Christopher Wickenden clinched his maiden PDC title in Hildesheim on Saturday, as Joe Hunt retuned to the winner’s circle on an eventful day of Winmau Challenge Tour action. The third weekend of the 2026 Challenge Tour continued on Saturday, with over 200 players competing in Events 13-14 at Halle 39, as Wickenden and Hunt shared […]
Christopher Wickenden clinched his maiden PDC title in Hildesheim on Saturday, as Joe Hunt retuned to the winner’s circle on an eventful day of Winmau Challenge Tour action.
The third weekend of the 2026 Challenge Tour continued on Saturday, with over 200 players competing in Events 13-14 at Halle 39, as Wickenden and Hunt shared the spoils.
Wickenden stole the show in the opening event of Saturday’s double-header, defeating David Evans 5-3 in the Event 13 showpiece to pocket the £3,000 top prize.
The Englishman’s maiden PDC title was defined by a more comfortable start than expected, as he sailed through his opening round game beating Tim Baker 5-2.
The 37-year-old then whitewashed World Cup star Rowby-John Rodriguez, before dispatching of Scott Campbell 5-1, with Wickenden’s highest average of the tournament coming against the Scot.
He then faced Marcel Walpen, winning four out of the last six legs to beat the Swiss 5-4, before winning another brilliant last-leg decider, this time against Welshman Derek Coulson.
Wickenden raced through the quarter-finals, as he stormed into a 3-0 lead over Liam Maendl-Lawrance, before allowing the German to claim two consolation legs on his way to a 5-2 defeat.
Austria’s Patrick Tringler failed to halt Wickenden in the semi-finals, despite pinning two 12-dart legs, as Wickenden won the decider to advance to the final.
The 37-year-old then proved too strong for Evans, rattling off three straight legs in 20, 15 and 15 darts to seal his maiden crown.
However, Wickenden’s bid for back-to-back titles culminated in a Last 32 exit in Event 14, as Challenge Tour leader Hunt took centre stage to claim his third title of 2026.
The 33-year-old re-established his commanding lead at the top of the table with victory in Hildesheim, as the Englishman brushed aside Paul Kalashnikov and Jannis Barkhausen in quick succession, despite getting off to a slow start.
Hunt, who has previously made a Players Championship quarter-final this year, produced his best average of the tournament in round four, beating Robin Beger 5-1, before beating the German’s compatriot Michael Unterbuchner 5-3.
Harry Ward’s bid for a second title of the weekend was halted by Hunt, as he claimed a second successive 5-3 victory, before defeating Jamai van den Herik by the same scoreline to reach the semi-finals.
The Croydon-born star then asserted his place at the top after beating Coulson in a gruelling deciding-leg, with Hunt sealing victory with a brilliant 14-dart-leg.
He then denied Tommy Morris a first Challenge Tour title, defeating his compatriot 5-3 to claim his fourth Challenge Tour title in two years.
Wickenden’s maiden Challenge Tour triumph has catapulted him up to seventh position, while Hunt sits firmly at the top of the Winmau Challenge Tour rankings, £3,100 ahead of Coulson.
The Winmau Challenge Tour continues with the final day of action at Halle 39 on Sunday, as Event 15 takes 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 13.
Click here for full results from Event 14.
Click here for match stats & results via DartConnect.
2026 Winmau Challenge Tour
Saturday May 2, Halle 39, Hildesheim
Event 13
Quarter-Finals
Christopher Wickenden 5-2 Liam Maendl-Lawrance
Patrick Tringler 5-3 Stef Kosters
David Evans 5-0 Joe Hunt
Gilbert van der Meijden 5-4 Marcel Hausotter
Semi-Finals
Christopher Wickenden 5-4 Patrick Tringler
David Evans 5-2 Gilbet van der Meijden
Final
Christopher Wickenden 5-3 David Evans
Event 14
Quarter-Finals
Derek Coulson 5-4 Nathan Potter
Joe Hunt 5-3 Jamai van den Herik
Tommy Morris 5-4 Owen Roelofs
Finn Behrens 5-2 Michele Turetta
Semi-Finals
Joe Hunt 5-4 Derek Coulson
Tommy Morris 5-3 Finn Behrens
Final
Joe Hunt 5-3 Tommy Morris