16-year old star Archie Self celebrated his maiden Winmau Challenge Tour title on Saturday, as Dylan Slevin also tasted success in Milton Keynes. Saturday’s Challenge Tour double-header saw over 200 players compete in Events 18-19 at Arena MK, as teenage talent Self stole the show with a string of superb performances. Having opened his campaign […]
16-year old star Archie Self celebrated his maiden Winmau Challenge Tour title on Saturday, as Dylan Slevin also tasted success in Milton Keynes.
Saturday’s Challenge Tour double-header saw over 200 players compete in Events 18-19 at Arena MK, as teenage talent Self stole the show with a string of superb performances.
Having opened his campaign with a 98.62 average in a 5-2 victory over Connor Arberry, Self accounted for 2010 Grand Slam champion Scott Waites and Event 16 winner Derek Coulson to continue his progress.
Following a 5-3 success against Harry Ward, Self then averaged 101.55 in his quarter-final demolition of Scotland’s former World Cup winner John Henderson, which he backed up with a 5-2 victory over Alan Norris – a World Championship quarter-finalist in 2015/16.
This set up a winner-takes-all showdown against Germany’s Daniel Klose for the Event 18 crown, and it was the English teenager who came out on top, recovering from a 3-1 deficit to triumph in a last-leg decider.
Klose had denied Steve Lennon in an astonishing semi-final contest, averaging almost 104 to wrap up a 5-3 win, despite an average of 107.79 from the Irishman.
However, it was another Irishman who would claim the Event 19 spoils, as Slevin dispatched Tommy Morris 5-1 to clinch the first Challenge Tour title of his career.
The 23-year-old averaged 97.78 to break new ground in Milton Keynes, reeling off four consecutive legs in 16, 11, 15 and 17 darts to scoop the £3,000 top prize.
This was preceded by a semi-final whitewash of darting stalwart Steve Beaton, following earlier wins over Gilbert van der Meijden and David Evans.
Evans averaged almost 101 in their last 16 clash, while Slevin also overcame Ben Stanton, Joe Hunt and Owen Maiden en route to glory.
Players Championship 25 winner Henry Coates produced the performance of Event 19, averaging 106.11 in his last 32 win over Chas Barstow, although his title bid was curtailed by Morris in the semi-finals.
Following Saturday’s double-header, Self and Slevin have climbed to 12th and 26th respectively on the Challenge Tour rankings, whilst Coulson occupies top spot above Hunt and Morris.
The Winmau Challenge Tour continues with Event 20 in Milton Keynes on Sunday, as the year’s fourth weekend of action draws to a close.
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.
Click here for match stats & results.
2026 Winmau Challenge Tour
Saturday August 15
Arena MK, Milton Keynes
Event 18
Daniel Klose 5-3 Henry Coates
Steve Lennon 5-4 Nunjo Dewaele
Alan Norris 5-3 Michael Unterbuchner
Archie Self 5-1 John Henderson
Semi-Finals
Daniel Klose 5-3 Steve Lennon
Archie Self 5-2 Alan Norris
Final
Archie Self 5-4 Daniel Klose
Event 19
Quarter-Finals
Henry Coates 5-3 Joseph Heywood
Tommy Morris 5-2 Jack Main
Dylan Slevin 5-2 Gilbert van der Meijden
Steve Beaton 5-3 Robbie Martin
Semi-Finals
Tommy Morris 5-3 Henry Coates
Dylan Slevin 5-0 Steve Beaton
Final
Dylan Slevin 5-1 Tommy Morris