Tavis Dudeney and Henry Coates claimed maiden Winmau Development Tour titles on Sunday, as the 2024 season concluded in Wigan.
Sunday’s double-header saw over 240 players in action at the Robin Park Tennis Centre, as the race for World Championship qualification and the battle to secure a two-year PDC Tour Card reached a dramatic climax.
Wessel Nijman had already confirmed top spot on the Development Tour Order of Merit with back-to-back titles on Saturday, taking his seasonal tally to seven.
However, with Nijman already assured of his World Championship qualification, the Dutchman will be joined at Alexandra Palace by Niko Springer and Keane Barry, who finished second and third respectively.
German star Springer has also earned a two-year PDC Tour Card alongside Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki – a former UK Open quarter-finalist.
Sunday’s double-header began with a landmark victory for Dudeney, who whitewashed Jurjen van der Velde to clinch his maiden Winmau Development Tour crown.
Dudeney – a Development Tour runner-up in July – overcame Jack Howarth, Leon Weber and Ciaran Forde before sweeping aside Sweden’s Viktor Tingstrom to reach the last 16.
The 20-year-old then saw off Nathan Rafferty, Keane Barry and Llew Bevan to set up a showdown against Van der Velde, where he capped off a breakthrough campaign with a stunning 5-0 success.
Dudeney’s bid for back-to-back titles was thwarted by Bialecki, who was embroiled in a battle with Dutchman Danny Jansen for the right to claim a two-year PDC Tour Card for 2025-2026.
Jansen needed to win Event 24 to overhaul the Polish prospect, but his quarter-final defeat to Jon-Sebastian Wright confirmed Bialecki’s status as a PDC professional for the next two years.
However, Coates stole the show in Event 24, defeating a host of high-profile stars to pocket the £2,500 top prize.
Following a deciding-leg win over Jack Male in round one, Coates whitewashed Mason Whitlock and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez on his way to the quarter-finals, having also accounted for David Fidler and Noah Roeschlein.
The 18-year-old continued his charge with a 5-2 victory over Anton Ostlund in the last eight, before powering in a 106.84 average to defeat Bialecki 5-3 in the semi-finals.
Owen Roelofs awaited the young Englishman in Sunday’s showpiece, but Coates proved too strong, converting a brace of ton-plus checkouts to round off a brilliant campaign.
Following the culmination of this year’s Winmau Development Tour, the early rounds of the Winmau World Youth Championship will take place on Monday afternoon in Wigan.
The 2024 World Youth Championship final will then be played on Sunday November 24 during the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals in Minehead, as two players compete for the coveted title.
The event draws and results are listed in the Match Centre.
Click here for match stats and results through DartConnect.
2024 Winmau Development Tour
Sunday October 13, Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan
Event 23
Quarter-Finals
Tavis Dudeney 5-1 Keane Barry
Llew Bevan 5-2 Levy Frauenfelder
Tyler Thorpe 5-2 Nathan Girvan
Jurjen van der Velde 5-3 Niko Springer
Semi-Finals
Tavis Dudeney 5-2 Llew Bevan
Jurjen van der Velde 5-1 Tyler Thorpe
Final
Tavis Dudeney 5-0 Jurjen van der Velde
Event 24
Quarter-Finals
Sebastian Bialecki 5-4 Leon Weber
Henry Coates 5-2 Anton Ostlund
Jon-Sebastian Wright 5-4 Danny Jansen
Owen Roelofs 5-4 Dominik Gruellich
Semi-Finals
Henry Coates 5-3 Sebastian Bialecki
Owen Roelofs 5-1 Jon-Sebastian Wright
Final
Henry Coates 5-3 Owen Roelofs