30/10/2023

Owen Bates snatches World Championship spot and Tour Card from John Henderson after final Challenge Tour event; title goes to James Hurrell

Owen Bates finished second on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit behind Berry van Peer. As a result, he, like Van Peer, may compete in the World Darts Championship and will receive a PDC Tour Card for the next two seasons.

It wasn't really even about the title anymore during the final tournament of the 2023 PDC Challenge Tour. All eyes were on the battle for second place. After all, Van Peer had already secured the lead position, which also allows 'Bionic' to compete at the Grand Slam of Darts.

Prior to the final tournament, five players still had a chance at second place. In addition to Henderson and Bates, these were Andy Boulton, Cam Crabtree and Christian Kist.

Berry van Peer is all the way back: Grand Slam spot, qualified for World Darts Championship and PDC Tour Card for 2 years

Henderson and Kist were eliminated at the last 64. Then the long wait began for Henderson. The Scot had to hope that Boulton, Crabtree and Bates would not make the final. Boulton and Crabtree dropped out at the last sixteen.

Bates then won 5-4 over Peter Jacques in the quarter-finals and played a deciding leg against Mike Warburton in the last four. Warburton was ahead 4-1 and needed only one more leg to put Henderson in safe harbor, however, the Welshman lost 4-5 after several missed match darts. Bates thus secured his second place in that way.

The Englishman then played another final against James Hurrell, who was previously responsible for Henderson's elimination and had also defeated Jelle Klaasen, Martijn Dragt, Max Hopp, Steve Haggerty and Darryl Pilgrim. Hurrell eventually walked away with the title after a 5-2 win over Bates, who no doubt will not mourn this loss for a moment.