TAVIS DUDENEY sealed his first Junior Darts Corporation Tour title as a he defeated Freddie Francis in a thrilling Event Three final at the Cueball Centre in Derby.
The victory marks Dudeney’s first victory on the JDC circuit after previously making the Derby final 12 months ago.
Following a convincing victory in the opening round, ‘The Dude’ was taken to the wire by Will North, with Dudeney edging the deciding leg.
His momentum continued with a 3-1 win against Ryan Jordan in the last 16, before he took on Lewis Gurney in the quarter-finals.
Another deciding leg victory set up a meeting with Keelan Kay for a place in the final, and after Kay missed darts for a two-leg lead, Dudeney came from behind to reach his second JDC Tour final.
He had to come from behind again in a mesmerising final. Dudeney recovered a 2-0 deficit to seize control as the match ended the final stages.
He kept his nerve on tops to seal a star-making victory in Derby.
Following the victory Dudeney said: “I’m chuffed, I made the final last year and this year I just wanted to go one better this time.
“I could’ve lost in an earlier round, I had a tough semi-final against Keelan Kay and then played Freddie (Francis) in the final. Thankfully I was able to kick on a get the win.”
Elsewhere in the tournament, two-time JDC Tour winner and leader of the order of merit Brad Phillips, was knocked out early on as he was soundly defeated by England youth international Tyler Radlett.
There were good runs for ‘The Lord of the Board’ Keelan Kay and Wolverhampton’s Alfie Jacques as they both secured semi-final places on the day.
The JDC Modus UK Junior Tour will return as the players of the future travel to Essex Benfleet on June 2 to compete in Event Four.
Written by Josh Green
JDC Modus UK Junior Tour Event Three
Saturday April 28, Cueball Club, Derby
Last 16
Kyle Manton 3-1 Tommy Nelson
Keelan Kay 3-0 Tyler Radlett
Lewis Gurney 3-2 Jack Boardman
Tavis Dudeney 3-1 Ryan Jordan
Alfie Jacques 3-1 Ashley Marson
Nathan Care 3-2 Henry Coates
George Lynch 3-1 Zac Griffiths
Freddie Francis 3-1 Davy Jay Knowles
Quarter-Finals
Keelan Kay 3-1 Kyle Manton
Tavis Dudeney 3-2 Lewis Gurney
Alfie Jacques 3-0 Nathan Care
Freddie Francis 3-1 George Lynch
Semi-Finals
Tavis Dudeney 4-3 Keelan Kay
Freddie Francis 4-2 Alfie Jacques
Final
Tavis Dudeney 5-3 Freddie Francis