto to become the second finalist.

The stakes were still high, however, as the eventual winner also got to compete at the Grand Slam of Darts in November. Muramatsu walked away with that spot after a 7-6 win over Sosing in the final.

In addition to the two finalists, the highest-ranked Japanese player would also qualify for the World Darts Championship. Because the PDC Asian Championship got a Japanese winner with Muramatsu, that World Darts Championship spot went to the number five on the PDC Asian Tour Order of Merit. That is Man Lok Leung, who as a result may also travel to Alexandra Palace in December.

PDC Asian Championship results.

Last 16

Motomu Sakai (92.59) 5-4 (85.71) Lourence Ilagan

Paul Lim (82.66) 5-4 (81.58) Rosendo Jr Lubaton

Haruki Muramatsu (101.76) 5-2 (91.13) Alex Tagarao

Raymond Copano (79.99) 5-4 (76.19) Mohd Nasir Bin Jantan

Sonny Millo Balagat (77.93) 5-4 (79.89) Tomoya Goto

Sandro Eric Sosing (89.37) 5-1 (81.68) Jemel Modesto

Ryusei Azemoto (89.40) 5-3 (85.38) Tatsunami Mitsuhiko

Christian Perez (80.07) 5-2 (79.20) Lok Yin Lee

Quarterfinals

Motomu Sakai (85.08) 6-0 (72.48) Paul Lim

Haruki Muramatsu (92.60) 6-1 (88.91) Raymond Copano

Sandro Eric Sosing (94.05) 6-1 (81.03) Sonny Millo Balagat

Ryusei Azemoto (87.55) 6-4 (88.40) Christian Perez

Semi-final

Haruki Muramatsu (87.38) 6-1 (82.02) Motomu Sakai

Sandro Eric Sosing (86.21) 6-3 (85.03) Ryusei Azemoto

Finale

Haruki Muramatsu (91.08) 7-6 (81.53) Sandro Eric Sosing