WDF World Open Roundup | Matthew Edgar falls just short as Moreno Blom wins deciding-leg final

Matthew Edgar fell one leg short of winning the 2026 WDF World Open as Moreno Blom prevailed in a deciding-leg final in Las Vegas.

The World Open was held on Friday, 17 July as part of the week-long World Masters festival at the Rio Hotel and Casino. Separate Open, women’s, boys’ and girls’ champions were crowned before attention returned to the closing stages of the World Masters.

Edgar produced some of the strongest numbers in the Open competition, recording an 89.13 three-dart average across his eight matches. The Englishman began the closing stages with a 4-0 victory over Ben Townley before beating World Masters semi-finalist Chris Lim 4-1. Two deciding-leg victories followed as Edgar edged out Mursel Yavuz and James Beeton to reach the final.

Blom arrived in the title match following a commanding run through his section of the draw. The Dutchman beat Jaymie Hilton-Jones and Dustin Holt without dropping a leg before recording successive 4-2 victories over Danny Humphries and Jordan Brooks.

Little separated Blom and Edgar in the final. The contest required all nine available legs, with sixth seed Blom eventually securing the decisive double to complete a 5-4 victory.

Beeton and Brooks shared the semi-final places, while Humphries, Ron Meulenkamp, Simon Teysen and Yavuz reached the quarter-finals.

Several players involved in Saturday’s World Masters Finals Stage were eliminated earlier. Lim and Stefan Schroder reached the last 16, while Sean Fisher suffered a 4-3 defeat against Humphries in the previous round. Kevin Luke was whitewashed 4-0 by Teysen, while former Lakeside champion Scott Mitchell lost 4-1 to Yavuz.

Eve Watson secured the women’s World Open title by defeating fellow Welsh player Leanne Topper 5-3.

Watson eliminated World Masters semi-finalist Rhian O’Sullivan 4-2 in the last 16 before beating American Cali West 4-1 in the quarter-finals. Another 4-1 victory over Steph Clarke earned Watson her place in the final.

Topper’s route included a dramatic quarter-final victory over reigning WDF world champion Deta Hedman. After coming through that contest 4-3, Topper whitewashed defending World Masters champion Lorraine Hyde 4-0 in the semi-finals.

Watson proved too strong in the final, completing a 5-3 victory to finish an excellent day for the Welsh contingent.

Gemma Hayter suffered a much earlier exit than in the World Masters. Despite registering an 80.40 tournament average, Hayter was beaten 4-3 by Clarke in the last 32. Miyu Miyawaki reached the quarter-finals before losing 4-1 to Hyde, while Aurora Fochesato was beaten 4-1 by Hedman in the last 16.

Peyton Hammond collected the boys’ World Open title with a dominant 5-1 victory over Taylor McGuckian.

The Canadian defeated Kempton Duval 4-0 in the quarter-finals and Addison Hefferon 4-2 in the last four. McGuckian reached the final by beating Lennon Wharf 4-1 and Benjamin Dopfer 4-2.

Ruby Grey secured an English victory in the girls’ competition. Grey defeated Olivia Heaton 3-2 in the semi-finals before overcoming top seed Paige Pauling in a closely contested final.

Pauling led the contest deep into the scheduled distance, but Grey took the deciding leg to seal a 4-3 victory and complete the World Open programme in Las Vegas.