Derek Coulson and Daniel Klose shared the spoils as the 2026 Winmau Challenge Tour continued in Leicester on Friday. The second weekend of the 2026 Challenge Tour began with Coulson defeating Oliver Mitchell 5-0 to triumph in Event Six, before Klose downed Callum Goffin 5-3 to claim Event Seven glory. Coulson claimed the opening event […]
Derek Coulson and Daniel Klose shared the spoils as the 2026 Winmau Challenge Tour continued in Leicester on Friday.
The second weekend of the 2026 Challenge Tour began with Coulson defeating Oliver Mitchell 5-0 to triumph in Event Six, before Klose downed Callum Goffin 5-3 to claim Event Seven glory.
Coulson claimed the opening event of the weekend and his maiden title after whitewashing Mitchell to round off an excellent tournament for the Welshman.
The 57-year old, who narrowly missed out on a Tour Card in January, produced legs of 16, 12 and 15 darts on his way to a 5-0 thrashing of Mitchell, to wrap up his first Challenge Tour title.
The Welshman began the day by whitewashing Belgian Jenson Remory, before seeing off Danny Trueman, Ben Robb and Sam Jackson in quick succession.
Coulson then produced his best average of the tournament, beating Harry Ward 5-3 averaging upwards of 100.
He then saw off Adrian Gray and Andy Hamilton, beating the English pair 5-2 respectively, before dispatching of Mitchell to claim the Event Six crown.
Mitchell himself impressed on the way to the final, beating former World Championship competitors Romeo Grbavac and Ted Evetts in quick succession, before beating Killian McCormack 5-3 to make it to round four.
The 36-year-old then beat Llew Bevan 5-2, averaging 102.52, before dropping three legs in two games, with 5-1 and 5-2 victories over Ryan O’Connor and Daniel Ayres respectively.
Mitchell then won legs of 19, 11, 14, 14 and 15 darts on his way to a 5-3 victory over Gilbert van der Meijden, before falling short to Coulson in what would have been his first Challenge Tour title.
Elsewhere, Klose claimed the first Challenge Tour title of his career by picking up the Event Seven crown, producing some excellent displays along the way.
The German star, who finished runner-up at 2023 Players Championship 21, kicked off proceedings with a ton-plus average, dispatching of Reece Colley 5-3, before beating Keelan Kay by the same scoreline.
Klose then demolished Richard Balogh 5-1, before emerging victorious against Dale Gadsby, beating the Englishman 5-3.
The 46-year-old, who has competed on the European Tour eight times in his career, defeated former Tour Card Holder Matthew Dennant 5-2, before seeing off Andy Courtney by the same scoreline to make the semi-final.
The German then came through a gruelling last-leg decider against Ben Townley, sealing the victory with a 17-dart hold of throw, before safely securing the Event Seven crown with his victory over Goffin.
Goffin’s run to the final was also noteworthy, beginning with a whitewash victory over Wesley van Trijp, before he recorded averages of 90 and 93 to see of Jeroen Caron and Peter Burgoyne.
Averages of 90 and 91 from the Welshman aided his victories over Kevin Burness and Jenson Walker, before he produced a ton-plus average to beat William Leonard 5-3.
Goffin then beat 16-year-old Archie Self, who enjoyed a successful run to the semi-finals of Event Seven, before ultimately falling short at the hands of Klose.
The Winmau Challenge Tour continues at the Mattioli Arena on Saturday with another bumper double-header, as Events Eight and Nine take place for non-PDC Tour Card Holders who competed at 2026 Qualifying Schools.
The top two players from the final 2026 Challenge Tour Rankings will secure a PDC Tour Card for 2027/28, with the top three players earning qualification for the 2026/27 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
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2026 Winmau Challenge Tour
March 27, Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Event Six
Quarter-Finals
Andy Hamilton 5-2 Jamie Hughes
Derek Coulson 5-2 Adrian Gray
Oliver Mitchell 5-2 Daniel Ayers
Gilbert van der Meijden 5-3 Michele Turetta
Semi-Finals
Derek Coulson 5-2 Andy Hamilton
Oliver Mitchell 5-3 Gilbert van der Meijden
Final
Derek Coulson 5-0 Oliver Mitchell
Event Seven
Quarter-Finals
Daniel Klose 5-2 Andy Courtney
Ben Townley 5-2 Tommy Lishman
Callum Goffin 5-3 William Leonard
Archie Self 5-4 Jamai van den Herik
Semi-Finals
Daniel Klose 5-4 Ben Townley
Callum Goffin 5-2 Archie Self
Final
Daniel Klose 5-3 Callum Goffin