Levy Frauenfelder clinched his maiden PDC title in Hildesheim on Friday, as Harry Ward returned to the winner’s circle on a bumper day of Winmau Challenge Tour action. The third weekend of the 2026 Challenge Tour began with over 200 players competing in Events 11-12 at Halle 39, as Frauenfelder and Ward shared the spoils. […]
Levy Frauenfelder clinched his maiden PDC title in Hildesheim on Friday, as Harry Ward returned to the winner’s circle on a bumper day of Winmau Challenge Tour action.
The third weekend of the 2026 Challenge Tour began with over 200 players competing in Events 11-12 at Halle 39, as Frauenfelder and Ward shared the spoils.
Frauenfelder took the plaudits in the opening event of Friday’s double-header, defeating rising star Henry Coates 5-3 in the Event 11 showpiece to pocket the £3,000 top prize.
The Dutchman’s maiden PDC title was defined by a string of stirring comebacks, which began with his opening round tie against Adrian Zeitler, where he fought back from 4-2 down to triumph.
Frauenfelder produced another three-leg flurry to account for Jannis Barkhausen in round two, while making a sprint for the finish in claiming the scalp of American star Danny Lauby.
He also overcame his fellow countryman Jerry Hendriks courtesy of an impressive late burst, before surviving a multitude of match darts in his quarter-final clash against Jack Tweddell.
Frauenfelder trailed 4-2 at one stage, and he performed similar heroics in his semi-final showdown against Tommy Lishman, overturning a 4-1 deficit with a terrific four-leg spell in the closing stages.
The 24-year-old then capped off a brilliant campaign with another comeback victory at Coates’ expense, rattling off three straight legs in 11, 15 and 12 darts and defying a 103 average from his teenage opponent.
However, Frauenfelder’s bid for back-to-back titles culminated in an opening round exit in Event 12, as former Tour Card Holder Ward took centre stage to secure his first PDC title since 2019.
The 28-year-old memorably claimed a Players Championship title almost seven years ago, before deciding to step away from the ProTour circuit just over 12 months later.
Nevertheless, Ward reaffirmed his credentials with a series of fine displays on German soil, easing past Slovakia’s Martin Homola before fending off an inspired fightback from Steve Lennon in round two.
Oliver Mitchell, Derek Coulson and Patrick Tringler became the latest to succumb to Ward, who then fought back from 4-2 down to sink Paul Rowley in a dramatic quarter-final decider.
The Derbyshire-born thrower later ran out a 5-3 winner against Jack Aldridge in the semi-finals, and he saw off Tommy Lishman by the same scoreline in the Event 12 showpiece, aided by a brilliant four-leg blitz in the early exchanges.
Event One winner Lishman landed a brace of ton-plus averages in his run to the final, having also averaged north of 103 en route to the Event 11 semi-finals earlier in the day.
Lishman’s exploits saw him cement third spot on the Challenge Tour rankings, with Joe Hunt and Coulson still occupying the top two positions ahead of Saturday’s double-header.
Ward’s maiden Challenge Tour triumph has catapulted him up to seventh position, while Frauenfelder sits in 17th despite his earlier success.
The Winmau Challenge Tour continues with another double-header at Halle 39 on Saturday, as Events 13 and 14 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.
Click here for full results from Event 11.
Click here for full results from Event 12.
Click here for match stats & results via DartConnect.
2026 Winmau Challenge Tour
Friday May 1, Halle 39, Hildesheim
Event 11
Quarter-Finals
Harrison Leigh 5-3 Kevin Troppmann
Henry Coates 5-2 Daniel Ayres
Tommy Lishman 5-2 James Beeton
Levy Frauenfelder 5-4 Jack Tweddell
Semi-Finals
Henry Coates 5-4 Harrison Leigh
Levy Frauenfelder 5-4 Tommy Lishman
Final
Levy Frauenfelder 5-3 Henry Coates
Event 12
Quarter-Finals
Harry Ward 5-4 Paul Rowley
Jack Aldridge 5-3 Ashton Brown
Tommy Lishman 5-2 Joe Hunt
Andy Courtney 5-2 Steve Hine
Semi-Finals
Harry Ward 5-3 Jack Aldridge
Tommy Lishman 5-0 Andy Courtney
Final
Harry Ward 5-3 Tommy Lishman