Travel Disruption Fails to Stop Dramatic Weekend of Darts at Isle of Man Events
A weekend of competitive darts in the Isle of Man delivered drama both on and off the oche, as travel disruption and thrilling matches combined to create a memorable couple of tournaments.
Several players saw their plans thrown into disarray when flights from Gatwick were cancelled due to strong winds across the Irish Sea. While some competitors managed to salvage part of the weekend by travelling the following day, others were unfortunately forced to miss the events entirely.
Despite the difficult start, the action quickly took centre stage as the BDDA / WPD Isle of Man Classic unfolded.
Ronet Claims Historic First Title
The Classic tournament produced a memorable evening of darts, culminating in a dramatic final and a historic first BDDA/WPD title for Baptiste Ronet and a first BDDA title for a Frenchman
Ronet began his campaign in dominant fashion, defeating Alan Wilkinson 3–0 in the quarter-finals with confident scoring and sharp finishing on the doubles. Callum Brew also impressed, dispatching Kev Lack 3–0 with a composed performance.
Jon Hirst progressed with a 3–1 victory over Grant Murray, while Steve North completed the semi-final line-up after a convincing 3–0 win against Mike Callaghan.
The first semi-final proved to be the match of the night as Hirst and North battled through a tense contest that went the distance. Hirst held his nerve in the deciding leg to secure a narrow 4–3 victory and a place in the final. In the other semi-final, Ronet continued his impressive form with a comfortable 4–1 win over Brew.
The final between Ronet and Hirst provided a fitting climax. The pair traded legs throughout a tightly contested match before Ronet delivered the crucial darts at the right moment to edge a thrilling 4–3 victory. The win secured Ronet his first ever BDDA/WPD tournament title in dramatic fashion.
Doe Dominates in Isle of Man Open
The BDDA / WPD Isle of Man Open also delivered a high standard of competition, with Matt Doe producing a commanding run to claim the title.
Doe opened his campaign with a strong 3–0 quarter-final victory over Ronet, combining heavy scoring with clinical finishing. Brew continued his good weekend with another 3–0 win, this time over Kev Lack.
Dave Johnson advanced after a 3–1 victory against Hirst, while North again reached the semi-finals with a 3–0 win over Callaghan.
In the semi-finals, Doe maintained his impressive form with a 4–1 win against Brew. Johnson joined him in the final after a controlled 4–2 victory over North.
The final saw Doe face Johnson in a competitive contest, but Doe’s consistency throughout the evening proved decisive. With steady scoring and well-timed checkouts, he secured a 4–2 victory to be crowned BDDA/WPD Isle of Man Open champion.
Despite the early travel chaos, the weekend ultimately delivered two excellent tournaments and plenty of memorable darts for players and spectators alike.
Wheelchair Darts Delivers Excitement at I.O.M Classic and Open
An entertaining afternoon of wheelchair darts saw closely contested matches and impressive performances during both the I.O.M Wheelchair Classic and the I.O.M Wheelchair Open.
In the I.O.M Wheelchair Classic, three players battled through competitive matches before the final. Mark Couchman made a strong start to the event, edging past Darren Kennish in a tight 2–1 victory. Couchman carried that momentum into his next match but was halted by Mick Jones, who produced a solid performance to secure a 2–1 win.
Jones then faced Kennish in the final group match, but Kennish bounced back impressively. Delivering a dominant display, he defeated Jones 2–0 to book his place in the final.
The final saw Couchman and Kennish meet once again. This time Couchman stepped up when it mattered most, producing a high-quality performance to defeat Kennish 4–2 and claim the night’s honours.
The I.O.M Wheelchair Open also produced competitive darts, with Darren Kennish, Mark Couchman and Mick Jones competing in a round-robin format before the final.
Kennish opened the event in strong fashion with a 2–0 victory over Couchman, showing excellent finishing to take early control of the standings. Couchman responded well in his next match, edging past Jones 2–1 in a closely fought contest to keep his chances alive.
Kennish continued his impressive form in the final group match, defeating Jones 2–0 to secure his place in the final as the standout performer of the group stage.
The final once again saw Kennish face Couchman. Despite Couchman’s earlier win over Jones, Kennish proved too strong on the night, producing a confident display to claim the title with a 4–1 victory.