“I’m not done yet” – Leon Weber misses out on a Tour Card by £850 but remains hopeful of playing at the World Darts Championship

Two Development Tour titles, his first Players Championship quarter-final and a fourth-round appearance at the UK Open: Leon Weber made his mark several times in 2026.

However, the German ultimately fell £850 short of earning a Tour Card through the youth series. He also missed out on a direct place at the World Darts Championship. Looking back on his season, Weber is critical of himself but remains determined.

For a long time, Weber was in a strong position on the Development Tour. Two tournament victories gave him a lead in the race for the coveted qualifying spots. But after a difficult second half of the season, he came away empty-handed when the series concluded. His chance to compete at Alexandra Palace is not gone, though.

In his Instagram season review, Weber first turned his attention to the people behind his performances. “First of all, I want to thank my sponsors, fans and everyone who has supported me. They stood by me again this season, through all the highs and lows.”

In sporting terms, Weber had most to celebrate in the opening months. He recorded important wins on the ProTour and reached the quarter-finals of a Players Championship event for the first time. He also showed what he could do at the UK Open, making it to the fourth round.

“I look back on a good first half of the season,” Weber wrote. Alongside his results on the professional tour, he also impressed regularly on the Development Tour. He reached the latter stages several times and won the second and third titles of his career.

Those successes put him in a strong position in the race for a Tour Card and a place at the World Darts Championship. But he was unable to take the decisive next step.

Weber described the turning point in his season with a mix of humour and disappointment. “After the summer break, I unfortunately probably left my good form behind on holiday in Cyprus.”

What sounded light-hearted became a persistent sporting challenge. For a long time, Weber could not rediscover the level he had shown in the first half of the season. Breaks in the tournament calendar also made it harder to recover from his dip in form.

“The second half of the season proved very difficult for me. I couldn’t match my earlier form, and the longer breaks between tournaments didn’t help.”

He still managed a few good results along the way, but setbacks dominated his season. He could not hold on to his lead on the Development Tour and ultimately fell £850 short of a Tour Card.

Weber now wants to examine those difficult months closely. “Of course, I’ll review this period and learn from it.”

Although he missed out on direct qualification, the World Darts Championship remains within reach for Weber. Another opportunity depends on the World Youth Championship final between Cam Crabtree and Jan Schmidt.

If Schmidt wins the final, the German will secure the place at the World Darts Championship that comes with the title. If Crabtree wins, having already qualified through the Development Tour, Weber will take the spot via the youth rankings. One thing is therefore certain for German darts fans: at least one more German player will take to the stage at Ally Pally.

The final will be played on 29.11. during the Players Championship Finals in Minehead. That gives the match added significance for Weber: a win for the Englishman could still crown his season with a place at the World Championship.

At the same time, Weber is preparing for another opportunity. “The rest of the year will be focused on preparing for World Championship qualifying,” he announced.

Regardless of how the race for a World Championship place ends, Weber has taken confidence from this season. His strong performances have shown him that he can compete on the professional tour.

“This period as a rookie, with little experience and a short career on the ProTour, has definitely shown me that I can compete at this level. I want to play a bigger role in the future, and I know I can.”

At the same time, he recognises that his development needs more time than he was willing to give himself. “It also requires more patience than I was prepared to allow myself.”

Another attempt follows in January. Weber will compete in the Final Stage of Q-School and fight to return to the professional tour. His goal is clear: “In January, I’ll start the Final Stage of Q-School with the aim of winning back my Tour Card.”

The disappointment of missing out on those opportunities is considerable. But Weber has lost none of his ambition. His closing words say it all: “In conclusion: I AM NOT DONE YET.”